The Way She Sliced Her Pear

Monroe

Monroe

It was a little past one in the afternoon when I noticed Reese wasn't back yet. I had been helping Reese for a good month now, just like how we agreed. With my assistance I was able to help her nurse Ellie the correct way. She would leave here and there but not for long periods of time. Just to go to the grocery store or run some other quick errands. For some reason, that day she was running a little behind. I was okay with watching Ellie but just wanted to make sure she would be back by the time I needed to go get the boys from school. I knew she wasn't hurt because she always text me saying what she was doing.

I was folding some laundry of Reese's that was left on the couch. I picked up some of Kane's work shirts and knew that they needed hung up. I went into their massive bedroom and leisurely stepped into the walk in closet. Kane's clothes were on the right side taking up a sliver compared to the amount of space that Reese's attire took. I made my way to his little area, I found a few empty hangers and put his navy blue collared shirt next to the other solid colored tops. I stood there for a few seconds picturing what Kane would look like in each of the shirts. How his shirt laid perfectly over his biceps and chest. I grabbed one of the sleeves of the maroon shirt and brought it to my nose. Breathing in deep, the smell took me back to that October night last year. I heard the garage door open, it must have been Reese coming back. I sprinted out of their closet running over towards the couch. As I flew past their dining room table I almost slipped with my socks barely gripping on the wood floor. I picked up another piece of clothing to fold.

Kane appeared from the garage.

"Monroe, what are you still doing here?"

His eyes widened and a smile came across his face.

"Oh hey Kane, yea I don't usually stay this late knowing you come home early on Thursdays, but she's still not back yet."

"Back from where? Do you know where she went?" Kane said with a puzzled look on his face "Did she say when shed be back?"

"The last I heard from her was around eleven saying she was going to grab some lunch by herself and then run to the store." I said

"That's interesting because she went to the store last night when I got home from work." Kane face became puzzled and maybe a little frustrated.

Ellie started to cry in the bedroom. I started to head for the room but Kane stopped me.

"No no, I got it. I'm okay with getting her."

I went back to the clothes to get them all folded. Kane came out of the bedroom with athletic pants on with a forest green dry fit t-shirt on.

"It's okay Ellie, daddy's home." Kane said trying to sooth Ellie

Kane was trying to talk over Ellie's hungry cry

"If you want to leave Monroe don't feel obligated to stay." "I can stay with her now."

"Did you want me to feed her before I leave? She just had a three hour nap and Reese fed her about four hours ago." I said "I'm just offering because I still don't know when Reese will be back."

Ellie started too really throw her hands and head back in frustration.

"Ummmm yea, you're probably right." Kane said "Here take her and I'll step into the other room and call Reese." He handed her to me and I couldn't help but breathe in his scent.

I took Ellie and sat on the recliner to feed her. Millie was still sleeping in Sean's room after putting her down around noon, so I myself was fairly engorged.