CONTENTS

  Title

  Morning

  Noon

  Afternoon

  Evening

  Night

  About The Author

  Broken Home

  By Glenn Bullion

  Copyright © 2014 by Glenn Bullion

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Glenn Bullion.

  Special Thanks:

  Zach Gusler

  Chuck Christy

  Hugh F

  Kelly Daniels Embelton

  Bruce Ford-Coates

  Will Wittmann

  MORNING

  1973

  Janet Fields slowly roused from sleep as the quiet sounds pulled at her. The steady, rhythmic beating of a shower. The hum of a hairdryer. The clanging of a belt buckle. She peeled her eyes open to see her husband, Ed, standing next to their bed. They had their own bathroom attached to the bedroom, and the light was still on behind him. He stepped into one leg of his jeans, nearly clumsily stumbling to the floor in the process. It was all Janet could do to hold in a chuckle.

  She stretched her arms above her, not in a hurry to rise from bed. The carnality of their lovemaking was still fresh in her mind. Sometime in the middle of the night, Ed had awakened. There were no words, only action. They hadn't had a night like that in a long time. Too long. Their sex life since having children had changed, for lack of a better word. Janet had to figure out how to manufacture more nights like the previous one.

  She pulled the blanket down to her waist, exposing her bare breasts. They didn't even bother dressing in sleepwear after exhausting each other. Tossing her auburn hair over the pillow, she tried to look as sexy as a morning awakening would allow.

  "And just where do you think you're going?"

  Ed looked down at her. A smile spread across his face, and she relished it. His eyes traveled along her. Janet enjoyed the gaze, enjoyed the attention. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently cupped her cheek.

  "Good morning, beautiful."

  Janet ran a hand down his chest, and felt the desire for a second round building. The enthusiasm deflated as she glanced at the clock next to the bed. It was nearly eight o'clock. Soon, possibly any second, the life of a parent would resume once again. The girls would be awake, if they weren't already. Sleep granted them their only break, and many times not even that could keep the joys of parenthood away.

  "How long have you been up?" she asked.

  "Not long. I was just going to go out and pick up some breakfast. Save you from a morning of cooking."

  "Aww. You're so sweet."

  "I'm your husband. That's my job."

  "You don't have to do that. Maybe we'll all go out for dinner instead."

  "I smell a steak in my future."

  Janet smiled. They'd been married ten years, together for twelve. Ed nearly looked the same as he did on their wedding day, with the exception of a gray hair or two. He worked in a garage, and had the hands to show for it. Rough and strong, but so gentle when dealing with their children.

  They met in their senior year of high school. Her parents constantly told her she could do better, but they were simply wrong. Ed was the best. No one else could make her happier, and he gave her two wonderful daughters.

  Ed glanced out the window as he pulled a shirt from the dresser. Janet ogled his still trim physique.

  "Mary's boy is up early."

  Janet sat up and tossed the covers off of her. She swung her legs over the bed and peered out the window, making sure to keep her naked body out of sight. Their neighbor Mary's only son was already throwing a ball in the air. He ran aimlessly and climbed a fallen tree still in their backyard, a casualty of Hurricane Agnes, which tore through their state not long ago.

  "I guess we know where Sarah will be today."

  Ed smiled at the edge in her voice. Janet noticed his amusement and folded her arms across her chest.

  "What?"

  "I thought I was supposed to be the one upset when our daughter started spending time with boys. And we're a few years too early to get all crazy."

  "I just…don't know if I like that boy."

  "They're only eight. Don't worry. I think it's good that Sarah is finally being social."

  Janet knew her husband was right. Until she met her new best friend, Mark, Sarah was trapped in shyness. Her teachers in school always told Janet how her daughter never spoke in class, never played with the other children. It wasn't until the new neighbors moved in next door and Janet coerced Sarah into saying hello did the wall of shyness break. Now Sarah and Mark were inseparable, and their youngest daughter Elizabeth was starting to slowly join their little group.

  Janet enjoyed seeing her daughters happy, embracing their youth, and making a new friend. Still, there were times she watched them playing in the yard from the kitchen, and sadness trickled in. She was conscious enough of her own feelings to realize it was jealousy, pure and simple. Janet stayed at home while Ed worked, and for a time, Janet was Sarah's best friend. Sarah would come home from school, and the three women of the family would play together, talk about their days, cook dinner together for Ed when he came home. Now, Sarah's time went to Mark, and Janet would have been lying if she said it didn't affect her somewhat. She was watching Sarah continue to grow into a young lady, and it was both exciting and terrifying.

  Ed put a comforting hand on her bare shoulder, almost reading her mind.

  "It's okay, honey. I'm sure Sarah will need you for a few more years."

  "She'd better need me longer than that."

  He laughed. "Don't worry. You know, she—"

  The door to the bedroom burst open. Janet quickly jumped back into bed and pulled the covers up to her neck. Sarah and Elizabeth screamed and flailed as they ran around the room. Ed chuckled as their two daughters circled each other. Elizabeth even went as far as crawling under the bed and popping up on the other side.

  "Mom! Dad! It's Saturday!" Sarah shouted.

  Elizabeth, who was one year shy of kindergarten, had no idea of the importance of Saturday. Nevertheless, she agreed with her older sister with the utmost enthusiasm.

  "It's Saturday!" Elizabeth repeated. "Get out of bed!"

  Janet glared at Ed as the girls yanked at her blankets. Before their encounter in the middle of the night, Janet asked her husband if the door was locked. The last thing she wanted was for her children to walk in on them and see how they were conceived. Ed assured her he'd locked the door before bed, an obvious white lie in order to begin their moaning ten seconds sooner. Ed shrugged sheepishly, and scooped Elizabeth into his arms.

  "Whoa, there," he said. "Where do you get all this energy? What do you monsters want for breakfast?"

  "A cheeseburger!" was Sarah's choice.

  Elizabeth gave her father a tight squeeze. "Can we have a pizza?"

  "Nice try," Janet said. "But I don't think so."

  Janet and Sarah continued to play tug-of-war with the blankets.

  "Mom, why aren't you getting out of bed?"

  "I don't have any clothes on, honey. I have to get dressed first."

  Sarah's nose wrinkled. "Why are you naked?"

  Ed leaned back and roared with laughter as he set Elizabeth on the floor.

  "Go ahead, Janet. Tell them why you're naked."

  "Very funny."

  Elizabeth joined in on the battle, grabbing her sister around the waist and pulling. Janet called for help, but Ed stayed neutral, simply watching with hands on his hips.

  Sarah was the spitting image of her father, where Elizabeth more closely resembled her mother. Sarah had Ed's eyes and nose. Elizabeth and Janet shared the same laugh and smile. The girls were wonderful, and thoughtful. The last time Janet was sick, they both drew pictures for her and brought her chicken noodle soup.

  Janet grew frustrated as the girls wouldn't let up with their battle. Ed wasn't helping. She simply wasn't in the mood for her children to see her naked, although she'd learned since becoming a parent that bathroom privacy was a thing of the past.

  "Girls, stop," she said. "You're going to rip the blankets."

  "Then get out of bed," Sarah said, sticking out her tongue.

  Salvation came in the form of the phone ringing in the kitchen downstairs. Sarah let go, and both girls fell to the floor in a heap. They pushed and struggled against each other as they raced to the door.

  "I'll get it!" Sarah shouted.

  "No!" Elizabeth countered. "I want to answer it this time!"

  Janet laughed. The old answer-the-phone competition. That particular game led to some interesting fights over the past year when they'd let Elizabeth answer the phone as well.

  "Finally," Janet said. She threw the blankets off and quickly jumped to her feet.

  "Hey," Ed said, grabbing his wife by her hips. "Looks like this is turning out to be a good morning."

  She playfully shoved him away and grabbed her robe. Tying it around her waist, she flashed Ed a semi-serious glare that he understood perfectly.

  "Now, before you get mad—"

  "Ed, you said you locked the door."

  "Well, I thought I did."

  "No, you didn't."

  He winked and tried to charm her with his full smile. It partially worked.

  "What can I say? I'm sorry, but the door was the last thing on my mind last night."

  She tried to hide her grin as she slipped into a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt. "Well, seriously, next time we have to lock the door. I don't want the girls seeing where they came from."

  "You got it, boss."

  Sarah's voice echoed through the house from the bottom of the stairs.

  "Daddy! The phone's for you!"

  "Mom!" Elizabeth shouted. "Sarah hit me with the phone!"

  Janet rolled her eyes. "Don't hit your sister with the phone!"

  Ed laughed as he left the bedroom. The stairs sounded like a subway station as the girls marched up, passing their father as he headed down. Elizabeth jumped onto her mother's bed and Sarah looked out through the bedroom window.

  "Mom, Mark's outside. Can I go out and play with him?"

  "Oh!" Elizabeth said. "Me, too!"

  Janet smiled. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

  Sarah's brow wrinkled in confusion, and Janet marveled at how adorable her daughter was.

  "Uh, please?"

  "No. Breakfast."

  "Can Mark eat with us?"

  "No, he can't. He's got his own mom to shove food at him. Let's go and get your father's vote on food."

  Ed groaned from the hallway. "Don't bother."

  He emerged and leaned in the doorway. His expression was a mix of frustration and gloominess.

  "What's wrong, dear?"

  "I have to go to work."

  "That was the garage?"

  "Yeah. Great, huh?"

  "They haven't wanted you in on a Saturday in months."

  "I know. Apparently Jimmy's sick, and Mike has to take their dog to the vet to be…." He trailed off as he glanced at his daughters.

  Janet covered her mouth in shock. Mike was a neighbor from a few blocks over. Their dog was a beautiful German shepherd, one of the sweetest dogs she'd ever seen.

  "Oh, no."

  "Yeah," Ed said, lowering his head. "Anyway, no breakfast for me. But hey, extra money is good, right?"

  She did her best to hide her disappointment. Unlike some of the other wives in their small town, she actually liked spending time with her husband.

  "I'll bring you lunch, if you want."

  "Nah, that's okay. I'll take some leftovers. Tonight we'll all go out to dinner."

  The women all saw Ed to the door. He received hugs from everyone and a kiss from Janet. The kids whined a bit as they watched Ed drive down the street in the family car. The whining was short-lived as Sarah heard a child running and shouting in the backyard next door.

  "Mom!" Sarah shouted. "Let's hurry up and eat so I can go play."

  Janet shook her head as she led her children to the kitchen. They sat at the table behind her while she cooked bacon and eggs. Every minute or so she'd have to turn and point the spatula at them, threaten them. Sarah would poke Elizabeth. Elizabeth would smack Sarah. Sarah would stare at Elizabeth too hard. Janet gave them her angry face, but she smiled softly when she turned back to the stove.

  "Mom!" Elizabeth shouted. "Sarah's sticking her tongue out at me."

  "Sarah, stop sticking your tongue out."

  "I can't help it, Mom. My tongue itches."

  Janet stifled a laugh. "Your tongue does not itch. You're doing it just to needle your sister."

  "Hey! Now she's doing it, too."

  "Both of you! Put your tongues back in your mouth!"

  She'd served the children first, and was barely able to sit down when Sarah pushed the empty plate forward and stood up.

  "I'm done. Can I go outside?"

  Janet marveled at her daughter.

  "Good Lord, Sarah. Can you eat any faster?"

  "Probably."

  She eyed Mark through the sliding glass door leading to the backyard. The young boy was halfway up a tree, swinging and hanging. He'd occasionally glance toward their house, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sarah. He wrapped his legs around a limb and hung upside-down, the elementary school version of showing off.

  "You can go. But put your plate in the sink first."

  "Can I go with her?" Elizabeth asked.

  "No. You have to finish breakfast, and there's a living room full of your toys that need to be put away."

  Elizabeth unleashed her pathetic, adorable, sad face. "Aww, Mom."

  Janet had only developed an immunity to the face a year ago. Ed still fell victim to it on occasion, but was improving as well. Janet held up a finger and shook her head.

  "Elizabeth," Janet said, revealing her own parental tool. The tone.

  A mini Hurricane Agnes swept through the kitchen as Sarah rushed to put her plate away, and Elizabeth rushed to finish breakfast. Janet heard something that sounded like LoveYouMomBeOutside as Sarah sprinted through the back door. The excited girl even forgot to close the door behind her. Janet nearly yelled after her, but decided it was useless. She closed it herself, and turned to see Elizabeth downing her orange juice in one gulp.

  "Slow down. You'll get sick."

  The child, of course, didn't listen. Her breakfast was gone in an instant, and then so was Elizabeth. She sprinted up the stairs to put away her toys.

  Janet collapsed in the chair. She heard Elizabeth above her, but closed her eyes to enjoy one of those rare parent treats. Quiet. There were chores ahead of her. Wash the dishes, do some light cleaning, bake cookies for the upcoming sale, eventually enjoy a shower. But just for a moment, she'd enjoy the stillness in her kitchen.

  She took a deep breath as the moment passed. There was work to be done.

  Janet spent nearly half an hour in the living room, vacuuming and dusting. She heard Sarah and Mark's voices outside, full of energy and excitement. Janet imagined they were playing tag, or hide-and-seek, or working on that clubhouse near the back fence that she wasn't supposed to know about. Elizabeth ran back and forth between the living room and her bedroom, grabbing and moving toys. It was a dangerous experience trying to clean while avoiding the whirlwind that was Elizabeth.

  The dishes were next. She stood at the sink and went through the motions, wash and dry. Sarah and Mark ran like maniacs through the yard, one chasing the other on a bike. Janet laughed as she felt a pang of jealousy. To be young and carefree once again.

  As she washed the dishes, she noticed a tiny letter X written under the current date on the refrigerator calendar. A smile took hold at the thought of Ed's sneakiness. Obviously they were going out for dinner, and he had something planned. It had been a while since they had a family night on the town. She'd have to see if they could recreate last night's magic.

  Elizabeth was upstairs for nearly ten minutes. Her loud footsteps stopped halfway down the stairs. The only sound throughout the house was the water running in the sink, along with Janet clanging the dishes.

  "Elizabeth?" Janet called. "You okay in there, sweetie?"

  "Mommy, who is that sitting in the chair?"

  Janet sighed. Elizabeth had an active imagination, and regularly engaged in conversation with imaginary friends, despite having an older sister. It was a sticking point in some heated discussions between Ed and Janet. He didn't see the harm, whereas Janet would rather her youngest daughter interact with the world around her instead of something imaginary.

  "I don't know. You tell me, baby. Is it Mr. Biggs this time? Or Floppy the Bunny?"

  "Hi," Elizabeth said, her voice small and sweet. "How are you? I'm Elizabeth."

  Never did Janet imagine one of Elizabeth's imaginary friends would answer back.

  "I actually didn't ask, kid."

  Janet's eyes shot open at the sound of the stranger's voice. It was male, and she realized immediately it wasn't Ed. She dropped the dish she was washing in the sink, shattering it. Staring into the living room, Elizabeth was slowly approaching the chair in the corner. The angle blocked Janet's view. She couldn't see who her daughter was talking to.

  She nearly ran to Elizabeth, scooping her into her arms. She spun toward the chair, toward the voice. The entire time she washed dishes she didn't hear anything unusual. The front door didn't open. There were no footsteps crossing the living room.

  But someone was in her house.

 

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