Tom & Bonnie (short drabble)

[Lime]

 

Loosely based on two people I know.

 

Tom opened the door and was immidiately greeted by a scent of a musky stew.

The best part of his wife Bonnie’s working from home was that she would usually have dinner ready when he got back from the office.

 

He stepped in to the kitchen where his wife was just adding the last spices. However, he noticed she was not quite her usual self. Her skin was paler than he’d seen it last night, and her red hair, bundled up in a ponytail, was matched by a tint of red on the tip of her nose. As if responding to his obsveration, her nose twitched slightly, and Bonnie reached out for the kithcen roll. Quickly teraing of a square, she held it to her pale nose, before letting out a gently ”Ktcchew! Ktccheww!” She always sneezed like that, doubles into tissues or paper. Working as a teacher had taught her to be mindful of contagion. 

 

She turned away from his and softly blew her nose. It was not too stuffed, but she still never liked blowing her nose in front of people. ”Are you alright, love?” he asked as he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. ”Not catching a cold, are you?”

 

She shook her head firmly. ”I’m fine. Nothing that a dram of whisky won’t cure.” 

He should have known better than to ask her to admit defeat to a virus. Her Scottish blood shone through not only in her beautiful red mane, but also in her stubbornness.

He dropped it for the time being, as they sat down to eat.

 

Throughout the meal Bonnie got up twice to go into the bathroom and blow her nose which seemed to be bothering her more than she’d admit. As they finished, she did indeed get up and pour herself a scotch.

”Are you sure you should be drinking now? Maybe I should make you some tea instead?” he asked cautiously, but she waved him off. 

”It’s fine. Talisker is basically medicine. My grandfather drank it and he lived to be 90.” She took a sip, which seemed to irritate her infected throat, and she gave a quick cough. 

 

After dinner they cuddled up to watch a film together, Bonnie with her scotch and Tom with his tea. It was quite clear Bonnie had indeed caught a cold. Three times during the film she reached for the tissue box and released increasingly irritated sneezes. ”Khtcheww! Khttchewww!” She held the tissues with both hands. Tom held his arm around her and stroked her back gently. 

 

As soon as the film ended, the redhead got up and scuttled to the bathroom where more thoroughly blew her irritated nose. 

When she sat back down, Tom put his hand on her forehead. ”Maybe you should take a sick day tomorrow. You’re a bit warm.”

She sniffled but shook her head. ”Sick days are for the weak. And the English. Besides, I’ll just be on Zoom tomorrow anyway.” 

Tom kissed her mildly fevered forehead gently. ”Well, I hope you feel better soon.”

Edited March 30, 2022 by Lime

[Gingersneeze]

Great start! Can’t wait for more.

[SneeVee]

This is really good!

[Dc1]

I love this ❤️