A Perfect Match

Jess wakes early the morning of England's third match. It's hot already and she wants to get to the shops before the other party-makers to ensure the task is bearable.  In Waitrose she stocks up on beer, and some wine for the girls. She won't be drinking any herself. She fills up her trolley with food, including some pre-prepared treats and the ingredients she needs to make the homemade chilli that David loves.

She is busy in the kitchen singing softly to herself and doesn't hear her husband
until he presses himself against her. She tenses a little as he rubs up against
her whilst simultaneously stroking the baby bump still concealed under
non-pregnancy specific clothes. His large hands move slowly and linger gently
on her thighs. He nuzzles her neck and she relaxes into him enjoying his
morning smell. As he moves to unzip her jeans she giggles and shrugs him off.

'Not now Davy boy,' she says, using her personal nickname for him. 'I've got so much
to do, make yourself useful instead and push the Dyson around.'

'Ok, ok.' David laughs and moves away adjusting his genitals to a more comfortable
position.

'Hold that thought though darling girl, later, later.' He kisses her neck softly
before leaving the room.

They work together companionably for the rest of the morning, David helping with the
salads and whipping the cream for the profiteroles once the hovering is done.
They both wash and change before their friends arrive, exchanging a lingering
kiss as they pass from bathroom to bedroom. After her shower Jess slowly creams
moisturiser into her body, her neck, her face. No need for any further
embellishments; she is pretty enough without it and prefers the fresh look. Her
dress is sleeveless and short and shows off her long, suntanned limbs.

Whilst the match is on Jess sits with Carolina and Kay in a shady place in the house’s
large garden. With a stomach full from lunch and tired at this stage in her
pregnancy Jess drifts off in the middle of a conversation about a minor problem
Kay is having at work. The loud groans, not only from their own men but others
in the cul-de-sac similarly engaged, wake her soon after and momentarily she
feels a little fear, not sure what the noise is, not sure who she is with.

'You ok Jess?' asks Carolina

'Yes fine.' Jess replies. 'Just a little confused for a second or two, you know what
it's like when you doze off in the afternoon. I'm doing that a lot lately,' she
adds with a sly smile whilst briefly touching her belly.

'Ohh, you're not,' the other two women both shout, almost drowning out the grunts and
grumbles from indoors.

'I am.' Jess smiles again, shyly this time. She has previously agreed with David that
today is the day they will tell their closest friends the news. Their parents
know of course, but Jess wants Carolina and Kay, who have supported her so
kindly through the last many difficult months, to share in their joy as soon as
possible.

'A golden baby for a golden team,' says Kay reaching out to take Jess's hand.
Carolina nods and reaches out to hug her friend. A popular couple Jess and
David’s so obvious distress when trying, but failing to get pregnant, both
worried and upset their friends. The next hour or so passes quickly with talk
about pregnancy symptoms and plans for a baby focussed shopping spree. A few
more groans emanate from the house but rarer are the shouts of joy. No goals
are scored.

Much later after their friends have left Jess tidies the lounge, washes the dishes
and diligently wipes all the kitchen surfaces. She completes her jobs with a
trip to the dustbin. She suspects she will have little appetite for such
activity tomorrow. She moves quickly, making little noise, being especially
careful to be as quiet as possible when working near David, who has fallen into
a post-match, alcohol aided snooze. He has dribble on his chin and a chilli
stain on his team shirt. Not a good look for a man who prides himself on his
appearance. As Jess bends to switch off the table David wakes and circles her
wrist with his left hand. Although it's gone ten o'clock there is still a small
amount of natural light and when David grins at her Jess feels the familiar
racing of her heart, she knows what's coming next. She won't refuse him again.

The next morning is cooler and Jess is glad for it. Again she wakes early and
silently gets out of bed so as not to disturb her sleeping husband. She has to
move his arm which is lying heavy across her chest. David, shifts, snorts a
little and opens his eyes briefly but doesn't reach full consciousness. 

Jess enjoys her shower, standing still for a long time under water as hot as she can
bear. She dries herself carefully and dresses in a soft cotton long sleeved t-shirt
and comfy chinos. She stands in front of the bathroom's full length mirror and
holding her stomach tenderly she silently prays for her unborn child's future.
Then she prays for her own.

Jess is a statistic.

Whether the team win, lose or draw rates of domestic violence rise by more than a
quarter when England play a match in the World Cup. At least they are out of
the tournament now which gives David's wife, and others like her, one less
trigger to worry about. Slowly, and with a practised hand, Jess applies the
makeup she keeps for such a morning.