11 Eleven

I took a deep breath before stepping up to the front door. Lord, I hope she recognizes me, I thought as my fists hit the wood of the door. The next few seconds felt like hours until the door finally opened, just enough for me to see her. A few strands of gray had replaced her young, luscious blond hair, despite the fact she was still in her twenties. She eyed me up and down with lazy, uninterested eyes.

"I'm taken," she started to say but was cut off when she realized why I hadn't said anything, smiling like a fool. Her eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped. She stood still as if frozen in time. I couldn't think of anything to say, so I simply waited. I didn't know what she would do, whether she would hug me or slap me for not being there, whether she would push me away or usher me inside. I glanced down, seeing the residue of flour on her apron and hands. She had been preparing dinner.

Just as I looked up, her face was in mine, her arms around mine, her lips on mine, her perfume in my nose. I wrapped my arms around her in turn, kissing back. We stayed there for what seemed like an eternity. She pulled back first, looking me in the eye as I placed my hand onto her warm cheeks. She smiled. I grinned. We kissed again.

"Mommy?" A small voice called from the kitchen.