Page 4 of Something Stronger
As I was getting out, I could hear a muffled voice. I wrapped a towel around myself and cracked the door open. Charlie was pacing in the living room. Every few steps I could see him pass by the opening that led to the hallway where our bedroom was.
“I know, Dan. I understand that, but this is important and you’re just going to have to figure it out without me. I’ll be back in tomorrow. Yeah, I get that. Un huh. I’m sorry.” He went quiet, and then his footsteps picked up as he came down the hall. He saw me standing there, and he smiled. “Need any help?”
“I thought you weren’t going to be back in time. That I you were just going to meet me?” I furrowed my brow.
“I decided this was more important, and I needed to put my foot down. I had taken today off for this appointment, and if I didn’t stand up for that, then they’d think they can walk all over me all the time. Besides, you’re important too and I think I needed that reminder this morning.” He leaned in and kissed my lips.
My bottom lip quivered and I pressed them together to keep from crying. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Now, let’s get you ready for this.” I smiled as he turned to start riffling through the closet. He held out a pink sundress and some sandals. “This work?” I nodded and he carried them over. After helping me dress, he combed my wet hair, and I fashioned it into a braid before he helped me out to the car. What started out as a sour day had turned sweet. I’d all but forgotten about the dark storm that was looming in the distance.
Chapter 3
9 years ago
Louisiana
“Mamamamama,” I could hear Amy babbling through the baby monitor as my eyes slowly opened. I’d been up all night with her. She was cutting teeth, and all I could think about at the moment was I needed lots of coffee to make it through today.
“Mama’s sleeping.” Charlie’s voice was a hushed whisper. “Why don’t you let Daddy fix you breakfast, and Mama can sleep?”
“Mamamama,” Amy continued. I sighed as I laid there in the comfort of my bed. I was usually the one to get up because Charlie had to work. Since Amy’s birth, I’ve been staying home. At first, I thought it would drive me crazy. I didn’t really want to give up my career, but staying home has been one of the most rewarding jobs. I rolled over and attempted to fall back asleep, but just as my eyes started to close, I heard a crash come from the kitchen. I gave up at that point and decided to get up.
As I was making my way to the kitchen, I could hear Charlie talking to Amy. “Mama’s not going to like that we’re making a mess in here. I wanted to surprise her.” I rounded the corner to see Amy covered in white powder, and Charlie attempting to clean up more powder off the floor. He had a bowl in one hand, and a towel in the other.
“Mama!” Amy pointed and squealed.
“What’s going on in here?” I yawned as I stepped around the mess to grab a coffee mug.
“Amy and I were going to make you waffles, but we got a little carried away with the mix.” Charlie laughed as Amy crawled over to the mess and began swirling it around with her hands.
“Yum!” Amy clapped, her hands covered in waffle mix, creating a cloud of white powder.
“I see.” I grinned as I leaned down to pick up my daughter. “Are you making Mama breakfast?” Amy nodded before placing her powder covered hands on my cheeks. She leaned in and placed a wet baby kiss to my lips before giggling.
“Mama funny.” She laughed harder.
I walked over to the highchair and sat her down before grabbing a towel to clean her hands and my face. Charlie had cleaned the floor at this point and looked as if he were ready to give up. “This happens to me at least once a week. You have to learn to laugh about it,” I tossed over my shoulder as I grabbed a box of Cheerios and poured some on the high chair tray.
“I don’t find it funny,” he grumbled as he tried for the second time to make the batter. “Sometimes I’d like to just do something without her getting into it.”
“Well, you gave that up the day she was born. She’s going to be ‘into it’ for the rest of our lives in one way or another.” I rolled my eyes at him. I understood that he’d been really stressed lately due to his job, but I was tired of him taking it out on me.
“Since you seem to understand better than me, why don’t you finish?” he grumbled before forcefully dropping the spoon into the bowl of waffle batter and storming out of the kitchen.
“Honey? Don’t be like that,” I called after him but he waved me off and kept walking.
“Dada mad!” Amy smacked the high chair, causing the cereal to bounce. I opened the waffle iron and poured some batter in. When I closed it, steam rose and the room began to fill with the smell of waffles. While the first one cooked, I grabbed the eggs from the fridge and began cracking several into a bowl. I beat them, then placed a pan on the stove to heat. After a few minutes, I opened the waffle iron to reveal a perfectly golden waffle. I placed it on a plate and added more batter. As I setsyrup and butter on the table, I tore up the waffle into small pieces, poured a little syrup on it, and gave it to Amy. She already needed a bath from the mix fiasco, so I figured why not let her have the syrup.
As I dumped the scrambled eggs into a pan, I called Charlie. By the time he cooled down and came back to the kitchen, the waffle and eggs would be ready. Just as I was plating everything, he rounded the corner. He’d changed into a dress shirt and khakis.
“I thought you had today off?” I furrowed my brow.
“I decided to get a head start on tomorrow. You seem to have things under control here.” He sat down at the table and began dressing his waffle. “I can’t believe you let her have syrup. She’s going to be a mess.” He rolled his eyes before taking a bite.
“I’m the one who will be bathing her, so what does it matter?” I retorted back. He’s been doing this more and more lately. I felt like everything I did turned into an argument.
“Because you’re the perfect mom,” his voice boomed.
