The Glory Days

The newlyweds had received many wonderful gifts from friends and family who attended the wedding, one of them being a rundown house that Bridget’s aunt had been meaning to get rid of for a while now. It was in a quaint neighborhood away from Brooklyn and the city, with nice neighbors and a sense of community, though it hadn’t been occupied in years and was in need of repairs. When Aunt Lizzy figured she wouldn’t be able to turn a profit by selling it, she decided to give it to them knowing they would take care of her former home. Not only was she glad to give it to good owners, but she was glad that her niece would be able to benefit from it.

Steve’s arm slunk around Bridget’s shoulders, rubbing her arm in a comforting manner as they stared at the home that was in dire need of fixing up. The windows were boarded up, the yellow paint was chipped in some places and faded in others, the shingles upon the roof were loose and some even missing, and the grass was unkempt as it was around a foot in height. However, even as they saw the shabby home, they couldn’t help but smile. It was theirs. Here was the place that they would make memories together, where they would create a family all their own.

“It’s a good thing we have your apartment to sleep in for the rest of the month,” Steve chuckled. “This may take a few days.”

“We can do it; we’re the Rogers.”

Steve smiled and they walked onto the property with the determination to make this house their own, to make this house a home. They took off the boards on the outside of the home first, deciding to open the windows to let some fresh air in and let the stuffy air in the house out. After that was done, they got to work on the exterior, Bridget taking hold of the hose and spraying down the sides to get the dirt and grime off while Steve began to mow the lawn.

Bridget’s parents soon stopped by, carrying a few cans of paint for them to use. “Are you both going to need any help here?” Billy inquired of his daughter and son-in-law. “You know your mother, sister, and I are more than happy to help out.”

“Thanks, Dad, but I don’t think that we’ll be needing it. Steve and I can handle this. We’ll let you know, though.”

Nodding his head, he kissed his daughter on her forehead. “You know where we’ll be if you need anything.”

Emilia came beside them and handed her a basket. “I’ve prepared some sandwiches for you both to eat for lunch in case you should get hungry. They’re peanut butter and jelly, I hope you don’t mind.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Spencer,”

“Steven, please, we’re family now!” Emilia lectured. “How many times do I have to tell you to call me mom?”

Steve smiled. “Sorry, mom,”

Immediately a grin was brought upon Emilia’s expression and she hugged them both. “Be careful with your housework. I don’t want one of you to get hurt because you’re overdoing it.”

“Okay, mom,” Bridget laughed.

The parents then left in their car, heading back home which was now only a few miles away. Emilia had been ecstatic when she found out that Bridget would be moving into her sister’s old home, it was considerably closer than where Bridget lived prior and she couldn’t wait to see her daughter more than she originally had been.

As they left, Bridget and Steve resumed their work. Bridget swept the pathway to the door along with the porch and Steve got the paint ready. As soon as they had their brushes in their hands, they got to work. Steve painted the upper half of the house while on the ladder, and Bridget did the bottom. It took them a good three or four hours to finish half of the house, and they had also wiped out half of the paint.

“Why don’t we take a break?” Bridget suggested. “We still have mom’s sandwiches.”

Steve nodded and put down the brush, covering the bucket of paint with a lid and walking over to join her as she washed the paint off her hands with the hose. Before they dug in, they looked to house and silently admired their handiwork.

“It’s coming together nicely,” Bridget sighed.

“It’s definitely getting there,” Steve smiled. “It’s going to be the best house on the block.”

As they began to eat, they savored the sweetness of the jelly and peanut butter, taking a small sip of milk from the cups that Emilia had also prepared for them.

“Emilia really does think of everything,” Steve said as he was able to get part of the sandwich off the roof of his mouth with the white drink. “She’s a great mom.”

“I’m glad she’s my mom,” Bridget nodded. “I hope I can at least be half the mom she is when I’m a mother.”

“You’ll be a great mom, Bridge. I know you will.”

“I’m just going to tell you this now, Steven, but I want a lot of kids. You’d best be prepared.” Bridget laughed softly, a light blush appearing on her cheeks as she took another bite of her sandwich.

Steve smirked to himself and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into him and kissing her neck softly. “We’re going to need a picket fence to keep them all in, then.”

Bridget buried her face in the nook of his neck and smiled. “You better get working on it soon.”

When they finished eating, they resumed work once again, their mood switching from flirty to serious as soon as they picked up their brushes. By the early evening, they had finished painting the outside of the home a cheery yellow and had started to paint the windowsills white. They then called it a day, deciding to continue their work on their future home in the next few days.

As time went by, things started to come together. Steve had gotten help from Billy as they asked him to help with the fence, and Emilia helped Bridget as they cleaned the interior of the home, mopping and dusting away at everything within reach, making it all spotless.

Days later, when the sprucing up had been completed and the house was looking brand new, they moved in as quickly as they could, eager to start their new life. Bridget had to agree with what Steve had said earlier, it was, by far, the best house on the block.

The day after moving in, Bridget had just finished watering the plants out front, an automatic sprinkler showering the front lawn with water, and made her way to the back, finding Steve bending down beside the back stairs planting a rose bush. Smiling at how focused he was, she decided to tease him, spraying him lightly with a mist from the hose. He jumped and stared at her in shock, laughing when he saw it was her.

The radio that was inside the house started playing a love song, Bridget gushing, “This is one of my favorites.” She walked over to her husband, tugging softly at his shirt’s sleeve. “Will you dance with me, please?” She questioned with a pleading smile.

“I can’t dance,” Steve admitted, looking down and back at the bush in embarrassment.

“Well then, I’ll have to teach you tonight after dinner,” she smiled, standing in front of him and leaning back into him. “For now though, just hold me.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and they swayed to the slow song that flooded from the speakers; Steve inhaling her sweet scent of strawberries and Bridget feeling secure and loved within his embrace. This was what they lived for now. It was these small, unforgettable moments that gave meaning to their lives.

Bridget smiled and turned the hose around to face Steve, squeezing the handle and the nozzle squirting out a light mist in his face. The brunette laughed as he let go of her and rushed around to face her with a shocked expression.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have done that,” he began, starting to walk towards her playfully.

Screaming in anticipation of what might happen, she pulled back the handle again, spraying him completely and making him take steps back in surprise, holding up his hands to shield himself from the jet of water. Bridget laughed uncontrollably as Steve attempted and failed to protect himself, tossing the hose down and running towards the front of the home as he started to walk towards her slowly. Steve chased after her with a smile on his lips, laughing as he caught up with her and picked her up bridal style in the front lawn. The automatic sprinkler that was still on wet them both as Steve spun around with her in his arms, her own wrapping around his neck for a more secure hold as she crashed her lips upon his own afterwords.

They kissed for what felt like eternity, though in reality it was only minutes; however, to them that was nothing short of perfection. Steve held her in his arms for most of the embrace before setting her down onto the ground with care, allowing them both to grow closer to the other, the sunlight that was being filtered through the leaves masking their bodies with warmth. As they pulled away, their hot breath mixed together, both sets of eyes hazy with lust for the other.

“I love you,” Bridget breathed out softly.

“I love you, too,” Steve replied, recapturing her lips with his.

Later that night, they proved their love and the true extent of their emotions by entangling themselves in their bed sheets and each other.

Notes