After the door slammed loudly, the living room stayed lit. Only the faucet that was not fully turned off was left. It was dripping and echoing throughout the night.
Angeline woke up the next day in her darkened bedroom. Her body felt so sore that she could barely lift her arms. It was nearly 11:00 am when she checked her phone. She had dozens of missed calls.
A note from Sean was on the bedside table: "Your phone was on silent to ensure you slept well. Breakfast is warm in the pot. I've gone to the office. I'll be back this afternoon to have lunch with you."
Angeline put on her robe and slippers. Her legs gave out as soon as she stood up, and she fell back onto the bed. Memories of the night with Sean flashed through her mind. They had gone to the bathroom for a shower, but things escalated.
Angeline covered her face with her hands. She had never thought of herself in such a light. Her phone vibrated again. It was Sean calling. Biting her swollen lip, she answered, "Hello..."
Immediately after speaking, Angeline covered her mouth. Her voice was unexpectedly hoarse. Sean's warm and tender voice came from the other end. "Are you awake? Have you eaten?"
Angeline cleared her throat and replied, "No..."
Her voice didn't sound better. Angeline covered her face again as her mind raced back to the previous night. She told herself to stop thinking about it, but Sean's voice made it difficult. Scenes from the previous night kept replaying in her mind.
"I left some throat lozenges for you on the dining table," Sean said. He then asked, perhaps intentionally, "What are your plans for today?"
Angeline had planned to choose a birthday gift for Robert. Considering her voice, she said, "I'll stay at home."
"To watch the lab videos?" Sean asked.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Second Marriage to Mr. Rich (Ned Fletcher)