“It’s ok, honey. Thank you for breakfast,” he smiled before sitting down for breakfast.
His wife still seemed lost.
“Everything ok?”
“Huh? Oh yeah… I’m good. Where’s Garrett?”
“I think he’s waiting for the bus with Kyle again.”
Doug was moved to pity by the disappointment on his wife’s face. He knew she adored the boy, and the usually inseparable duo was locked into a tiff he didn’t understand. The fight had clearly dispirited Kristen, and he tried unsuccessfully to mend his son’s behavior. His failure was not a surprise, however; whatever present ire he held for his mother still paled in comparison to the animus he bore for his father. Doug didn’t blame him; in his zeal to provide, he had failed as a paternal influence in his boy’s life. Still, if the “Reunion” with his wife had worked, perhaps there was hope for reconciliation with his son too.
Kristen kissed her husband goodbye, closing the door behind him. She turned around to a house that felt emptier and more vacant than it had in the years.
At least it was Friday, she thought as her spin class came to an end; every week, she’d meet Carol, one of the neighborhood moms for some wine and gossip. With her home life slowly corroding, her enthusiasm for female company, as well as her thirst, had been at a peak.
She called to give her friend a heads up, as she walked to the car. By the time Carol picked up, she was already buckled into the seat.
“Ahem… hello?”
“Hey Carol? It’s me Kristen. We’re still on for this afternoon, right?”
There was no response. Kristen only heard the vague commotion of voices in the background.
“baby waitt… Kristen! H-hey, listen, I’m s-sorry … unfff … I c-can’t do lunch today…”
Silence again. Kristen could hear a deep male voice amongst her friend’s obvious cries and giggles.
She smiled, whispering, “Josh is home, huh?”
Carol gasped and she heard the male voice laugh.
“Yes… I- I’m sorry. He surprised me by… c-coming home early for the long week- Josh ahhhh!”
Kristen reassured her, “It’s ok sweetheart. I completely understand. Enjoy yourself.”
There was no response, but the couple on the otherside on the phone had long forgotten any semblance of propriety; she could hear the sound of their desperate rutting clear as day. The now lost, but familiar sound of exasperating passion made her womb prickle with need, and when her rational mind forced her to hang up, most of her ravenous flesh begged her not to.
Finding herself dizzy, she took a deep breath before resigning herself to the drive home. She tried to focus on her newfound moral authority, yet the alluring thoughts of a forbidden reunion claimed her mind.
She barely noticed turning onto her street, her attention only stimulated by the usually hateful sight of neighbor’s distasteful lawn gnomes. Her home finally came into view, and she casually studied the suburban palace until something caught her eye – the blinds on Garrett’s window rippling in the breeze.
Her heart sank.
Her son was home, and he almost certainly had a woman in his bed.