Chapter Six

Wednesday 7:15 a.m.

Kate entered her home and sniffed.  Ugh, it was musty smelling.  Mildew.  The late summer rains and humidity had made everything feel soggy.  Fungus loved this weather.  With the thought of endless housework, Kate’s shoulders sagged.

Rob came into the living room his face dark with emotion.  “Do I have a clean uniform?”

Kate sighed.  “Yes. Several are hanging in the laundry room.”

“Can’t you just put the clothes away?  I’m tired of a treasure hunt in the laundry room every morning in order to get dressed.”  Though Rob was in the laundry room, their small ranch house made his mumblings audible.”

“Why don’t you do it the night before and then not worry about it?”  Kate’s face burned.

“Great.  Now I get to do the laundry too.  What else aren’t you going to do around here anymore?”

“I don’t believe you do all of anything around here, so what are you complaining about?  Finding your own clean clothes that you threw on the floor?”

Kate brushed by Rob and said, “We have therapy tonight?”

Rob half out of the door, turned around with clenched teeth and said, “Great.”

Lillian, one of their six-year-old twins, bounced into the kitchen.  Kate grabbed her up for a hug and kiss. 

“Mommy, were you and daddy arguing again?”

“Yeah, we were bad.”

“Oh, mom.”

“Let me get you some breakfast.”  Lillian jumped down and climbed into her chair.  Isabel, the older twin, stumbled into the room, squinting against the light, yawning.

“Hey, sunshine, good morning.”  Kate leaned down, grabbed up Izzy and kissed her.  She then deposited Isabel in her chair.  “What do you two want?”

“Cocoa Pebbles,” Lilly said.

“Is that okay, Izzy?”

Izzy shook her head, yes.

“Okay.”  Ahhh….the mundane chores of life helped keep everything grounded.  Kate smiled to herself, relaxing while she fixed the cereal, juice, and slipped some bacon in a frying pan for the girls.  They would do better with a solid breakfast.