An Ounce of Prevention

When Alex didn't find anyone in the house, he headed for the barn. Katie probably had the kids. Carmen would be milking the goats early so they could spend Friday night alone. He smiled in anticipation. He hadn't called to let her know he was coming home early. Once a month they had Friday night and Saturday morning alone. He intended to make the most of it.

He gently opened the barn door and stepped inside, careful not to make any noise. The smell of fresh straw mingled with molasses and oats. A light was on in the addition and Carmen was humming. A couple kids were bleating from one of the stalls. They needn't worry. Carmen would save some milk for them.

He crept across the barn and paused in the doorway long enough to locate Carmen. She was straining milk into a gallon jar at the worktable. The milk would be immediately placed into the little refrigerator so it would cool as quickly as possible. Carmen was meticulous about the process, claiming it was a key to maintaining the quality and flavor of the milk. She would know, having managed a goat dairy before they were married. Whatever the case, the milk was always good.

He walked slowly toward her, careful not to step on anything that would alert her to his approach. He targeted her slender hips as a landing zone for his hands. Then they would taxi up to her waist and…

She paused, lifting her head to listen. He stopped, waiting for her to resume working. She finally did, but he was certain she knew he was there. She appeared alert…prepared. He dropped his hands to his sides and took a careless step forward. She knew he was there.

At that moment two forms ruptured from the hay in the nearest stall and lunged toward him. Even from the corner of his eye, he knew they were not baby goats. He swung around to defend himself and cried out in surprise.

"Daddy!" two little voices screamed in harmony. Natalie and Matthew threw themselves at him gleefully.

Carmen doubled over with laughter. "That'll teach you to sneak up on me," she gasped, and went into a fresh bout of giggling.

Alex knelt and hugged the twins individually. "I thought Katie would have the kids by now."

Carmen wiped her eyes. "She took Jonathan and Destiny to a party with Tim and Jim. She'll be back to pick up Matthew and Natalie in a little while."

Alex stood, a child sitting on each arm, each with an arm around his neck. Natalie and Matthew were nearly four years old, and while they were small for their age, they were still an arm load. Then again, it could be his age. He'd be 39 in September, a mere 5 months away. He'd been pulling a few gray hairs out of his head lately. Carmen didn't have any gray hair. She didn't have any wrinkles, either. She looked ten years younger than he did, instead of five. They'd been married nine years already. For the most part, they had been happy years.