Parents in Training

by Barbara McMahon

  “Not more than I can handle, I hope,” she said.

  He turned and grinned at her. “Hey, you and me together can do a lot. Let’s see the rest of the place.”

  Annalise showed him around, telling him what she envisioned for each room, with colors and repairs or, in the case of the kitchen, complete renovation.

  When they ended up back in the foyer after the tour, Randy said, “I’d say get started on the front rooms first. They will be some of the easiest to do and you won’t get discouraged. Once we have a few redone, we can tackle the kitchen and the bathrooms. Those are going to be the hardest and the most expensive. Leave them until later, so you’ll start enjoying part of your handiwork long before we get to them.”

  “Okay.” Annalise was pleased with his suggestions. She knew how she wanted everything to look at the end, but wasn’t sure of the steps to get there. “What do we do first?”

  They discussed the renovation plan for a while, deciding to start with the living room and dining room—beginning with refinishing the floors, painting the walls, and then thinking about furnishings.

  “So, next Friday, early?” she said.

  “I can be here at six.”

  “Oh, maybe not that early,” she said, remembering how hard it was for her to get up these days. “Seven will be early enough. And I’ll have the floor sander by then, so we can start right away.”

  When Randy had left, Annalise debated not returning to the flat. She knew there wouldn’t be a warm welcome. But she wasn’t going to be the one to leave this marriage. She’d try some of the tactics she and Lianne had discussed regarding Dominic. If their marriage was shaky, she was going to do her best to strengthen it. With or without Dominic’s help!

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ITWAS late by the time Annalise returned to the apartment. Dominic was in the den. She peeked in at him, but he was working on the computer and barely acknowledged her greeting. She went to take a shower and dressed in her sexiest nightie. It was a little cool in the apartment, but she hoped that would change. Slipping on a silky robe, she went to the kitchen and prepared some hot chocolate.

  Carrying two mugs into the den, she set one down near Dominic on the desk.

  “Hot chocolate. Take a break.”

  “Sounds good,” he said, reaching for the mug. He glanced at her and his eyes held. Slowly he moved his gaze down her body, seeing the robe part slightly when she sat on the small chair near the desk, her slender legs revealed.

  He looked away, taking a swallow of the hot beverage and then exclaiming when it burned his mouth.

  “Careful—it’s hot.”

  “So, it appears, are you,” he said, looking back.

  She could see desire in his eyes, the way they darkened and went so smoky. Her own pulse increased.

  “I was when I got out of the shower, but it’s cool in here.”

  He carefully sipped his chocolate. Annalise wanted to smile. She could almost see the calculations in his mind. Carefully, Dominic put down his mug and rose. He held out his hand for hers. She had not even had a sip, but gladly relinquished it.

  “Come to bed,” she said, rising.

  “My pleasure,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.

  Pleasantly tired some time later, Annalise relished snuggling against her husband. She’d fall asleep in another moment, but she wanted to savor the afterglow. There was more to resolve, answers to get, but for the moment, she was with Dominic, and it was enough.

  “Tell me about Phyllis,” she said. Instantly she felt him tense.

  “What’s to tell?”

  “Everything. You said you were high-school sweethearts?”

  “We dated. Hung out together when I wasn’t working. Even then I was trying to save enough for college. I had a scholarship to Penn, but knew I’d need more money to make it.”

  “Did she plan on college?”

  “No.”

  “What was she going to do?”

  “I don’t remember,” he said slowly. He was silent for a moment.

  “What was she like?” Annalise asked.

  “Small, dark. She changed after high school—after we were married.”

  “How?”

  “Different ways. Before we seemed to get on okay. But once we were married, when she was pregnant, she became clingy. Never wanted me out of her sight. She used her condition to manipulate everything to go her way. We couldn’t go to the movies because we had to save for the baby. Couldn’t have friends in—our apartment was too small and crummy, and what could we serve them? She’d spend hours reading books about babies.”

  “Sounds as if she was scared.”

  “I never thought so then.”

  “What would you know? You weren’t going to be a mother at eighteen,” Annalise said softly.

  “I knew I was scared we wouldn’t make it. The dead-end job at the mill was boring and tedious, but it brought me a paycheck. God, I hated that job. Phyllis managed the money and did it well. We had no debts, managed to have food on the table every meal. But the thought of doing that for another fifty years about drove me insane.”

  “You were both too young to have a baby,” Annalise said.

  “Well, we didn’t, did we?” he said, sitting up.

  “Dominic, you did not cause that baby to be stillborn,” she said, sitting up, as well.

  “You don’t know everything, Annalise. Maybe thoughts can influence an outcome. The intensity of my desire to be free was almost tangible. How do you know it didn’t penetrate Phyllis some way and end that baby’s life.”

  “Come on—don’t be like that. You did not do anything wrong.”

  “I did it all wrong.” He stood and went to pull on a pair of jeans. Grabbing a shirt from the closet, he stormed out of the bedroom.

  Annalise debated following him, but decided against it. She’d pushed a lot, and he’d responded. Now she’d brought it all to the forefront. What would he do next?

  Dominic went to the kitchen and poured himself a drink. He usually only drank socially at parties, but tonight he wanted the burn of alcohol, the forgetfulness it could bring. He’d worked so hard to forget that year. Annalise couldn’t understand how awful things had been. Phyllis had changed from the girl he’d gone out with throughout the last two years of high school to a whiny, clinging girl who wouldn’t give him any space.

  In retrospect, he hadn’t handled it well. He’d been resentful of losing his chance at college, angry at finding only the job at the mill and scared as he’d told Annalise. He’d known nothing then about being a father, and he knew nothing now.

  He stood in the dark and let the memories wash through him. Each one strengthened his resolve. He could not go through that again. He didn’t want his feelings for his wife to turn into bitter resentment. He didn’t want to see Annalise become clingy. He had come as far from that life as he could get. To be sucked down into a repeat was not in the cards.

  Yet Annalise was right. Stay or go, he’d still be a father. What kind of man wasn’t there for his child? Even his old man had always been there—complaining every moment, but there. Once again he’d do his duty. And count the years until he could be free.

  The next morning, Annalise woke late and rushed getting dressed and dashing to the office. Dominic was already gone. She had appointments lined up all day and didn’t have a moment to worry about her personal life.

  Midafternoon, she took a break and called Dominic’s cell.

  “Fulton,” he answered. As always, her heart skipped a beat at just hearing his voice. How could he even suggest a trial separation? She wanted to be closer, not drift apart. Yet now that the specter had been raised she began to question every aspect of their marriage. Last night had been glorious, until she’d brought up his first wife. He had not returned to their bed after he’d left.

  And she could not forget that he had not answered her question the other night.

  “Hi,” she said, wishing the breach between them could be miraculously he
aled.

  “Hi, yourself.” He sounded like the old Dominic.

  “Want to meet for Chinese dinner?’ she asked.

  “What time?”

  “My last showing is at four. So, unless they decide to buy on the spot, I could make it around six-thirty.”

  “See you then,” he said.

  As she hung up, she considered that maybe Lianne was right. She needed to show Dominic that nothing had changed as far as the two of them were concerned just because a baby was expected. She would always make time for her husband. They’d still eat out, go to a show, entertain. Maybe she should plan another party.

  But when? She was guarding her weekends jealously. That was the only time she had to work on the house.

  Thinking about that had her wanting to call Mary Margaret. Did her sister put her children first, to the detriment of her husband? But she couldn’t call and ask—first of all it would insult her sister, and second no one knew about her pregnancy but Lianne. Maybe Annalise should call her parents and announce the news and have done with it.

  But not until Dominic was reconciled to the idea.

  Annalise arrived at their favorite Chinese restaurant promptly at six-thirty. She entered, and saw Dominic lounging against the wall in the narrow entryway.

  “Did I keep you waiting?” she asked, reaching up to kiss him.

  “Just got here a minute ago.” He turned and nodded to the hostess.

  Annalise was a bit disappointed he hadn’t returned her kiss with more fervor, but they were in a public place—though Dominic had never been that reticent when they’d first married. And usually he held her hand or flung an arm over her shoulder. Tonight they could pass for business colleagues going to dinner.

  The waitress seated them in a booth near the front. It was quiet and dimly lit. Handing them menus, she went to get the hot tea.

  “Let’s get the same thing as always,” she said, leaving the menu closed near the table’s edge.

  “Suits me,” he said.

  The same as always comprised Szechuan beef, kung pao chicken and pork chow mein. They had discovered early in their relationship that they had similar tastes in food.

  “So how was your day?” Annalise asked brightly. She could have kicked herself. That sounded so first date-ish. Were they down to banalities? She wanted to establish their old rapport before demanding answers to questions about Phyllis and the life they’d led. Or finding out more about the child who had not lived.

  Dominic’s eyes flashed amusement. “Fine. How was your day?”

  “Okay, that was dumb. What’s going on at work?”

  “We have a new client in Maryland. I may have to go up there later in the week, to get an overview of the computer setup. They are a startup security firm in Annapolis and are bidding for a contract with the Navy, so are beefing up their own security to show the Navy they are up to the task they’re bidding for.”

  “I’d think you could tell that from dialing into their system.”

  “Most of it I can, but I want to check out the physical layout and see what security procedures they have to protect the mainframe. Backup measures, that kind of thing.”

  “What else?”

  He smiled slightly. “I played games.”

  She nodded. When Dominic said he played games, he didn’t mean the kind she played on computers. His firm had some of the brightest minds in the world as employees. They constantly tried to trip up one another through altered codes on existing programs. It kept them on their toes, devising problems and then solving them.

  “What about you?” Dominic asked.

  “I showed the Worthys two more houses. I swear, they have seen every house in the northeast section, the north-west and near the Capitol. Neither of these was quite right, either. I think they like looking at houses, but I’m beginning to think they are not seriously looking, and have no intention of buying.”

  “Do what you did with that other couple who only wanted to look. Get the credit report and the mortgage pre-approved before showing them any more.”

  “I think I will. That usually separates the men from the boys,” she said.

  The waitress showed up with their meal, and for the next few moments, they were quiet as they ate. Annalise was beginning to feel as if they’d regained their old footing. She looked up and feasted her gaze on Dominic for a moment. She still thought he was the best-looking man she’d ever seen. His dark eyes flicked up and met hers, holding her gaze for a moment. She could feel the quiver of anticipation shoot through her. Would they return to the flat and make love?

  “So what does Lianne think of your house project?” he asked, as if deliberately thrusting a wedge between them.

  Annalise’s heart sank. Anytime the house or baby came up it widened the distance between them.

  “She shares your opinion that it’s a dump.”

  “Enlightened woman,” he murmured.

  “You both have no imagination. It’s going to be beautiful. You’ll see. And I’m starting on Friday. I’ve hired a construction worker to help me.”

  “Who?” Dominic went on the alert.

  “The brother of the girl Sean is seeing. He came by the house on Sunday and I hired him. He thinks the house is going to be beautiful when it’s done.” And so far Randy was the only one besides her that did.

  “What do you think you’re doing? You shouldn’t have had him out to the house with only you there,” Dominic said, leaning closer and glaring at her. “He could have been a mass murderer or something.”

  “I told you, he’s Bunny’s brother.”

  Dominic looked at her for a moment. “Bunny?”

  “Sean’s latest. The vet. Her name is Bunny.”

  “And what’s her brother’s name? Doggie?”

  Annalise wanted to giggle, but she was miffed Dominic had acted as if she didn’t know what she was doing. She’d bought this house on her own. She was directing the renovations. She knew exactly what she was doing. And if the man had been anyone other than the brother of Sean’s girlfriend, she wouldn’t have had him at the house when she was there alone. Though she was constantly showing homes to strangers. Which Dominic also had a problem with. Maybe he was just being protective.

  “His name is Randy and he works in construction, but not so much now that the weather is bad. He had some great ideas and we start on Friday.” She kept her tone reasonable.

  Dominic was quiet for a moment. “I thought I’d go to Annapolis on Friday and you could go with me. After I visit the new client we could find a bed and breakfast and stay the weekend. Wander around the old part of town.”

  She was torn. A trip to Annapolis sounded wonderful. And she’d have a chance to build a bridge over the chasm that seemed to grow wider each time they were together. But she’d already committed to Randy to start on the house. Time truly was not on her side. If the weather got too inclement they would have to delay some of the repairs to the windows, and wouldn’t be able to paint and air out the place.

  “I wish I had known earlier. I’m sorry, but I can’t make it. I’ve reserved a floor sander, and Randy will be there early on Friday to start. The weekends are the only time I’ll have to get this house in shape before the baby comes. I won’t be able to go anywhere for a while.”

  She hated seeing the flash of anger in his eyes.

  “Maybe I could take another day during the week,” she offered. It would mean the possible loss of revenue, but there was no sure sale in the works, so she’d be glad to chance that.

  “I’m busy until Friday,” he said, sitting back and finishing the last of his tea. “Ready to leave?”

  She nodded. So much for building bridges. Why hadn’t she been more amenable to his suggestion? Was it pride? Or resentment that he wouldn’t see things her way? She was mad he seemed to make no effort to change.

  When they returned home, Dominic closed himself in the den. Disappointed that the evening that had started so promising had turned out badly, Annalise pulled o
ut her laptop and connected to the Internet, reading how-to articles on refinishing floors and woodwork. She wanted the knowledge if not the experience when she and Randy began work on Friday.

  The next morning, Annalise overslept again. She hoped she would not be this tired all through her pregnancy. She scrambled to make it to her first appointment, and the day was hectic, with home tours from the office and two new listings to be signed. She had a strong clientele in the area, and word of mouth expanded it each year. She loved showing homes and making suggestions on creative financing. She had a solid base of happy homeowners who had bought through her. Some had become friends and they often saw each other.

  Thinking about it, she should be planning another party for December. Would Dominic be available? She called him.

  “I am already too late for a party in early November. And then we run into Thanksgiving. But what about a party that first weekend in December? Will you be here?” she asked as soon as he answered.

  “Do you have time? What about your house?”

  “Stop antagonizing me. I can’t go with you this weekend because I made prior plans. But with enough notice I can do almost anything. We always have a party or two this time of year. But before I reserve caterers and all I want to make sure you’ll be home.”

  “I’ll mark down that first Saturday. Can’t guarantee it, but I’ll do my best.”

  “Perfect. We can review the guest list tonight and I’ll start with invitations—December gets full really fast. We’ll get a jump on the others.”

  Getting home a bit early, she prepared a nice dinner. They’d eat, plan the party, and fall back into their normal routine.

  By seven, however, Annalise gave up on Dominic showing up. She’d called his cell, but it was inactive. Had he deliberately turned it off, or had the battery run down? That rarely happened, but it did once in a while if he was too involved with other things.