He wouldn't be traveling so much after he got his promotion. Soon, she reminded herself. He'd been working so hard, and he was right on the verge of it. The extra money would be handy, too, especially when they had another child - maybe a girl this time.
With the promotion, and her working full-time again, they could afford to take the kids somewhere next summer. Disney World, maybe. They'd love that. Even if she were pregnant, they could manage it. She'd been squirreling away some money in the vacation fund - and the new-car fund.
Having to buy a new washing machine was going to seriously damage the emergency fund, but they'd be all right.
When she heard the boys laugh, her shoulders relaxed again. Really, life was good. It was perfect, just the way she'd always imagined it. She was married to a wonderful man, one she'd fallen for the minute she'd set eyes on him. Kevin Rothchild, with his slow, sweet smile.
They had two beautiful sons, a pretty house in a good neighborhood, jobs they both loved, and plans for the future they both agreed on. And when they made love, bells still rang.
Thinking of that, she imagined his reaction when, with the kids tucked in for the night, she slipped into the sexy new lingerie she'd splurged on in his absence.
A little wine, a few candles, and . . .
The next, bigger crash had her eyes rolling toward the ceiling. At least this time there were cheers instead of wails.
"Mom! Mom!" Face alive with glee, Luke rushed in. "We wrecked the whole building. Can we have a cookie?"
"Not this close to dinner. "
"Please, please, please, pleasel"
He was pulling on her pants now, doing his best to climb up her leg. Stella set the spoon down, nudged him away from the stove. "No cookies before dinner, Luke. "
"We're starving. " Gavin piled in, slamming his cars together. "How come we can't eat something when we're hungry? Why do we have to eat the stupid fredo anyway?"
"Because. " She'd always hated that answer as a child, but it seemed all-purpose to her now.
"We're all eating together when your father gets home. " But she glanced out the window and worried that his plane would be delayed. "Here, you can split an apple. "
She took one out of the bowl on the counter and grabbed a knife.
"I don't like the peel," Gavin complained.
"I don't have time to peel it. " She gave the sauce a couple of quick stirs. "The peel's good for you. " Wasn't it?
"Can I have a drink? Can I have a drink, too?" Luke tugged and tugged. "I'm thirsty. "
"God. Give me five minutes, will you? Five minutes. Go, go build something. Then you can have some apple slices and juice. "
Thunder boomed, and Gavin responded to it by jumping up and down and shouting, "Earthquake!"
"It's no
t an earthquake. "
But his face was bright with excitement as he spun in circles, then ran from the room. "Earthquake! Earthquake!"
Getting into the spirit, Luke ran after him, screaming.
Stella pressed a hand to her pounding head. The noise was insane, but maybe it would keep them busy until she got the meal under control.
She turned back to the stove, and heard, without much interest, the announcement for a news bulletin.
It filtered through the headache, and she turned toward the set like an automaton.
Commuter plane crash. En route to Detroit Metro from Lansing. Ten passengers on board.
The spoon dropped out of her hand. The heart dropped out of her body.