He got home with her chocolate cake as promised, shifting the container from one hand to the other as he unlaced his shoes at the door. Andrew had taken the drive home to mull over what had just happened, since calling Mel while he was on the road just tended to make her worry. He was loosening his tie by the time he left the foyer and listening for sound to indicate where he would find her. Sometimes she greeted him right at the door, especially before the new of that wore off, but now as often as not she was engrossed in something or another and she just let him go to her.
It had been a fairly average day, except that bit at the end. He wasn’t sure if he ought to lead with that or not when she asked about it. He swung through the kitchen to get her a fork, which was when he saw the patio door open. Venturing outside revealed another surprise for the evening—Melisande swimming without him. He suspected immediately that it was something she had done with him in mind, though, since it coincided with his getting home.
“Hey there, gorgeous. Couldn’t wait for me?” He moved to crouch at the edge of the pool, forearms resting against his legs, with her food still caught in one hand and the fork trapped between his thumb and the top of the container. “I don’t think this is how the whole chocolate and pool scenario is supposed to play out but I appreciate the effort. Want me to put this away for now?”