22 Minutes. (By: Jessica)

A few days ago I had 22 minutes.

22 minutes to myself, guilt free, given to me by my husband.

It was a sweet, thoughtful, and totally surprising gift.

We were sitting in the living room. Toby, me, Cece, and Leo. Kids playing and Toby and I talking. I told him about all the things I had on my mind. I wasn't complaining (or at least I didn't think I was or I honestly wasn't trying to) but just simply making conversation about things I was currently working on and trying to finish up.

Out of no where, Toby says this.... "Want me to make you a bath?"

I was taken so off guard, I didn't know how to respond. I think I laughed, thinking this statement was not serious..... something similar to when someone says, "Would you like a million dollars?"

I thought he was joking and trying to make me smile.

Then he said this.... "With a glass of wine?"

Then I KNEW he was joking. He was now making this a dream; something that only happened in movies. A woman soaking in a bubble bath, hair up in a beautiful up-do, perfect make-up on, rsting her head on a fluffy little pillow, her perfectly painted toes sticking out of thousands of tiny multi-colored bubbles, in a claw foot tub with one of those things that connects to the sides of the tub like a shelf, holding a crystal wine glass with perfectly chilled pinot inside.

If you are a fan of the TV show "Roseanne", this reminds me of the episode where she is in her dream bathroom with  muscular, half naked men fanning her with huge palms.

Then he said this......"With the door locked".

Finally.... I realized he was serious.

Why did I suddenly realize he was serious when he mentioned a locked door? Because he knows how much I miss a locked bathroom door.

I looked at him deep in the eyes. Looked at the sexy, playful, yet serious, smirk on his face and immediately took him up on the offer before he took it back!

I jumped up from the couch and headed toward the spa bathroom, while Toby got up and went to find the wine cork.

I guess I got a little excited, cause I already had the door locked before Toby could even get a wine glass out of the cabinet. Hearing the "click" of the lock gave me goosebumps.

Here are some details concerning the next 22 minutes.......

• the water was already running and the bath smelled of Johnson & Johnson bedtime bath wash
• when it was over half-way full I got in. 
• the water was already luke warm cause we had run out of hot water
• When I stepped in and sat down, a tidal wave medium size wave splashed over the edge of the tub, rudely  reminding me of the 10 pounds I would love to loose. 
• I sat back, sighed, and closed my eyes, thinking to myself that I could legit fall asleep. Here. Just like this. 
• Toby knocked on the door with my wine. 
• I had to get out, naked and cold, open the door just enough to slide my hand out, and take the wine. 
• I proceeded to get back into the tub, a little less warm than before, causing a slightly bigger wave to splash over the side because I was now lowering myself into the tub with the aid of only one free hand.  (damn these 10 lbs) 
• I sipped the wine and then sipped some more and then sipped some more, until it was totally gone in less that 5 minutes. Maybe I should have tried to make it last a little longer? Or maybe Toby should have filled it up fuller. 
• I set the glass on the floor and just rested, trying to slow down my mind and take a break from all the "to-do's" and "need-to-buy's" and "don't forget's". 
• Then I heard the door knob jiggle. 
• And jiggle again.
• Then I opened my eyes and now watched it jiggle. 
• Then a small voice yells, "MOM?" and then an annoyed "HEYYYYYYY!"  when he realizes the door is locked.
• Then I heard loud man-like footsteps and the scurry of little feet in a direction away from the door. 
• I then smiled and thought about that voice and laughed a little bit. 
• I rested a bit more. 
• Got bored. 
• Was a little chilly. 
• and snapped outta the moment. 

I grabbed my phone and looked at the time.

22 minutes had passed.

I took a deep breath, avoided seeing myself in the mirror, grabbed a towel, unlocked the door, and got back to real life.

22 minutes.

It was all I needed. A quite moment, with a few gulps of wine, a little  luke warm soak in baby bath, and the sweet sound of my son's voice wanting to come in.

I honestly will never forget that moment/gift.

It's the little things.