She was impressed with the restaurant selection, knowing it wasn’t an easy place to get a reservation. Looking at her closet, she discussed out loud her options for apparel and Hunter just nodded along, telling her that she would look beautiful no matter what she chose. It seemed like everything was how it should be. A couple with 13 years of marriage going out. The wife excited to dress up for once while secretly feeling sorry that she didn’t have the body she used to. The husband reminding his wife that she was more beautiful as the years went on. Hunter even felt comfortable enough to put his toes into the bedroom. When he wasn’t electrocuted for the offence, he walked in and sat on the bed while Rhonda got ready.
After their daughter came home, the lasagna was baked and ready to be served by Marie, Hunter led Rhonda out to the car. She even looped her arm through his as they walked down the driveway. In the car, they spoke like a normal couple. They talked about their daughter, how she made Rhonda crazy; their days. Rhonda talked about her job, watching all the people going off to destinations like Italy, Brazil, or Australia. Maybe when they retired, they’d go somewhere like that together. Hunter promised her they would just as he pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Before turning off the car, he turned to Rhonda.
“Did I mention that tonight is a double date?” Rhonda looked like she could kill him with her tiny purse.
Chapter 40
Madeline sat with Brandon’s arm around her shoulders. Their fingers were interlocked and she could feel Brandon’s thumb rubbing against her hand. She loved the feeling of his hand holding hers. It was strong, protective.
“How do you two do it?”
Madeline and Brandon glanced at each other and smiled like they were sharing a secret, before turning back to the reporter in front of them.
“Well—” “It’s—" They both started to speak at the same time and that made them both chuckle. “Ladies first,” Brandon said, kissing his wife’s temple.
“It’s a lot of work,” Madeline said to the reporter. They were being interviewed for a segment that would run during one of the early morning talk shows about being a strong career-focused couple while raising a family. They were sitting in their living room, which had been professionally cleaned and organized and supplemented with fake sunlight for the shoot. “We’re very lucky that we have help. I know not everyone has the opportunities that we do and for that we are so grateful. We try to outsource all the miniscule tasks around the house so we can focus on our family relationships. Time is so limited; the key is making the most of every minute; which means when you are with family, you are focused on family. There is no thinking about work when you are with the kids. If you ask your son how his day was, you listen and absorb every word.”
“Brandon, you want to add something?”
“At the end of the day, it’s really all about trust,” Brandon said. “We’re partners, we’re a team and we work together so that we can succeed in the most important project of all, which is our family. We support each other, pick up slack when we need to, and most importantly, we don’t judge each other when someone drops the ball. We know it happens, but as a team, it’s each of our jobs to catch the ball when the other drops it. This is really the most important thing: instead of fighting about these things, we lift each other up.”
“That’s romantic,” the reporter commented, looking at the filming camera for a moment. “It’s easy for couples to be so focused on being a team that they forget they are also a couple. You two seem like you still have that romantic connection. Any tips for other parents?”
“It’s about being present,” Madeline said, patting Brandon’s thigh. “Whether that means closing your phone for three minutes to have coffee together or making sure to check in on each other during the day to show your support. Every little thing counts. We are both constantly thinking about how to make the other one happy. Anything you can do to put a smile on the other’s face, you do it. Like last week, for example, Brandon forgot his coffee at home.” Madeline glanced at her husband. “Anyone who knows Brandon, knows he always brings his dingy, old plastic mug to work, even though he can get fresh coffee there. Anyway, I saw that, so I had a fresh coffee—in a plastic mug, of course—delivered to his desk and waiting for him when he got there.”
“That was really thoughtful,” Brandon said with a big smile on his face. “It’s little things like that.”
“That’s so nice to hear,” the reporter said. “Now, we have just a minute left and we haven’t even spoken about your upcoming election. I’m sure this puts an extra strain on your family life.”
“Of course,” Madeline responded. “But I’m so lucky I have Brandon who picks up any slack for me at home. He truly is the perfect husband.” Madeline turned her head and her lips met Brandon’s for a quick peck.
When the filming was finished, the reporter and film crew packed up their equipment and
