Chapter Five
K ERRIE
Juggling my purse on one shoulder and carrying Nella’s overloaded backpack on my other, I pushed into our breezeway, which led to the kitchen. When I got to the center island, I dropped everything on the counter with a resounding thud.
“How much homework did they send home with you, Nella?” I wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead. I didn’t remember Sophie having this much when she was in second grade.
“Only math and reading.” Nella smiled at me, swinging her doll around.
Shit, what’d they do, send the Ten Commandment Tablets home with her? “Why’s your bag so heavy?”
“Oh, Ms. Hollister let me bring home our pet rocks for the week. Mama, maybe later you can help me give them a bath.”
Pet rocks? I guess it was better than a hamster or fish or something. “Honey, I don’t think the rocks will need a bath.”
She frowned. “They’re not just rocks. They’re pet rocks. So, we have to take care of them. Ms. Hollister says they need to eat dirt and be watered.”
“Maybe Ms. Hollister needs to eat dirt,” I muttered, allowing a heavy sigh to escape my lips. What in God’s name were they being taught? “Maybe later. Let’s get you a snack.”
I still had to get laundry done if I wanted to avoid any more bathroom mishaps. My body was already begging to be set free from the organ constricting skirt. At this rate, I’d be lucky not to have internal bleeding, or at the very least, a collapsed spleen, if that was even a thing.
With another sigh, I glanced at the fridge, realizing I’d forgotten to take something out for dinner. Unless Hal had. His truck was parked in the front when I came in, but I knew better than to count on him actually being helpful.
Taking two packs of fruit snacks from the cupboard, I got the kids situated at the counter on barstools, when a low moaning sound came from down the hall.
Tommy’s eyes got big. “Mommy, I...I think there’s a ghost in the house.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” My face reddened. Damn it, Hal . He knew the kids would be home soon.
“No, I hear it, too. Maybe we should check it out.” Nella scooted from her seat, then went to the utensil drawer to grab a large carving knife.
“Give me that.” I took the weapon from Nella and put it back where it’d come from. “Um, you two stay here. I’ll go instead. In case it’s something big and scary.” I put my hands up, pretending to lunge at them.
They screamed, then started laughing.
My fists clenched at my side as I trudged down the hall to our bedroom. Irritation radiated through me as I pounded on the door. “Hal, the kids and I are home. Keep the TV down.”
Of course, I knew it wasn’t the TV. It was whichever flavor of the week he’d snuck into the house.
The noises stopped on the other side of the door, and I backed away. I hated this. How much more could I endure? I had a few thousand saved up, but I’d need a deposit, not to mention the first month’s rent, plus money to get utilities started. And I’d have to buy some things for the house. I planned on taking most of the kids’ stuff from here when I finally left, but I’d need dishes, furniture, linens. Just thinking about it made me stressed.
Perhaps I should’ve asked for alimony or something, at least until I got settled. Piper had indicated Hal would have to buy me out if he kept the house. She said her mother had been through enough divorces that she had the basic knowledge down pat. Soon, I’d broach the subject with my ex.
When I got back to the kitchen, I caught sight of a blonde woman scurrying across my driveway and through my front yard, tugging on her shoes. Crap.
“Ugh, who wants to play a quick game of find the cereal?” I asked, grabbing a box of Frosty O’s from the cupboard. I took a couple handfuls out and tossed them on the floor. “Whoever picks up the most will get a dollar.”
The kids leapt down from their chairs and raced across the kitchen. Please let this keep them distracted. Just then, Hal emerged from the room, tucking his shirt in, and stepping on several pieces of cereal.
“What the hell happened out here?” His coffee-colored eyes met mine. His sandy hair was tousled, his skin flushed.
My jaw clenched. “You’re kidding me, right? I had to distract them so they didn’t see the person running across our yard, putting clothes on. You say you want to keep this a secret? Well, it’s hard to do when you’re banging a blonde a day while the kids are here. I’m literally over this. I can’t keep up the charade.”
His brow furrowed. “You’re blaming me for cereal on the floor? Does that even make sense?”
“Yes, it does, you...you asshole.” I lowered my voice to a loud whisper. “Jesus, Hal, I’m trying to parent our kids. And you’re not helping.”
“Look, we made a deal. You keep this quiet for a bit longer, and you can stay here. No bills. No worries.”
No worries. Right. He obviously didn’t get it. My chest tightened as I bit back the urge to cry. We might be divorced, but I was still human, for hell’s sake.
The side door burst open, and Sophie came in. “We might need to call the cops. I saw some woman trying to break in or something. She was by the window when Mya first pulled up to drop me off.”
Hal’s face turned a nice shade of tomato.
“Crap. Hal, maybe you should call,” I urged.
“I’m sure it was nothing.” He glowered at me.
“She was by the window. She could be a peeping Tom or Jane or whatever you call a female version.” My lips quivered as I tried to keep from smiling. That’s right, let him have to deal with this for once.
“Dad, seriously, I’m not lying,” Sophie implored, her brown eyes narrowed.
“Okay, I’ll go check things out. I don’t think we need to call the cops.” He shoved his work boots on and trudged outside as though he was really concerned for our safety.
The kids all moved to the side window to watch him “investigate.” Hal walked around the house, pretending to examine things. A few minutes later, he came back in. “Whoever was there is gone. We’ll just keep a closer eye on things and lock the doors.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “The lady looked super trashy, like maybe she was a druggie or something. But, oh well, hopefully we don’t get murdered in our sleep tonight.”
I could’ve kissed Sophie right then. Ha, wonder what Hal thought about his newest fling being compared to a druggie?
“I don’t want to die,” Nella said, her face scrunching.
“You’re not going to die, now stop. Why don’t you and your brother finish picking up the cereal, then ask Daddy for a dollar.” My gaze met Hal’s. “Satisfied?”
“It won’t happen again,” he said. “I’ll be out of town for a few days. I’ll text you when I’m coming back.”
Of course, he would. Tears pricked my eyes as I went into my room to grab the overflowing laundry hamper. “Just another couple of months. You can do this.”
Whether Hal wanted people to know about our divorce or not, I wasn’t going to keep playing games. At some point, he’d have to grow a pair and tell his family he’d fucked up.
Literally.