6 pm
The man stood in the kitchen with his friends, checking the front door occasionally while continuing the conversation. His child wasn't too far behind, stopping from playing occasionally to look over at the door, too. The front door opened when the father and child weren't paying attention, and the woman came through the door with a soft "hi" as her voice never went as high in any situation. Her greeting went unanswered as it always did. Her child was the only one who recognized the mother running in her direction at full speed, "MOMMY!" She smiled as she held her child close to her,
"Hi, baby." The two talked in the foyer about the day. She listened, interjecting here and there as she walked through the doorway to the living room, where she was now fully entering the room, choosing not to repeat her greeting once she entered.
"Where's your shoes?"
"Daddy's room." She nodded as she quickly gathered her child's belongings littered through the room and any food in the kitchen or fridge before leading them upstairs to the enormous bedroom.
She yawned as she supervised the quest for the shoes in the room. See if she needs to lend a hand in the search. "Found 'em?" "Okay." She sat in the lone chair across the room, opening her arms once her baby followed her and began climbing up her lap to join her. The two sat silently, with her holding her child tightly as the child lay against her bosom.
The man had seen her as she entered the home, but he didn't want to interrupt her conversation with their child, so he waited a bit longer. But when he didn't see either of them in the living room, he figured he waited too long. He set out to grab his keys hidden in his bedroom, and that's when he saw the two fast asleep in the rocking chair near his window. The setting sun beamed on them as he watched them from the doorway. He only came closer when she awoke and held the child out for him to grab. "I thought you left, " he called out, followed her into the bathroom, and stood in the doorway as she freshened up.
"I know that was the plan, but I sat just for a minute." "Yeah," he trailed off as he couldn't help but watch her, tussling his child in his arms higher in his hold. "I got more of those foods that you pack. I put them in the fridge, " he informed her, trying to cut the tension.
"I know. I heard and saw. Thank you." "You don't have to thank me for things I should be doing." "I'm just appreciative." " I wish you were in love with me again like I stayed in love with you." He couldn't help but say as he continued watching her, hoping for a glance in his direction.
But she nodded, gesturing that she needed to use the facilities, yawning as she closed the door. Upon hearing it lock from the outside, he sat on the bed looking at their creation, thanking God again, and praying for a resolution to the two parents' reconciliation. Once she emerged from the bathroom, he stood up instantly and said, "Why don't I give you a ride home? You're yawning too much for me." His concerned voice boomed a bit louder than he wanted it to.
"Can't Joe do it?" "Joe ain't riding you no fucking where." she only nodded in response, going to get her baby's shoes that were never actually put on and were sitting near the rocking chair's base.
She placed them into the bag, allowing him to grab them as they exited the bedroom and made their way through the home and out the front door. But before she could close the door, she announced that she had forgotten something on the kitchen counter, and he nodded to her as he continued buckling the car seat around the sleeping child.
When she returned to the car, she wouldn't face him. Instead, she used her hair to cover her face and made it a point to face the window for the entire car ride. He made sure Ben was following in her car before pulling off. Once they had reached her home, he had Ben park in the garage, take the child inside, and wait there. Turning the car off, he brushed back her hair from her face and placed the bag in the backseat before giving her his full attention.
"What happened to your face?"
