Page 24 of Never Have We Ever
She almost forgot that hewas still on the line when he spoke again. “Did you read the rest of my letter?”
“I’m too tired to try.”
“I see.” André changed his tone. “Anyway! I will see you soon, Leska. Give the children my love.”
She hung up and let herself fall asleep.
***
“I never thought she would go to sleep.” Valeska popped out of Daniela’s room, quietly closing the door behind her. “You’d think walkingaround an amusement park all day would wear a child out, but she was still too excited to settle down!”
She said that to her husband down the hall in their room, where he curled his arms around their son and whispered whatever French fathers told their tiny children. “This one has no trouble sleeping. He is a narcoleptic.”
Valeska leaned against the doorframe. “He’s a baby. That’s what theydo.”
They hadn’t taken Thomas with them to the park. Lena was still on medical leave and André’s mother was more than happy to look after him while the rest of the family went to Disneyland for the day. Daniela had never been so happy to be with both of her parents before.At least she’ll have this memory.
André approached her, their son conked out against his shoulder. “How about you? Do youwant to sleep?”
Valeska looked at him as if he had asked if she ever wanted to eat again. “We should. It’s been a long day.”
He nodded. “I will put Thomas to bed. You go ahead and settle in.”
“You’re putting him in his room?”
André was already in the hallway. “He will be fine,non?We should have privacy.”
Great.Valeska needed to take a quick shower if she was going to feel refreshed enoughto get her husband off.Guess that blowjob I gave him when he got home the other day has worn off. Wonder if I could get away with a handjob this time.God knew nothing else was going to happen.
André was quick to dress down to his pajamas and brush his teeth in the bathroom once their son was asleep in his room. Valeska hopped into the shower for five minutes and tried not to overanalyze herappearance in the reflective surfaces around her. It was bad enough she had to reach between her legs with the cloth and remember what had happened.
I have so many stretchmarks. My tits sag to my navel. My eyes are permanently red from the lack of sleep. Every time I sneeze, I pray something doesn’t come out of my ass.She tapped her forehead against the wall. How could she be expected to havea sex life if she could barely stand to look at herself?
André was already in bed when Valeska reluctantly joined him, a book in her hand. He had turned off his lamp and now looked at her as if she were nuts.
“Mon chou,” he said, hand searching for her leg beneath the covers, “Do you not hope forl’amour?”
Her eyes were fixated on the German text in her book. “I’m tired.”
“It has been so longsince we embraced.”
God, why did he have to put it like that? Was that really how he thought to best express his thoughts in English? Or was that the romantic in him?Either way, I feel like a monster.“Sorry. I know it’s been a long time.”
André turned on his side and caressed the bend of her leg beneath the covers. “It’s been a crazy year, but things are getting better,oui?”
“I suppose.”
“We’ve been married seven years. Did you know it’s the eight-year anniversary of when we met and agreed to get married?”
Valeska stiffened beneath her husband’s touch. “I don’t really think about it.”
“You have been happy,non?”
The book closed with purpose. Valeska continued to stare at the ceiling while her husband pressed up against her.
“I know I am not home often. I am sorry. It strains.”
“I know the children miss you when you’re gone.”
