Page 104 of The Fall

I almost skipped down the hall with renewed energy as I grabbed a fresh towel and some candles and made my way into the sanctuary of the bathroom. I undressed quickly and turned the water on as hot as my skin could stand it. I poured a small amount of my mom’s tonic into the water, instantly smelling the citrus and breathing deeply. I lit two candles and stood in front of the mirror, studying my body. I had fared well with the birth of Grant seven short months after my wedding but had suffered horribly at the hands of Annabelle. There were faint but large stretch marks etched over the top of my stomach. Dean had told me time and time again that he loved them and thought they were beautiful.

Idiot.

I picked up my phone to call him as I stepped into the tub, getting him on the second ring.

“Hey, wife,” he said sweetly, instantly making me long for him.

“How long will you be?” I asked, letting out a moan as my body hit the scalding water.

I heard a chuckle and then, “What the hell are you up to?”

“Me?” I replied coyly. “I’m just soaking in a hot tub surrounded by candles.”

A throaty moan accompanied his next question. “Hmmm, is there room for me?”

“Absolutely not. I don’t want to be anywhere near you or your impregnating penis,” I teased.

“That bad today?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

I loved my children with everything in me, and so did Dean, but the truth was they were hellions.

“Look…stay far away from here. I love you enough to tell you to run. Run for your life! Go have an adult beverage with a friend…or better yet, have an entire dinner where you aren’t interrupted, then go home and watch an hour of adult programming. Live for the both of us!”

More laughter, then a quick, “No, it was partially my penis that got us into this mess. I’ll be there soon.”

“If you insist, but the girl child has grown up a year since this morning. I love you.”

I hung up then folded a hand towel in thirds, making a pillow for my head, when a soft knock at the door interrupted me, just a mere thirty seconds after I had found my Zen.

“No one is in here,” I barked loudly.

“Dallas, I need to talk to you.” Rose, of course, it was Rose.

“I love you, sis, but you will be hit with anything I can find if you enter this room.”

The door opened, and I grabbed a handful of my mom’s mini soaps, assaulting my sister with them.

“Stop it. Damn it, I need you!” she said, swatting away my flying weapons.

“Everybody needs me. I need a bath without interruptions, you selfish hag!”

“Fine,” Rose said, pouting, slowly backing away, giving me just enough time to change my mind. I wasn’t about to give in.

No way!

Damn it!

“What is it, Rosie?”

“Stop calling me that!” She walked over and put the toilet seat down, making herself at home. I sighed, peeking around the curtain to get a look at her.

“Spill it,” I demanded with a sigh.

“I…I…”

“I…I…what? My water is getting cold,” I whined.

“I slept with Jack,” she said, peering around at me, catching my reaction.

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