Mom was standing in the kitchen door. His heart stopped. things seemed to be happening in slow motion. He had to swallow hard and almost choked on the lump of un-chewed pear. He began to shake, he had really crossed the line. He wasn't just wearing the authorized play clothes. He had on a skirt and a half slip. Then he began to cry and the shaking got so bad he dropped his spoon.
"I'm sorry," Mom said, ruching around the table and leaning over to give him a big hug. "Did I scare you?" She picked him up from the chair and began a sort of rocking back and forth. She cooed over him some, stroking his back and hair and rubbed his back. Alan was acutely aware of her hand passing over his bra strap. "You didn't think I was home, did you? I'm sorry Sweetie. I got sick at work and came home early. I must have been in bed asleep when you came in. I didn't mean to scare you." After a time he quit crying and she kissed him. "I'll tell you what. Yo sit down and finish your pears and I'll get you some cookies to go with them. "Would you like that?"