When Douglas had announced early that morning that he was going camping for a few days, Kathy couldn’t help but feel silent RELIEF. Douglas didn’t go away often, maybe once every few years, but when he did it was ... NICE. It was NICE to not have to constantly watch your back, it was NICE to sleep without fear, it was NICE to go to work and not constantly check the phone for missed calls from the HOSPITAL or the POLICE. it was NICE to feel SAFE, if only for a few short days. Not long after he had departed with her week's wage and a backpack of clothes, she had texted EDEN to see if she wanted to come over and have a glass of wine and a gossip. She almost NEVER had people over, so it would be nice, she thought to herself, and she would clean up any evidence of guests before Douglas came home.
Once the littles went to bed, Kathy picked up the toy cars and odd pacifiers from the hall and gave the kitchen countertops a quick dust. It didn’t make much of a difference, the house still seemed like a TIP, kids drawings and broken pencils littered the floor, a half-eaten bowl of cheerios, reading books and half-finished homework took up most of the kitchen table, school photographs hung on the fridge with chipped magnets, dog toys lay by the back door. BUT HEY, at least it wasn’t DUSTY, and at least DOUGLAS wasn’t home. When the doorbell went off, Kathy was surprised that the dog didn’t startup, but then again, the dog seemed almost HUMAN at times, especially when it came to the kids. If they where asleep he would do his best to make sure they weren’t disturbed, especially by him. She walked quietly past the bedroom door, opening the front door with a BRIGHT SMILE.
‘‘ Hey! come in, come in! ’’
@flippityflcp