Page 38 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

38 | FRANCESCA PE NN

Eau de Henry. I should have been irritated. Instead, I’d wrapped the royal purple
blanket around my head and body and taken a deep breath. I’d imagined being in
his arms – our naked, damp bodies wrapped up in tangled sheets after hot sex. I’d
popped my eyes open and guiltily surveyed my surroundings. He’d been in the
shower and hadn’t witnessed my moment of lunacy. I’d jumped up and run into

the laundry room. Dumping my blanket, along with way too much detergent, in
the washer, I’d pressed start before I could change my mind.
After that, I’d locked myself in my bathroom and sat in the darkest recess of
my master closet. I’d promptly called my best friend Chanel, and she’d talked me

off the cliff. She reminded me that I was a woman of my word, and I’d promised
him five months of living in a stress-free environment. I took her advice and clung
to it like I was an addict and she my sponsor.
Luckily, we’ve left work early enough to avoid some of the traffic. We’d shaved
at least ten minutes off our commute, and I am jonesing for a good shower and a
hot meal. Plus, I don’t know how long I can sit in the car with him without my
mind going south. We are a few short exits away, and I can almost feel the soothing
warmth of my shower when Henry receives a text message.

His shoulders bunch, up and his mouth sets in a grim line. He blows out a
loaded breath and looks at me helplessly.

“What?” I ask while turning down the radio. I say a silent prayer that his family
is okay. The traffic slows long enough for me to get a good look at his face. He has
paled slightly but he doesn’t look sad. He holds up his phone and shows me the
display.

I read it out loud. “Hey, asshole. Since you are refusing to return any of my
sister’s calls, I’m texting instead. The baby is here. Dan.”