Only the Women Are Burning. Nancy Burke
they close.”
“Did you hear me?” I asked.
“Did you hear me?” he asked. “You’ve been gone. Lila took off. I need to get my shirts.”
“I need help with this box. What did you do all morning?”
“Not much. Read the paper, breakfast.”
“Where are the twins?”
“Still watching cartoons.”
I lifted the box and carried it to him. “Here. Thanks. It’s for them.”
He took it, lowered it to the ground and straightened.
“Pete,” I said. “You could have gone. You could have taken the girls with you.”
“I wouldn’t have to if you were home.”
“That is precisely what I was hoping you would notice,” I said. “That is exactly what I wanted you to say.”
“Okay, well, I said it. So now, let’s move the car so I can pull out.”
“No.”
“What is up with you Cassandra?”
“A lot.”
“So are you going to tell me?”
“I did tell you,” I said.
“If this is about last night...”
“Last night is only an example of what is wrong, Pete.”
“I’m sorry Cassandra.”
“Then why not say so?”
“I just did.”
“No, you greeted me with ‘move your car’.”
“I didn’t think you would still be mad at me since I let you go off by yourself.”
“Let me?” I felt the inner tears threaten. A shiver of indignation. I turned and entered the kitchen and let the door slam.
Milk, orange juice, and three cereal bowls with a few floating Cheerios still on the table; coffee pot empty, but the red light glowing ‘on’; a burnt piece of toast in the toaster. I marched past it all. Mia and Allie were still in pajamas, TV on; upstairs I dropped the novel and the remnants of my journal on my unmade bed and flopped down, fluffing a pillow under my head, rolling to my side, curling my legs so I was like a ball.
“I’m sorry, Cassandra.” He was in the doorway.
“Do you know what you are sorry for?”
“No.”
I waited. Surely he would ask.
“Give me your car keys,” he said.
I reached into my pocket, found the cold metal, and let them fly to the wall where they made a huge sound and crashed to the floor. He took them and left.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.