His brows knotted tight, every word laced with something cruel.
"Have you worked a single day since college?"
"Two years in Seaview City, two years married here. Every cent you've ever spent, I earned. How exactly have I mistreated you?"
"Lorraine, you don't know how good you have it!"
A crack of thunder split the sky outside the window.
I didn't respond. I scrambled off the bed and rushed into the bedroom to comfort the baby.
"Shh, it's okay, sweetie. Mommy's here."
"Mommy's right here..."
You don't know how good you have it. My mother had said the same thing to me once.
Back then I didn't understand. Now I did.
"Lorraine, stay home and cool off. I'm going out to sleep somewhere else tonight."
The words hung in the air for half a second before the front door shut behind him.
I knew the "cooling off" was a lie.
He was going to Leona's.
Because Leona was afraid of thunder.
There was a time, once, when Nigel and I were in bed together, laughing, tangled up in each other.
"Nigel, I'm scared."
He'd gotten a call from Leona. "I'll be right there."
I stared at him, confused. He explained, "Leona's parents died in an accident. Struck by lightning."
"Lorraine, I need to go check on her."
I went with him.