The Good Life

Chapter 39

Marla felt a little hand on her chest early in the morning. She moved the hand squinting her eyes to see that it was only a few minutes before her early alarm was going to go off. Ugh. I guess I’ll get up at 4:57…three minutes won’t kill me. She moved her daughter’s hand to turn off her alarm seeing Bruno stretched out the same way Rosie was. Aww. I love them. She got herself dressed running down the stairs in about 30 minutes taking a hold of the piece of paper Bruno had written on earlier that morning.

Love you times infinity and beyond. Oh, and I’m going for a run. I’ll be back before y’all get up.

She wrote on the paper squeezing the last bit on the paper. She opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, slipped on her ipod and started to run in the morning sunlight. She rounded the hill facing their house at 6:47 beating the pace she wanted for the half marathon she was training for by 12 seconds. She let out a huge sigh falling onto the grass by the door.

”Rosie…get give this to your mom…” Bruno said glancing out the window knowing she was going to be coming around the corner any minute. He pushed his daughter out the opened back door holding a bright pink rose.

”Mammmaaa….” Rosalia called her mother from the porch.

”Oh, Rosie..a rose! Where’s your dad?” she asked her daughter who looked still half awake. The two year old pointed to the backdoor where Marla saw Bruno smiling at her with his hair all over the place wearing sweat pants and a red t-shirt. Marla took her daughter’s hand walking her back toward the door to meet Bruno. She kissed him lightly walking back inside. He turned around grabbing her waist kissing her on the neck. ”Stop.” Marla told him softly.

”Five minutes…she’s watching Dora…” he responded holding her even tighter.

”I do have to take a shower…” she responded in the same soft tone he used. He hugged her from behind kissing her neck again leading her into their bedroom.

”Rosalia…watch Dora…” Bruno yelled at his daughter turning around to see her laying on the couch almost asleep.

”We’re horrible parents…” Marla told him lifting up her tight fitting running shirt pressing herself against him as he pulled off his shirt. He moved his hands along her waist quickly pulling off her shorts pushing her against the wall of their walk in closet all while kissing the sweat off her collar bone. ”Hurry, B..just…I need you, Bruno….” she said in a fast paced voice.

”Marla..she can’t tell time…” he said continuing to kiss her neck slowly moving down to her chest.

”Ohhh….I knooowww…” she responded to him pressing himself into her at the same time he kissing her shoulder. She pressed herself into the wall so hard that she could feel herself bruising instantly as he continued to press himself into her.

”Marley…I love you.” he told her pulling away from her.

”I love you too. Now let me take a shower, Bruno.” she laughed at him as he checked out her naked body. ”Stop it!” she yelled at him running toward the bathroom holding her outfit for work.

Marla walked out into the living room to see Rosie sitting on Bruno’s lap watching Yo Gabba Gabba. She clapped her hands to the beat laughing.

”I’ll be home by 7…” Marla said leaning down to kiss Rosie. ”I love you, mija.” Marla said kissing her daughter.

”But…what about me” Bruno asked.

”I love you, too, Bruno.” she said rubbing his head. ”I’ll see you later tonight.”

”You can thank me for that later, Marla.” he flirted with her as she walked out the door patting the dog on the head.

”Quit being gross, Brunz.” she answered blowing him a kiss as the door closed.

**

”I have to get hooommeee…” Marla whined typing on her computer.

”Marla?” she heard one of the case managers’ cracking voice. Shit. No. No. No drama tonight…Marla thought glancing at the clock 6:15…make it snappy....

”Tiffany is going to be evicted..and she has the kids…and Michael is..he was…arrested…” Alana, the case manager with one of the toughest caseloads said sitting down in the big cushy chair.

”Well let’s get this taken care of…” Marla answered going into her computer to look at the family’s file. She bent down to text Bruno.

Crisis at work. I’ll be late. Love you.

**

Bruno wiped off the flour on the counter after breading the fish he was baking for the three of them. His phone buzzed. He washed off his hands hoping to see it saying that she was coming home early. ”Well, Rosie…it looks like you’ve got a hot date with your dad tonight…” he told her handing her a small water bottle with Cinderella on the top.

”And Geronimo, daddy.” Rosie said hugging the dog.

”Yes..and Geronimo…” Bruno said sitting down to pet the dog with his daughter.

He made them both dinner placing a small portion into the fridge for his wife. He put his daughter in her bed after reading her The Very Hungry Caterpillar watching her fall asleep to his voice. He kissed her daughter good night, turned off the light leaving the door cracked. ”I love you, my rose…” he said walking out the door. After cleaning up the blankets they were laying on and putting away the dolls they were playing with Bruno flopped onto the couch flipping to ESPN. I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. But it’s not that bad… he thought to himself seeing Marla’s headlights shine through the front window. ”Shh….Geronimo…don’t bark…it’s just Marla…” he reassured the dog as she turned around to see Marla walk in the door holding a Starbucks cup in one hand and the mail in another. The dog ran up to her making her drop the mail.

”Shit…” she said looking at the mail drop.

”Babbbyyy….” Bruno said taking the cup from her hand along with her purse and extra bag full of case files. He placed them on the couch turning to see tears coming down her cheek. ”What’s wrong?” he asked her.

She shook her head not sure what to say. ”It was just a long day.” she said walking into the kitchen to get a bottle of water.

”I cooked for you…” he said wrapping his arms around her taking out the plate.

”Oh…Brunooo…” she answered with tears still coming down her cheek. ”I’m not hungry right now….” she told him walking back toward the bedroom with her water bottle.

”Marley….” he whined laying down next to her on the bed where she had spread out on her stomach with her eyes closed. ”I’m sorry you had a bad day, baby…” he said kissing her back rubbing her back softly until she fell asleep.