Try as he might, Paul couldn’t recall the last time he’d woken up alone in bed.  A quick glance at his alarm clock confirmed what he already felt, that he’d slept in.  His latest frolic with Charlette apparently sapped him of more energy than he’d realized.<br/><br/>Rubbing any leftover sleep from his eyes, he made his way to his bathroom and splashed some cold water onto his face, enjoying the jolt from its cool temperature.  The house was quiet, no activity of any kind attempted to make its presence known.  In the eerie stillness, Paul was unsure if Charlette was home or not.<br/><br/>On approach toward the kitchen, she had to be home, as the distinct scent of coffee wafted to his eager nostrils.  Why hadn’t he smelled it before?  Well, a minor detail for sure.  Odd, he thought, that Charlette would be at the kitchen table, coffee mug in hand while sitting in silence.  And then he noticed the bag on the counter, recognizing the name and logo on the paper bag of the nearby drugstore.<br/><br/>A cup of coffee was definitely on his immediate agenda.  Adding a shot of bourbon was under serious consideration.