When the Fairytale Ends by Dwan Abrams Page B

than him.
    On the drive back home, Greg thanked her for making his special day exquisite, and though he wouldn’t admit it, she could see the exhaustion from the day resting in his eyes.
    â€œI need to make a quick stop. Is that okay?” Greg asked, covering a yawn with his hand.
    Curious as to where he was going, she nodded and called Cheyenne’s cell phone to tell her they had to make a stop. Cheyenne told her that they’d just meet them at the house rather than following them. Shania ended the call and sat quietly for the rest of the ride. She wasn’t surprised when about forty minutes later he pulled into Mother Washington’s driveway. He left the car running as he jogged up the steps and used his personal key to open Mother Washington’s door. She watched as her husband ducked into the house and closed the door behind him. Greg was a total sweetheart, and it touched her heart that he looked after Mother Washington, always checking up on her and helping her with the upkeep of her house.
    Mother Washington had bounced around from church to church, but when she had visited Saved and Sanctified Baptist three years ago, she had instantly considered the place her home and had taken Greg in as her “adopted” child. Rumor had it that Mother Washington had two daughters, but if she did, she never talked about them. Shania wondered why.
    Greg came out the house a few minutes later, looking bothered.
    â€œSomething wrong?” Shania asked as he clicked his seat belt in place.
    â€œShe has a really bad headache. Said it’s been bothering her all day.”
    â€œYou want to stop and get her something?”
    Greg shook his head and drove off. “She said the only thing she wants is darkness, silence, and sleep.”
    â€œI know that’s right.” Shania settled in her seat and stared at the headlights of the cars as they passed by. She nodded to the music and before she realized it she had drifted off to sleep. She didn’t awake again until she felt Greg’s arm slip beneath her knees and the other arm behind her back as he hefted her out of the passenger seat and against his chest. Still sleepy, she rubbed one eye.
    She held on to his neck while he balanced her against one knee and used his free hand to unlock the front door. While he carried her to the bedroom, she could hear the sound of the TV coming from Cheyenne’s closed bedroom door. She snuggled her head into the curve of his shoulder and inhaled the cologne that faintly clung to his shirt, as well as the masculine musky scent that belonged to only him.
    Once inside their bedroom, he closed the door behind him, undressed her until she wore not a stitch of clothing; then she held her hands high in the air as he pulled her favorite raspberry red night slip over her head. Then, to top it off, he picked her up and tucked her in bed.
    Shania cooed in contentment. “You are too sweet to me. I love you so much.”
    â€œI love you too, babes. Now, shhh.”
    She smiled as he placed a finger against her lips.
    â€œWe had a long day today, and you’re going to need your rest for tomorrow,” he explained.
    She kissed the finger against her lips, moved it out of the way, then grabbed the back of his head and pulled his lips down to hers. She thanked God for blessing her with a husband who was so caring and considerate. Even if he had made a selfish move by purchasing that dreadful bike without her input, considering the totality of the circumstances, she could let that one mishap slide and continue loving him for being the excellent husband that he was. Flaws and all.

Four
    Greg lay in the bed looking at Shania as she slept. His chest stuck out just thinking about the care his wife had taken to make sure that his day was special. What a birthday. He scratched his head and stared over at his wife, whose body was only half covered by the satiny sheets. One of his hands dragged along the inside of