This morning started early, like, dark early. Briar woke with a start, an accident in her bed. I forgot to wake her in the night.

“Change my gown, change my gown.” Howl, sob “Mommy, can you fix my bed fresh so there’s no more pee?”

I tapped Sean to let him know what was happening and ran to her. By the time I reached her she was alternately whimpering and wailing, her distress waking Avery.

“Maaaama. Maw-muhh, Bwi-uh cryning, cuh-rye-ning! Bwi-uh, fis’it, mama.”

Sean was up and had Avery in his arms before I scooped Briar up and rushed her to the bathroom to finish peeing. We worked quickly and tenderly, soothing the girls while we changed sheets and dug out new pajamas. Soon it was time to go back to sleep. Briar slipped back into bed easily as Sean cuddled beside her, while Avery sought an extra bit of nursing. The four of us sat quietly as a storm rushed in, lightning flashing outside the windows illuminating the entire upstairs, and roof rattling claps of thunder sent us curling into one another. It wasn’t yet six when Sean and I finally met back in our room. We held hands and remembered storms from our first summer together at Williamstown. It was a sweet turn after a cold-water-in-the-face kind of rising.

I am girlishly giddy now as I dress to meet Sean downtown. One last chance at a date before mom and Abbie leave tomorrow. No wine or fancy clothes, but with a husband that I still worship and butterflies in my tummy, I think today is going to end up being a pretty special Monday.


I’m gonna love you like nobody’s loved you come rain or come shine
High as a mountain and deep as a river come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me it was just one of those things
But don’t ever bet me cause I’m gonna be true if you let me

You’re gonna love me like nobody’s loved me come rain or come shine
Happy together unhappy together and won’t it be fine?
Days may be cloudy or sunny
We’re in or we’re out of the money

But I’m with you always, I’m with you rain or shine

I’m gonna love you like nobody’s loved you come rain or come shine
High as a mountain deep as a river come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me it was just one of those things
But don’t ever bet me cause I’m gonna be true if you let me

You’re gonna love me like nobody’s loved me come rain or come shine
Happy together unhappy together and won’t it be fine?
Days may be cloudy or sunny
We’re in or we’re out of the money.

But I’ll love you always, I’m with you rain or shine

Rain or shine.