She was so tired. Walking up the stairs, she was dragging her legs. This day had been so stressful and overwhelming. She didn’t even know what it was. She just went nonstop from the minute she got out of bed. Breakfast for the kids, dressed, out the door, work all day. Today the kids went to their father overnight, so she went right from job one to job two, where she stood on her feet for four hours.

Now she was finally home, and she couldn’t barely get up the stairs. She needed to tell rob the whole four floor walk-up thing just didn’t work.

Knocking on the door, she leaned against the wall. She was so damn tired, and everything hurt. She really just wanted to climb into bed.

The door opened, and Rob folded her in embrace. The tears came suddenly, the frustration from her day falling on her like a rainstorm. He stroked her hair and took off her jacket. Without a word, he walked her into the bathroom.

She smelled the candle before she saw anything. The scent of lavender mixed with vanilla immediately started to relax her mind, and she walked in and saw the low light. The soft sound of a quiet cello came from the corner, and there was a nice cloud of steam rising from the tub. Rob gently pulled off her shirt and sat her on the closed toilet. He wrapped her in her favorite robe and took off her shoes and socks. She had already unbuttoned and unzipped her pants, and he eased them off her legs.

He removed the robe, and she stepped into the tub. Bliss. The water was bliss. The bubbles popped on her skin as she slid back and rested her head on the pillow he’s out there.

Rob walked to the other side of the room and wheeled over a small table. A glass of Chardonnay, an ashtray, and a beautifully rolled joint sat on the table, next to the novel she was reading and a clip on reading light.

This man…who had no idea what her day had been like, put the robe over a chair and dropped a warm, soft towel on top. Without saying a word, he smiled, kissed her on the forehead, and as she closed her eyes with a smile, she heard the bathroom door close.