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CHAPTER 6
“Do you really have to go to this?” I whine and move over to give him a spot to set the small gray travel bag.
“I wish I didn’t. It’s nothing but an ass kissing session. And because of our last quarter’s performance, I’ll be coming home with a very brown nose.”
“Gross.” I scrunch my nose, then say, “I’m going to miss you too much.”
He smiles warmly and gives me a quick peck on the mouth before continuing with his packing, his toiletry bag, two changes of clothes, shoes and belt. “I’m going to miss you, more. But at least it’s only overnight.”
Owen is leaving for Raleigh tomorrow before dawn to be there in time for a meeting at eight-thirty in the morning. They’d just opened a compact storefront there, the first of its kind for Crawford Co. The heads of the company decided to make this not only a tour for everyone in their district, but a performance meeting and team builder at the same time. Guess it saved them money.
Though it was only overnight, he’d be gone all of tomorrow and not come back until Saturday evening.
“Who schedules meetings on a Saturday anyway?” I mope.
“People who work seven days a week. They don’t know anything about weekends, Cris.”
Sitting up I pout and knee-walk to him. He laughs and opens his arms to me, bringing me in for a tight embrace, fitting my head neatly beneath his chin. I know I’m being a big baby, but it’s nice that he’s humoring me.
“Did you already check in on Mia?” I ask him. We’d put her to bed about thirty minutes ago, and it was his custom to check on her to make sure she hadn’t thrown off every cover and turned herself completely around in bed.
“No. Why don’t you go get real nice and clean for me while I do? I want to take the taste of you with me.” He didn’t have to tell me twice!
Friday is a school day for Mia, work day for me. I have to say I am really enjoying my job at the tiny branch. It’s a slow location, where most of our customers come only for business, no time for chit chat. They race in, make a deposit or two, and they are gone. Very little complaints. Though I’ve only been here about two months now, I’ve started shadowing our loans officer in an effort to learn as much as I can before I myself go for training.
I do miss Mia like crazy. Going from spending all day with her, to only half of that time now has been particularly tough. Much harder than I’d have thought. As for her, I half wonder if she really cares. Between the fun at school and the fun with Katie, I don’t really know if she thinks of me all day the way I do her.
I’d once had a working mom try to explain to me what it was like to leave your kids. I didn’t get it, how someone could work when they just as well stay at home with their children. She told me it wasn’t that she was choosing work over them, or that she loved them any less. It was about retaining the capability of taking care of herself if she ever had to. She wanted that sense of control over her life.
Now I understand what she meant. Since I’ve started working, making my own money and not been so highly dependent on Owen, I’ve resented him less. Feared for myself less, too.
Today I picked Mia up at the usual two o’clock. We go for frozen yogurt, her favorite, and honestly mine, too, then come home for some Mommy/Mia playtime. She rides her bike, then we play soccer. There isn’t a soul in sight, everyone in school. Even Jess is out somewhere by the looks of her empty driveway. She isn’t obligated by any means, but for some reason I hate it when she doesn’t keep me updated on her whereabouts. The crazy stalker in me makes me wonder where she is, who she’s with.
After so much play, we head in and hang out on Mia’s bedroom floor. There’s something about playing with dolls, that although was a specialty of mine as a little girl, now lulls the shit out of me. It is so boring, that the play mixed with Mia’s sweet voice puts me to sleep every single time. At least she knows it going in.
“Are you goin’ to sleep, Momma?” she asked right before we started.
“I’m really going to do my best to stay awake, my love.”
I did, too, going as far as taking ice water in there with me. I started in a sitting position. Within five minutes I found myself leaning on my right arm. Five more minutes and I was laying down on my elbows. Sometime between having to pretend that I was a fairy named Carly, and turning into a mommy of three, I blacked out and my head fell hard.
“Oh my God!” I sat up startled.
Then I repeated the process. Sit, lean, lay. Next thing I know I’m dreaming I’m at Burger King and damn, this is gonna be good! I’m about to take a guiltless bite of my Whopper, only in a dream would that happen, when my phone buzzes. I try to dig in my pocket for it, but it’s not there. Then suddenly becoming aware that this may be a dream, I shove that burger into my mouth before I wake up without at least tasting it. But it’s too late.
My eyes pop open to the sight of my four-year old handing me my phone. “Momma, someone called you.”
“Thank you, baby.” I wipe my face and take my phone.
That someone had in fact been Jess, and it had been a text, not a phone call.
-U think u can get KT 2 watch Mia 2night?she asks.
-I don’t know, why?
-Kev’s coming home early. Been 2 dr’s appts. All day. Need 2 drnk.
-Where do you want to go?I ask.
