The House of Roses by Holden Robinson

Author:Holden Robinson [Holden Robinson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781935605522
Google: 31DCbwAACAAJ
Amazon: 1935605526
Goodreads: 9333436
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2010-07-21T14:00:00+00:00

Thirty-one

Nathan Parker had one hell of a long night. His daughter Erica was an adolescent, and he'd long since forgotten what it was like to take care of infants. He'd had little sleep, and was due to report to work later in the day. If he didn't get a few minutes to close his eyes, he wouldn't be worth a shit.

He sat in Rita Holling's kitchen, gripping a cup of instant Maxwell House, with the intensity of one who was desperate. And, he was. If the coffee didn't kick in before the baby monitor blared to life, he was afraid he might have to call for back-up.

His head lolled forward, until it was resting on his chest, and immediately he was asleep. As he often did, he dreamed of his wife. In the dream, she was young, like when they'd first met. He remembered her toenails had been painted pink. She had been wearing white sandals and a little blue dress. It had been a breezy day, and the gentle wind had captured her perfume, a soft lilac scent, and had carried it to him. He had been mesmerized, and had taken her in with all of his senses. She was beautiful, and she smiled at him the first time she saw him, with a smile that had been inside of her for twenty-two years, a smile reserved for just the right man. For Nathan. He reached for her and their fingers nearly touched. The dream was always the same. Every time, he nearly touched her.

From somewhere just outside consciousness, he thought he heard the front door open and close.

“Nathan,” someone whispered, and he smiled in his sleep.

“Patticakes,” Nathan whispered, using the nickname he had called his wife.

Caitlin, who was standing over him, inhaled sharply. He was dreaming of his wife.

“Nathan,” the voice said again, and hesitantly Nathan Parker opened his eyes, but sleep called him quickly back. He wanted to hang onto the dream, to hang onto the memory, and to defy what was possible, to bring Patti back with him. He couldn't, but he always held part of her with him. The love remained. The love they'd shared stayed with him always. He fought against exhaustion and the lure of the dream, until finally he opened his eyes. Caitlin sat beside him, holding tightly to his hand.

“Good morning,” Caitlin whispered, and Nathan yawned loudly.

“Wow, you look as bad as I feel,” he said without thinking. Immediately, he apologized. “Sorry, Cate. How'd it go?” he asked, as Caitlin moved across the kitchen in search of the coffee pot.

“Ella made it through the night,” Caitlin said, sounding exhausted. “I'm going to have some coffee, and take a shower, and then I'm going back with your mom.”

“What about the twins? And, speaking of them, shouldn't you be taking better care of yourself?”

“I'm fine. I need to be there for Ella. Rita knows that. She's offered to watch the twins.”

“How is Rita?”

“She seems okay,” Caitlin replied.

“Are you okay?” Nathan asked. The question had sounded stupid in his head, and equally so aloud.

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