Story - Novel The Fever CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4
A sweet aroma filled the air as I woke from the comfort of the bed.
I did not recognize the smell at first, for I hadn't smelt it in such
a long time, but eventually it hit me what the scent possibly was.
"Good, you're awake," my wife said as she brought a steaming mug to the bed.
"Coffee?" I asked half surprised half thrilled at the sight.
"Yes, they had some in the drawer over there by the counter. Paul,
this is wonderful."
"Mmmmm," I said as I slowly sipped the coffee."Where are the girls?"
"Swimming. I walked them down to the pool this morning and they've
been having a grand time. I think we are someof the only people in the
hotel right now."
I took another sip of the black liquid and smiled. Jen smiled back at
me and lay down on the bed next to me.
"The girls are gone?"
"Mmhmmm," she answered.
"Really," I said and set down my coffee mug on the nightstand. Jen
grabbed the blankets and pulled them over both of us.
"How long are they going to be gone?"
"At least a little while yet."
"Well in that case..."
"It's been awhile since we've done this."
"Too long."
She laughed and we continued until a rappingon the door interrupted our session.
"I'll get it," I said and quickly threw on some clothes before walking
tothe door. Jennifer was still giggling. The rappingcontinued against
the door, harder than the first time.
I stuck my eye up to the peephole and saw a disoriented, unfamiliar
face through the small piece of glass. "Who is it?"
"I'm looking for a Jacob Finch."
"Sorry, wrong room."
"Okay, thank you," the voice said and then walked away.
"What was that all about?" Jen asked.
"Someone was looking for somebody and they had the wrong room."
"Oh," she paused and then smiled, pulling the blankets closer around
her. I started walking towards the bed when another rapping started on
the door, this time much lighter than the last. I walked back to the
door, irritated.
"Better not be that same idiot," I muttered as I stood up to the
peephole. I saw nothing. Confused, I started walking back towards the
bed. The rapping suddenly continued. Nowangry, I stomped back to the
door. Jennifer just laughed.
Once again, when I got tothe door, I could see no one. I was just
about to walk away when I heard a child's voice say, "C'monDad, stop
playing games and let us in." Jen must have heard them too because she
was instantlyout of the bed, wrapped in the sheets, and hurriedly
striding into the bathroom with a lookof amusement across her face.
Once she slammed the door, I opened the door for the twin girls.
"Gee wiz took you long enough. Where is Mommy?"
"She's in the bathroom, Hun."
"Well then why is her underwear and clothes all over the floor?" One
ofthe twins asked. "Are these yours?" the other asked as she held up
some red plaid boxer shorts. All I could do was laugh.
The day went by quickly after that.
We decided to order lunch to our hotel room, and the girls could not
get enough of the kiddy pool area. Jen and I stayed curled up on the
couch for most of the dayand just relaxed and watched cable- a first
for both of us. Jen was intrigued by the multiple soap operas and
continued to wake me upas I watched them through my eyelids. But when
suppertime came, Iwas more than awake.
"Everyone ready for steaks?" I yelled with enthusiasm.
"Yeah," I was greeted with much less enthusiasm. The twins were wiped
out for al theswimming they had beendoing that day and Jen was
preoccupied for dressing them for the lessthan ideal winters of
Chicago.
We left the hotel and found a steakhouse just down the road. Jen and I
had gone there on special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries
and such, because they weren't expensive and they had very good food.
When we arrived, we were immediately seated, just beating the
suppertime rush. We were put off in a corner, away from the crowding
of the restaurant, and I ordered premium sirloinsfor everyone right
away.
Soon when the waiter came back, everyone received a large slab of meat
in front of them, sided with French fries and coleslaw. A large bottle
of barbecue sauce was set in the middle of the table. The twin's eyes
were huge when the plates were set in front of them.
"Would you say grace?" I politely motioned to Jen. She nodded and
began the ritual.
"Bless us oh Lord, for these thy gifts, which we are about to receive,
from thine bounty, through Christ, our Lord, Amen."
"Alright, let's eat!" I said and started sawing away at the tender
meat. Jen cut up the food for the twins and they ate a few bites then
moved on to the French fries, completely avoiding the coleslaw.
We boxed up everything that was not eaten and left a larger than
normal tip on the table for the waiter to pick up. Jen took the girls
to the bathroom to clean up while I paid the bill and soon we were on
our way back to the hotel. Once there, everyone soon fell fast asleep.
I lasted longer than everyone else, and I constantly stared at Jen and
the girls, appreciating what I had been given to treasure. For the
first time, I actually felt like I was succeeding at my job as
ahusband and as a father.