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“What are you talking about?”
Right. I never told her about that. “A while back, I met Rebecca for lunch and she said she saw Trace out to lunch with some woman. It got kinda nasty and I left. I didn’t believe her then and I don’t now. Doesn’t mean that the stupid thought hasn’t run through my head, but he’s being sneaky, Mom! Something is going on and I need to know what it is. I need him to tell me.”
Mom is quiet for a bit. “I don’t know what to tell you since you don’t want to bring it up to him.”
I sigh. Well, she’s no help.
“Brittany, I’ve got another call coming in. Let me take it and I can call you back.”
“No, that’s okay. Love you.”
“Love you too. Everything will be fine, I bet.”
“Hope so.”
We hang up and Lily and I turn around to head home. Trace is on the phone, pulling into the driveway when we’re almost to the door. I keep walking. I want a bath. Trace gets off work at five o’clock. He should’ve been home around 5:30, six at the latest. It’s eight o’clock. If he tells me he’s been at work, I’m going to scream. I’m better off going to take my bath and not giving him a chance to talk to me just yet.
I’m settled into my bath when the doorknob jiggles. “Britt?”
Yes, I locked the door. “What?” I ask.
“Everything okay?”
No. “I didn’t have a good day, so I wanted to relax. Do you need something?”
“No. I just wanted to see you.”
“I’ll be out later.”
Silence.
“Okay. Enjoy your bath.”
I sink further into the water. Tears fall from the corners of my eyes. My biggest fear is that I ask him what’s going on and he questions my trust in him. But this is getting out of control. I count while I breathe, hoping that helps calm me down. Slowly inhale, hold for three, and slowly exhale. Repeat until I feel better.
“Britt.”
I startle awake to find Trace squatting next to the tub. He must’ve taken the doorknob off again.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. I must’ve been more tired than I thought, I guess.” I shiver from the now-cold water. Trace pulls a towel off the towel rack, standing as I do and wraps it around me when I step out. “Are you okay?” I ask, noticing he looks a bit stressed. His hair is out of sorts. He got a haircut today, I realize.
“I don’t like having to remove the doorknob to come find you in here.” He wraps his arms around me, tugging me against him. “You didn’t have to lock the door.”
“I wanted some time to myself.”
“Still didn’t have to lock the door. Want to watch a movie with me before we go to bed?”
I shake my head. “I’m tired, so I think I’m going to go early.”
Trace places a finger under my chin to lift my head, so I’m looking at him. “Do you feel bad?”
“Kinda.”
He rests the back of his hand against my forehead and then my cheeks. “You don’t feel warm.”
“I don’t think I have a fever,” I agree.
