Splish Splash

By Donna and Ev

The bright sunshine of another crisp winter day pierced through the curtains that had not been hung quite right.  Yawning, Marty got up and blew her nose, amazed to find that her head wasn't pounding like it had been.  At least not yet!  But if that light kept hitting her eyes like that, she knew she it would be before long.  The young blonde woman slid out of bed, wearing nothing but an oversized man's shirt.  Pulling a chair up to the window, she stood on it, reaching up high to redo the hooks so that the offending curtain hung evenly.

Luc happened to be outside on his way back from feeding the horses and few chickens and the motion of the curtain caught his eye.  He couldn't help the corners of his mouth turning up a little.  She must be feeling better.  He whistled the rest of the way back in and started the tea. 

The sound of running water told him that she was going to take another bath.  Once she had discovered that because of the hot springs that their water lines tapped into, they had unlimited hot water, she spent as much time in the tub as she could, telling him that the steam helped clear up some of the lingering congestion in her lungs.  That and she liked to sing in the tub.  Already he could hear her sing, "Row, row, row your boat..."  Other than the first three days when she had lost her voice entirely, she always sang while relaxing in the hot water.  Katherine had sent over some special
bath oils, that bubbled up high, and that only made Marty enjoy her time in the tub even more.

Chuckling, he listened to her sing.  He knew by now what kind of tea she liked, so he decided to risk delivering it to her while she was in the tub.  He knew she was using bubble bath, so it was worth a chance.  He knocked softly on the bathroom door.  "I have your tea."  Before she could say no, he opened the door and brought the steaming cup to rest within easy reach next to the tub. 

"Mornin'" she said brightly as she sank lower in the abundant bubbles. "I do believe I'm just about over this rotten cold!  Isn't that great!"  As he passed her the cup, she started to hum "Frere Jacques", one of the few songs in French that she knew.

He raised his eyebrows a little.  He had expected her to fuss at him. "Magnifique!  Perhaps you would like to think about seeing the town soon, such as it is.  There are a couple of shops and a library, at least."  His gaze strayed to a glimpse of leg peeking out of the bubbles.  A very nice leg. 

As she sipped her tea, she played with the faucet, sticking her big toe in and out of it.  "Town would be nice!" she said.  "Not that you aren't nice or anything, but it would be nice to see another woman's face!"

"I have neighbors.  Perhaps I could invite some of them for dinner.  You have not met Katherine, who has sent you the bath oils and medicines.  She has a baby and lives with two men."  His eyes crinkled into a smile as he mentioned that. 

"Two?" Marty chuckled.  "My, my!  Now that is interesting."  Suddenly she froze, a look of surprise on her face.  "Oh, Luc, I think I have a bit of a problem here.  My toe is stuck!"

"You are joking!"  Luc looked into her eyes, then at her toe and sighed. "You are not joking."   Grumbling under his breath, he first suggested she try counting to ten.  "I want you to relax and try again.  Please." 

"One chimpanzee, two chimpanzee, three..." she counted.  Reaching ten, she tried again, but no such luck. "Now this is embarrassing," she giggled.

He gave her a disbelieving look.  This was not something he expected at all.  "Do you mind?"  He looked to her for permission before taking hold of her foot and trying to work her toe loose.  No luck.  "Perhaps some grease. I will get some." 

He came back with some butter, and with a look of intense concentration, greased up her toe.  Marty, who had extremely ticklish feet, was howling with laughter by the time he finally worked her toe out of the faucet.

He couldn't help but laugh and throw in a little extra tickle.  "Should I perhaps keep the butter in here now?" he teased. 

She tossed a handful of bubbles back at him while shrieking in helpless laughter, sinking under the water. "Stop!" she sputtered as she came up. "You're going to drown me!"

He chuckled at her.  "This was your idea, not mine.  Should I make breakfast now, or will you need rescuing again?"

She pouted.  "Shoo!  I'm starving," she said.  "I'll call you if I am in need of your services again!"   She blew him a kiss, and as he walked out the door, she sang, "I was a splishing and a splashing...."