missed exits.
"i think i need to be up there," he said, indicating the freeway above him. "damn it!"
"watch your mouth." she liked saying this to him. "just take the next exit, turn around, and get there. what's another two miles to this godforsaken trip?"
he flipped on the right blinker and began drifting into the next lane. "that's what i mean! aren't you tired, too?"
she looked at the kids in the backseat, making sure that they were still asleep. "incredibly. all i'm saying is that it has already been a long day, and i shouldn't have to worry about quieting another baby that won't stop screaming. we get there when we get there." she adjusted her seatbelt. "besides. it's nice to get a little more time with you."
he took the exit and slowed the car down to wait for a protected left turn. "yeah. it's been a while, i guess." he watched the cross-traffic. "sorry."
"it's okay. i mean. i know you're busy at work and all that." she shifted in her seat to face him.
"yeah, but –"
"but nothing," she interrupted. "you work hard. sure, we don't see each other much, but when we do, it's nice." she turned down freddy mercury singing, 'i got no rhythm.' "i appreciate all you do for us."
green light. "you do?"
"yeah," she said. "i do. i guess i don't say that enough."
"it's okay. i know you do a lot with the kids, and you're tired at the end of the day."
"yeah. but not too tired." she smiled, and they laughed together. "it's nice to do that again."
"it certainly is." he drove up the onramp, now headed the opposite direction. "i've missed you," he confessed.
"i've missed you back." she put her head on his shoulder.
then silence.
"you know," he spoke, "it's hard to drive with your head there."
she lifted her head.
"i didn't say stop," he grinned.
she put her head back down, and they were back on the road, right where they needed to be.
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