Scented Candles
Susan loved candles, the scented kind. When she and Alan first married, their little apartment always smelled like lilacs or apple cinnamon. He used to complain, saying the smell was too perfumy. She, of course, ignored him. She lit candles at dinnertime and had a special scent for bedtime. On Sundays, she arranged candles around the bathtub, all vanilla, and took a leisurely bubble bath. He’d give her time to relax alone in the warm water. Then he’d strip naked and join her, stepping over the candles while doing his best Jerry Lee Lewis impersonation: “Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!” In time, children replaced candles. There was no time for Sunday morning baths. Occasionally, she’d light a candle and they’d share a glass of wine after the children were asleep.
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