Learning How to Bend

December 11 - Part 2

For the next few weeks, Thaddeus and I mostly lived our own lives. He was busy with work, even going out of town for a week. We talked on occasion, but we were both very busy. I actually had barely any time to miss him, even, and I was so constantly exhausted that I did not even have nightmares. The one constant throughout the entire time, though, was an ache at the back of my head. I knew it was because I was not eating right, nor was I drinking enough water, but I just got so caught up in my job, I could barely think of anything else. I even lost touch with Joe and Katherine for a time until Kat called me, only half-joking when she asked whether I had died.

"No, no, I'm fine. I've just been busy," I said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." I smiled. "How are you and Joe? Betha?"

"Elizabeth is doing well. The doctors think she'll be able to leave the hospital and come home with us in a couple weeks." I could hear the happiness and relief in her voice.

"That's such good news! Are you ready to have a baby in the apartment?"

"Joe's baby-proofed everything already. And the nursery is ready, so I'd like to think so," Kat said. "We have a bunch of diapers, too, but probably not enough."

"You can never have enough diapers, from what I've read," I said.

"How are things with Thaddeus?"

"They're...fine. Why do you ask?"

"You just haven't talked about him."

"I haven't talked about anything to anyone," I said. "Like I said, been busy."

"When are you seeing him again?"

"Tonight, actually," I said. "We have tickets to the Philharmonic. We were too busy to do anything on Valentine's Day, so this is a...belated celebration, I guess?"

"You? Celebrating Valentine's Day? What is this man doing to you? In all the years I've known you, you won't even celebrate your birthday."

"Thaddeus happened to me," I said. "He's changed me, I guess. I haven't really seen him since Texas, so..."

"But you have talked with him, right?"

"Yes, of course. He's just allowed me to live my own life." I shrugged.

"You have a bizarre relationship."

"Why do you say that?"

"Just saying. You haven't seen him in nearly a month, Lil. Are you on a break?"

"No, it's not that," I said. "We're just...busy, that's all."

"Whatever you say."

"Listen, I'll talk to you later, okay? I have to go home. Thaddeus should be at my apartment in a couple hours, and I want to be ready. Punctuality is key with him. Time is money and all that."

"Want me to help you?"

"No, it'll be fine," I said. "Could you or Joe come look after Chelise, though? Just in case I'm not home when she eats her dinner."

"Of course," Kat said.

After a few more minutes, I hung up the phone, and journeyed home with Chelise. I barely had time to change into a simple dress before Thaddeus was ringing my doorbell. I pulled the door open and offered him a very large smile. The moment I opened the door, I could smell his cologne; I had not realized just how much I missed that scent until he was standing before me. I stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek before moving out of the way to allow him to enter.