Hands circled from behind, carefully encircling her body as if touching her would turn her to water, his chin resting on top of her head, "Manman, Manman—"
He whispered her name softly again and again.
He was scared of hurting her, very scared.
Manman regretted it so much that she couldn't regret more; she was even more scared of him being hurt. Turning her head, without thinking, she gently lifted her lips to kiss the corner of his: "Sorry."
With her kiss upon him, it was like a strum on the heartstrings, the whole string vibrating; he wanted so badly to carry her to the bed. But he only brushed her tear ducts with his fingertips, cleared his chocked throat, and said, "Did you have dinner tonight?"
"Not yet."
"Why didn't you eat when there was free food and drink available there?"
"Wasn't I just worried that you might have nothing to eat at home?"
His wife was making progress, even managing to beat him at his own game.
