Broken Resolutions

Chapter Two

Less than an hour later, the doorbell rings. Hannah looks at the clock on the microwave. Five o’clock exactly. She gives the counter a final swipe, drops the sponge into the flip out drawer that runs the length of the front of the sink, and leaves the kitchen.

She and Craig converge in the foyer.

“I had a hell of a time getting that staple out of my tie. This is a silk tie, you know.”

“I know,” she replies, as they approach the front entry together. “I bought it for your birthday.”

Both reaching for a door, they pull the double doors open in unison. Andrew and Emily Reese stand outside. He is holding two wrapped packages and she holds a large platter of cookies. It is snowing. Huge theatrical flakes of snow are melting in their hair and landing on their shoulders.

“Come in, come in,” Craig says.

As greetings are exchanged, Andrew and Emily step inside and automatically walk to the left where a small rug is positioned. Andrew wipes his feet while Emily kicks her boots off. “That’s better,” she says once she is standing there in her socks.

“Let me take that.” Hannah takes the tray of cookies.

As Andrew sets the presents down on a nearby hall table and begins unbuttoning his coat, his attention turns to Hannah. “Your hair!” he exclaims.

“I told you she cut it,” Emily says.

“It looks great! I can’t believe what a difference it makes. Very sexy!” Andrew says, dropping his coat into Craig’s arms. “You better keep your eye on the mailman, Craig!” he teases.

Craig smiles tensely and averts Hannah’s gaze. “I’ll put these away,” he says, helping  Emily out of her coat.

Although she is ten years younger than her husband, Emily moves slowly under the weight of a protruding, pendulous baby belly.

“How much longer?” Craig asks.

“Three weeks.”

“Three long weeks,” Andrew adds. “If she gets any bigger I’m going to have to get a dolly and carry her around.” He laughs as he scoops the presents back up off the table.

The four of them walk through the foyer, men and women splitting. Hannah and Emily turn left and walk toward the kitchen, while Craig and Andrew turn right and walk down the hall to the coat closet.

“How are you feeling?” Hannah asks as the women enter the kitchen.

“Oh, all right. My back is killing me, but other than that I’m okay. I’ll just be glad when it’s over.”

Hannah places the cookies on the counter while Emily settles into a bar stool. “The last month is the worst. It drags on forever,” she tells Emily.

Emily nods. “The other day I saw my blue jeans in the closet and it made me cry.”

Hannah laughs. “I remember that feeling. Don’t worry. You will be back in them soon. How is Andrew’s dad doing? Have you guys seen him lately?”

“Not since Thanksgiving. It’s getting harder and harder to go there. We didn’t even go for Christmas. I feel terrible about that. The last time we went to the nursing home he thought Andrew worked there. All he did was complain about the food and stare at the television. At one point he told us that he hates living over a Chinese restaurant.”

“A Chinese restaurant? There’s no Chinese restaurant anywhere near the nursing home.”

“I know,” Emily says, and shrugs.