Page 7 of Falling Again
Anthony ran a hand down his face, unable to hide his distress. Natalie would be exhausted by the time he got home, and she’d likely be ticked off that he didn’t respond to any of her texts. He felt two feet tall—and he hated it.
“Thanks for thinking about the council spot. I really appreciate it.” Anthony said, practically shoving Max through the exit. Stopping to lock up the door, Anthony caught Max frowning.
“Is there anything I can help with?” Max asked, holding Anthony’s eye for a moment before stepping back.
Blinking, Anthony wanted to laugh at the question. There was a lot he needed help with, and he didn’t know where to start. But Anthony was needed at home, immediately. “Thanks, but all I need right now is to get home.”
Max nodded and walked to his car. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” He raised his hand in farewell and hopped into his own car.
Anthony got behind the wheel of his BMW and drove five miles over the speed limit the whole way home. As soon as he put the car in park and got to the door, he heard a cacophony of sounds coming from the house. That wasn’t good.
When he stepped inside, Anthony was greeted by utter bedlam. Otis was laying on the couch, wrapped in a pile of blankets and crying big fat tears. His skin was red and blotchy, a clear indication this temper tantrum had been going on a while.
“Mommy,” he whined, as he threw an empty juice box across the room. Madeline bounced on the loveseat, singing a Disney song at the top of her lungs and throwing glitter into the air. From behind them, he saw Natalie pacing in the kitchen, the smell of smoke hitting his nostrils.
Anthony put his messenger bag on the floor and toed off his shoes. Walking into the living room first, he scooped Madeline up and took her into the kitchen.
“What do we say about glitter?” Anthony asked. Madeline giggled, thinking it was a game. “Maddie, what do we say about glitter?” This time Anthony’s tone was firm, and his little girl knew she was in trouble.
“We say it has to be outside,” she whispered.
“That’s right.” Anthony sat her on the edge of the counter. “Don’t move.” He got a damp paper towel to clean her up and bumped right into Natalie. They hit with such force that she dropped the cup she was holding, and juice spilled all over the front of his suit. Anthony wanted to spew a slew of obscenities into the universe, but he bit his tongue.
Natalie didn’t have the same resolve and let loose. Madeline cooed with delight. “One. Two. Three. Four. That’s a dollar for the swear jar!” She clapped and a mini explosion of green and pink glitter went into the air.
“Where did you get that glitter?” Natalie asked, her mouth open in surprise.
It was then that Anthony saw a bruise on her cheek. Reaching forward, he tried to touch the tender skin, but Natalie pulled back.
“What happened to your face?”
Natalie shook her head and leaned down to clean up the puddle of juice on the floor. “It’s nothing. Otis was having a bit of an outburst when I picked him up, and I got a two-year-old fist to the face.” A tidal wave of unadulterated guilt slammed into Anthony, rocking him back on his socked heels. Yes, accidents happen, but Natalie didn’t have to deal with this on her own.
Anthony cleaned up Madeline as best he could and set her on the floor. “Go sit on the sofa with your brother. No more glitter.” She didn’t argue and ran back to the safety of the living room.
Turning to his wife, Anthony took the soggy rag and tossed it into the sink. Stepping closer, he cupped her face in his hands. They were only a few inches apart, and Anthony reacted to their closeness. He hadn’t cradled Natalie’s face like this in far too long, and he cursed their lack of time and privacy. There went another dollar to the swear jar.
He remembered their first night in this kitchen like it was yesterday. Natalie had been pregnant with Madeline, and they had the excitement that only new parents could share. Not wanting to mess up their new pristine kitchen, they’d ordered takeout and sat at the kitchen island, happily munching on egg rolls and planning for the future. When dinner was done, Anthony joined Natalie at the sink to help with clean up. He’d reached out to rest his hands on her swollen belly and felt a peace he didn’t realize he was missing.
Now, in stark contrast, he couldn’t hear himself think in the messy kitchen. All he could focus on were his shortcomings, and the fact that Natalie was bruised because of them.
“Does it hurt?” he asked, gingerly swiping his thumb over the purpling skin.
Natalie looked at him, her breath hitching as he placed a tender kiss on the bruise. He couldn’t stop himself, but Anthony had to leave his own mark, had to make her feel better for just a second.
“Thanks,” she breathed, looking up at him like she was in shock. She probably was, as they hadn’t kissed in ages. A sad fact he needed to remedy—right freaking now.
Natalie leaned in, looking as if she might kiss him back. As she inched closer, her hands rested lightly on his chest. Her lips curved up in the hint of a smile before she felt the wet splotch of juice on his suit. On an exhale, she stepped back, her shoulders slumping. “Crap. Your suit.” Instinctively, she took the rag he’d used to clean up Madeline, but ended up covering the wet spot in glitter. “Crap,” she groaned again when she realized what she’d done, the sparkles clinging to the fabric like glue. “I didn’t think it was possible, but I made it worse.” Her voice dripped with fatigue.
As Anthony stood there looking like a defective disco ball, the charge between them evaporated. Just as he thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, the smoke alarm went off. The beeping was like a cheese grater on his eardrums, and he went in search of a towel to wave over the infernal device.
“Dinner,” Natalie gasped, spinning around and pulling a pot from the stove. The smell of charred meat filled the air, and Anthony’s stomach dipped.
“What is it?” he asked, watching Natalie fill the pot with water.
“Itwaschicken stew from your mother, but now it’s garbage.” Bracing herself on the counter, Natalie’s head fall forward in defeat. He’d never seen her so rundown.
Peeling off his jacket and unbuttoning his shirt, Anthony tossed them on the counter and opened the freezer. Pulling out a frozen pizza, he turned on the oven and started cleaning up the counters. When Natalie turned around, she startled at the sight of him without a shirt on.
