Page 21 of Falling Again
Natalie sipped from her wine glass after checking that Otis was entertained with his toys. Easing herself onto a stool, she gestured for Alice to join her.
“So Alice, what brings you back to town?” She hated repeating herself, but Alice could skirt questions like a politician.
Alice mimicked Natalie’s pose and sipped from her wine, one arm resting on the counter. “School is done, and I didn’t know where to go next.”
“What was this degree in again?” Natalie asked, genuinely curious as what she was up to now. Alice started in poli-sci like her brother and father, but after graduation she lost interest in what she called “helping others.” So, when her classmates were off getting jobs at law firms and in politics, Alice decided to go back to school for a masters in literature. She had a brief stint as a librarian before going back to school for biology. Turns out the only biology she was interested in was the anatomy of her professor, a married man whose wife didn’t appreciate Alice’s attempts at extra credit.
The next semester Alice announced she was studying German and planned to live in Munich. When she found out her father wouldn’t pay for her European adventure, she acquiesced and shifted her major to German history. Judging from her presence and lack of lederhosen, Natalie assumed Alice didn’t have many career opportunities on the horizon—at home or abroad.
Alice drained the last of her glass and reached for the bottle, which Natalie subtly pulled away. The last thing she or Anthony needed was a drunk Alice on their hands. “History, with a focus in Germany during WWII and the post-wall reunification,” Alice finally answered when there weren’t any other distractions.
“Sounds interesting,” Natalie said, and she meant it. The only thing more fascinating than the subject matter were Alice’s thoughts on her job prospects.
“It is. I worked with some great professors and writers at school. I helped co-author an article on a village that saved Jewish people from the local concentration camp.”
Natalie was impressed. Her in-laws had failed to mention Alice was truly using her degree.
“Do you think you’ll do some writing of your own?” Natalie asked, swirling her wine around in the glass.
Alice shrugged and reached over to her half-eaten pizza. Pulling a congealed piece of cheese from the pan, she took a bite and stood. “I guess I’ll go upstairs and unpack my stuff.”
Before Alice could leave the kitchen, Natalie stood. “You’ll have to camp out on the sofa down here. Madeline and Otis have separate rooms now.”
Alice’s footsteps faltered at the news. “Really? Last time I was here there was a guest room.”
Natalie fought not to roll her eyes. “Yeah, but that was when Otis was still sleeping in his crib in our room. Both the kids have their own rooms now.”
“That doesn’t seem fair to guests,” Alice countered.
Starting an argument with Alice on an empty stomach was the last thing Natalie wanted. Well, that wasn’t technically true. The last thing she wanted was for her lazy sister-in-law to camp out on their sofa until she got bored or found a better offer. Knowing Alice, she could find her next offer in five minutes or five months. Either way, Natalie wasn’t interested.
“Look, I’m sorry we don’t have a guest room anymore. Why don’t you go stay with your parents? I know they still have a guest room that hasn’t been taken over by kids.”
Alice looked aghast, like Natalie had suggested she cover herself in honey and play on an ant hill.
“Hard pass,” she groaned. “I’ll couch surf for a while.”
“For a couple days,” Natalie countered. “You can stay a couple days.”
Alice shrugged and hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “Whatever. When does Tony come home?”
Tony was Anthony’s least favorite nickname. While most men wouldn’t think anything of the shorter moniker, it brought Anthony’s pulse to near apocalyptic levels.
“Anthonywill be home in an hour or so. Why don’t you play with the kids while I clean up the kitchen and start dinner?”
Just then Otis emerged from his room with an armful of train cars. His current obsession was anything with wheels, and the toy explosion in his bedroom was proof. “Hey little man. What do you have here?” Alice dropped her bag to the floor and leaned down to play with Otis.
Satisfied they would be fine on their own, Natalie went back to the kitchen and started cleaning up Alice’s mess. The longer she washed plates and glasses, the angrier Natalie got. She had plans for tonight, plans that didn’t involve cleaning up after a third child. She wanted to talk to Anthony; really talk to him. She was also hoping they could try a re-do of their Netflix night, complete with some cuddling. It would be hard to do that with Alice sofa surfing.
When Natalie finished chopping vegetables for dinner, she heard the garage door open. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was thirty minutes earlier than Anthony usually came home. Smiling to herself, Natalie snuck a sip of her wine before walking toward the door to greet her husband.
This was what they used to do, back before kids and their careers took off. Whoever got home first would wait by the door when they heard the other approaching. There would be passionate kisses, the kind only stupid fools in love shared, followed by hours of talking, cooking, and making love. Natalie missed those moments, and she ached to share them with Anthony again.
Anthony stepped through the door and bumped right into Natalie. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting her to travel down memory lane and meet him at the threshold. He dropped his messenger bag and reached out to steady her, grasping her by the forearms. Natalie savored the feel of his touch. Before she could talk herself out of it, she closed the distance and kissed him. It was a quick peck on the lips, but it was more intimacy than they’d shared in far too long.
“Hi,” she breathed as he steadied her. She swooned like a lovesick teenager.
Anthony’s face broke into one of his old smiles. “Hi yourself,” he said, leaning in to kiss her again. Natalie closed her eyes, preparing for the sweet sensation of his lips on hers.
