Jim took a shower, but left the sheets as they were. He planned to deal with the bedding in the morning, rather than wake Sarah up. He spent the rest of the night on the couch. His alarm woke him early.

He tiptoed into the kitchen to make breakfast. He started the coffee pot, then got out the ingredients for scrambled eggs. As he went through the familiar process, Jim found himself going over the events of last night.

He was increasingly frustrated by Lucy’s behavior. I am going to have to figure out a way to deal with her. Maybe if I make some kind of gesture, she’ll be easier to work with. Or, if I could figure out what she wants.

Jim whisked the eggs together with a scoop of mayo and sprinkled in some dried basil and chives. He wished he had real parmesan cheese, so that he could make it exactly the way Sarah’s mom had taught her. As she had taught him. Powdered parmesan would do, though.

He’d never had eggs like this before meeting Sarah. But, he’d come to love them. He cooked the eggs and sipped his coffee, enjoying the aromas of both. He popped some slices of bread into the toaster.

Sarah wandered into the kitchen after the toaster finished with it's familiar ka-chung. As usual, she was dressed in her flannel nightgown. Eyes half closed, she reached out and wrapped him in a hug. “Mmmm, coffee.” She held onto him while he finished cooking the eggs.

She poured herself a cup of coffee and then helped butter the toast. “Thanks for making breakfast, babe. This looks great.”

Jim gave a bow. “I live to serve.” Sarah kissed him on the cheek and then walked out of the room to wake up Joseph.

His son stumbled into the kitchen, still wiping the sleep from his eyes. Jim bent down and scooped him up into a hug. “Hey, bud. Sleep good?”

His son nodded and hugged him tightly. Jim enjoyed the hug for a minute. He knew that Joseph would be past this stage before many more years went by. “Go ahead and sit at the table. Food’s ready.”

“You got it, dad.” Jim set him down. Joseph looked up into his face and said, “You look different.” Then, he headed for the table.

Huh. Jim brought the plates over to the table, and refilled his coffee mug. They all sat down together and began to eat. The eggs were rich and creamy. As Jim ate, he couldn’t help but notice that Joseph kept staring at him.

“What’s up?”

“You really look different, dad.”

Jim shrugged, and made a face sticking his tongue out. “Oh, yeah? What do you mean?”

“I dunno.” He shoveled in another forkful of eggs. “What do you think, mom?”

“What’s that, hon?” She looked up from her phone.

“Look at dad.”

Sarah glanced up at Jim, then looked back at Joseph. “What do you mean?”

“No, really look at him.”

She turned back to look at Jim, then. He looked back at her, and saw her eyes widen. “Oh wow. Hang on a second.” She leaned in closer. Jim watched as she examined him. Her mouth turned up in a slight smile. “Babe, what did you do? Something is different.”

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“I haven’t done anything. I just woke up and made breakfast.” Jim shrugged.

“Hmm. Okay.”

Now, Jim was getting stared at by both of them. He waited for it to end, but when they didn’t seem to be giving up, he set his fork down. “Alright, folks. Drink it in.” He stood up and went through a series of poses, flexing his muscles and making faces at them.

They laughed and went back to eating. Sarah turned to Joseph. “Did you finish your present for Autumn?”

“Not yet.” He shrugged. “But, I’ll have it ready in time for the party. I just need a little help with gluing a couple of the last pieces.”

Joseph said, “I’ve got a workout planned with Kevin. Want me to help afterward?”

“Yeah, unless mom can do it before then.”

“Okay, that works. I’ll have to race home, then.” Jim winked at him. “Babe, I’m gonna get changed and then head out. I’ll do the dishes after I get back.”

He got up and headed to their room to change into his sweats. Peering at himself in the mirror, he did a double take. There was something different, but it took him a minute to put his finger on it. It was like everything about his face had been slightly, subtly changed for the better.

His teeth looked like someone had whitened and straightened them a bit. His skin was smoother. His hair seemed like it was actually shorter than it was yesterday, no longer getting in his eyes. It wasn’t a huge change, but it was there nonetheless.

Weird. Maybe this is a side effect of investing in influence? I'll have to talk to Sarah about it when I get a chance. Jim changed into his workout clothes and headed for the door.

Sarah was standing there, waiting for him. “Oh, really? You’re just going to leave without giving me a kiss?” She grinned.

"You wound me!" Jim said. He held out a hand toward her. “Your kiss, madame.” She took his hand and he grasped it, pulling her in close. He wrapped his other arm around her shoulders, then he began to kiss her neck at the exact spot where she was the most ticklish.

Sarah gasped, and began to shriek.

Now, there have been countless languages throughout your world's history, but there has never been a better word for what occurred when Jim tickled his normally even-keeled wife. Clear the idea of coy giggles or childlike belly laughs from your mind. This was the keening wail of a woman dying. Or a teenage girl at a concert. Or perhaps a jet taking off. The difference is small.

Jim's eyes were twinkling as he removed his lips from her neck. "I love you, Sarah." He leaned in to give her a kiss on the lips.

“No, sir.” She pulled back and turned her face to the side. "I hate when you do that. Go kiss an egg."

He continued to pucker before her. "Babe, you know these lips have poor circulation. Don't leave me hanging!"

He felt something, then. Some muscle flexed inside of his mind that he had never before used. That he’d never known existed. But, something powerful moved within his thoughts as he said the words, and it was directed toward his wife.

She turned her face toward him, smiling. All traces of frustration had faded from her face. “Never.” She kissed him, then. And, this was no perfunctory peck on the lips. She leaned into him and locked her mouth onto his for several seconds before parting.

Now, normally the salacious details of Jim’s life are not necessary for you to grasp the story. But, I’ve seen enough of how you all deliberately share your mouth fluids with one another to know that this interaction was noteworthy. Disgusting, but noteworthy.

Jim was shocked. Normally, Sarah would have been irritated for hours after he tickled her. Instead, she stepped gently out of his embrace and said, “You better get going, or Kevin is going to be insufferable.”

“Love ya!” Jim grinned at her, opening the door. Then, he paused in the doorway. He turned back and said, “I’m sorry about tickling you. I know you don’t like that. Sometimes, I get carried away. Thanks for not making me pay for it.”

“Oh, you’re going to pay for it. When you least expect it, I’m going to strike.” She winked at him. “Have a good workout, babe. We’ll be here when you get back. And, relax. I’m totally not going to spend the next hour preparing to enact my retribution upon you.”

Then, she plastered a creepy Stepford Wives’ smile onto her face, and waved at him mechanically while shutting the door.

Jim started jogging toward his friend’s house with the memory of her lips on his. The looming threat of his comeuppance could not diminish the smile on his face. I am one lucky man. A lucky…endangered man.