#4. April's Good Day

#4. April’s Good Day

April came home in a far better mood than she had the night before, because although she’d been just as stressed out at work, she’d made twice as much. When she opened the door and saw that all the lights were out, she immediately turned them on and went to the table. She knew Patrick would leave a note. He always did.

She frowned when she read it, because she wanted to celebrate with her husband. She hadn’t had a night like this in months. Apparently he’d had a good day, too, so all the better. Only, he wasn’t there.

She sighed as she put down her pouch. She stood in the kitchen for a long while before she reached for the phone and pressed one on the speed-dial. Her mother answered.

“Hi, Mom. Patrick’s not home, and I just wanted to tell somebody the good news,” she said.

“That I had a really good night,” she said. “Yeah, I made really good money.

“I know. We’re getting closer all the time.

“Yeah, I know you hear the ticking from way up there. We’re gonna be ready to have it soon.

“Yeah, well, that can wait. We’d be okay with a baby in here, for the first year anyway. We’ll just have to move all the office stuff around.

“Of course you can’t. You’ve been waiting since our wedding day.”

April smiled. “Well, I’m working on it! God, put a lid on it, Mom.

“I’m kidding. Mom, I was just joking. I know you know it’s my life.

“Okay. Yeah, I know it’s kinda late. Say hi to Dad for me.

“I love you, too.

“Right, a boy. We’ll do our best. Love you, bye.”

April went into the bedroom and changed into pajamas. Then she went into the kitchen, grabbed a bag of potato chips and a beer and fell into the couch.

Patrick came in a couple hours later to the flickering light of the television. April flinched. “Oh god, you scared me. I must have been falling asleep.”

Patrick responded with a tight smile. He moved quickly toward the couch and kissed her.

April looked up at the clock. “Holy cow. When was the last time you were out until one?”

“Long time. Hey, babe . . . uh, are you in a good mood? You look like you’re in a good mood?”

“What the hell did you do?”

“Spent about thirty bucks.”

April’s jaw went slack and she leveled him with a momentary glare. “Wow.”

“Yeah, got a little carried away. We had a great time.”

She threw her hands up. “Oh well. I made good money tonight. But damn, did you drive drunk?”

“No, I didn’t drink that much, I just drank pricey. And dove into a couple of appetizers. And dessert.”

“My love, you are a pig,” April said, and shot him a goofy smile.

Patrick breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, yeah. I definitely won’t be spending that much next time.” He sat down beside her.

“What’re you watching?” he asked.

“I dunno. Some shit.”

“Sounds fantastic.”

“Yeah, it is,” she said, and looked at him. “Hey.”

“What?”

“Wanna do it?”

Patrick smiled. “Do it? Are we in fourth grade? Should we even be sexually active at this stage, darling?”

“No. We’re the bad little kids who sit in the back of the room.”

“That is so disturbing.”

“Wanna?”

Patrick breathed in sharply. “I’m pretty tired. Like you said, when am I ever up this late?”

“Right,” April said. She nodded, and rose from the couch. “I understand.” She walked toward the bedroom, stripping off her shirt as she went. “We all get tired sometimes.” She stopped at the door and took off her pajama bottoms. “I’m pretty tired, too. Think I’ll sleep naked tonight, being so hot and all.”

Patrick smiled, and rose from the couch. “Birth control?”

“Ye-e-e-s.”

“All this week?” he asked as he followed.

“Ye-e-e-s.”

Patrick stepped over April’s pajamas as he entered the bedroom. He reached down, picked them up and put them carefully on the corner of the dresser so they wouldn’t fall off.