“I want to fight. I want to fight? You’re the one who brought this up.”

“I’m not doing this with you,” I said calmly.

I turned away from her and stared out the window.

*****

We pulled into the driveway five hours later. The sun had already set and my skin was beginning to itch. We both climbed out the car and adjusted the seat forward to reach for Evan.

“I got her,” Bette said.

“Fine. I get the towels and bags from the trunk.”

We were still snappy toward each after the argument those hours before. I opened the front door and let her alone to put Evan to bed. After dropping the towels in the hamper, I sat on the bed and undressed. She came in quietly and did the same. I turned down the bedding and laid down. She did the same. I turned off the light on my side. She did the same. I turned on my side facing her. She turned on her side away from me.

*****

I was in a semi-conscious state when I rolled over and made contact with Bette’s body in bed. My eyes fluttered open briefly when I felt her arm wrap itself around my waist. A distant whimper played across my ears as I settled further into the mattress. My eyes popped open when I heard the sound again.

It was still dark outside as I sat up. An uneasiness filtered though my body as my eyes searched the room.

“Babe,” I called climbing out of bed trying to wake Bette.

Nothing.

I stood in the doorway and looked toward Evan’s room and then down the hall.

“Babe?”

A whimper and faint “Mommy” came from the bathroom.. I cautiously pushed open the closed door. She sat hugging her knees to her chest leaning against the tub.

“Mommy,” she cried reaching for me.

“Baby, what are you doing in the bathroom?”

I scrambled to her side taking her hand. It felt clammy.

“Evan…”

I smoothed back her curls to reveal a damp face.

“Mommy,” she whimpered again.

She began to cry.

Standing, I gathered her in my arms, cupping her neck, and felt hotness. I pulled her away from me to look at her and saw her eyes roll back and felt her body go limp.