Page 5 of Drake Eternal

While Kate went to the kitchen to make popcorn, I went to set the new hub up. Within a few moments I had it all ready and had signed into our account.

“There it is,” I said and clicked on the film, buying it so we had it forever.

Then, the two of us plopped down on the sofa and spent the next almost-four hours watching. Liam had already watched it at Maureen and Chris’s place, and it was from them that we got the idea to get a hub of our own.

When the time came for us to shut off the hub and go to bed, I was exhausted and emotionally drained, both by the movie itself and the day that had just passed, saying goodbye to Liam.

“I’m exhausted,” I said as I crept into bed beside Kate. She was already snuggled down in the sheets, her eyes closed.

“Me, too. Maybe we can get some quality time together this weekend at the beach house.”

I moved closer to her, pulling her into my arms. “You don’t think we had quality time together tonight?

I put on a mock frown when she opened her eyes.

She laughed. “You know exactly what I mean…”

I smiled and kissed her. “I do. Count on it.”

We fell to sleep in each other’s arms as usual, the sounds of the city beneath us filtering in softly through the open window.

The next morning when I awoke, Kate was already up and had showered and was sitting in the kitchen with Sophia, eating breakfast. I went to have my own shower and when I was dressed and ready, I went to the kitchen.

“You shouldn’t have let me sleep in,” I said and kissed the top of her head.

“You said you booked the morning off.”

I smiled at her. “You’re up every morning with Sophie. I want a few for myself.”

She laughed. “You’ll get yours. As soon as you take vacation, you can let me sleep in.”

“Count on it.” I bent over Sophie’s shoulder and gave her a quick peck on the cheek and glanced at her coloring book.

“Frozen? You like that movie or something?” I looked at her and saw her frown in momentary confusion.

Then, she realized I was teasing. “Daddy!” She turned the book towards me and showed me her latest effort. “It’s her in her purple dress.”

“Oh,” I said and raised my eyebrows. “Purple? That’s your favorite color, isn’t it?”

“It is. I want a purple dress when I grow up.”

“You can have one now,” I said playfully. “In fact, I think you already have a purple Frozen dress, or am I mistaken?”

I glanced at Kate and saw her smile. “She has two Frozen dresses. One pink and one purple.”

“Ah, yes.”

I checked my watch and then fixed myself a cup of coffee in a travel thermos. “I’m going to head out and get to the office early so I can prepare for my meeting. I’ll probably play some racquetball with Dave and then will be home for dinner.”

“Sounds good. Sophie and I will probably go for a walk along the boardwalk and maybe get some street food. Hotdogs or corndogs?”

“Corndogs!” Sophie replied, smiling.

“Corndogs it is,” Kate said and turned her face up to me for a kiss goodbye,

“Lucky you,” I said, raising my eyebrows, knowing Kate was just about corn-dogged out. They were one of Sophie’s favorite junk foods that she insisted on eating when they went to the boardwalk.

I kissed Sophie one more time and then grabbed my jacket and briefcase and left the apartment. Down on the street, I knew the limo would be waiting for me, so I grabbed a newspaper out of the dispenser on my way. My driver had the door already open for me.

---