Full Fadom Five by David C.C. Bourgeois

Author:David C.C. Bourgeois
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Baraka Fiction

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The clamour in the basement carried on after Noah left to fetch his book, as did the drone of the television in the living room. In the kitchen, Cate had finished with the stock, which was cooling on the countertop. Now she leaned by the window, drinking her tea in the last light of the shortened day. As always she left the bags in, which turned the water nearly black, strong enough to make your teeth cross. Cecelia took just enough milk in hers to turn it fawnish.

“We always did like to have a go,” Cate said. “I hope you know it doesn’t mean anything.”

“Of course,” Cecelia said.

“We don’t do it on purpose. It’s just a rut we fall into sometimes—one of the traps of marriage. Even when it’s over, it isn’t.”

“I guess that’s why they call it wedlock,” Cecelia suggested.

“Exactly,” Cate said, relieved. “There are just these things in a marriage … sometimes it’s hard to get free of them. It’s a bit like when you wrap yourself too tight in a blanket, and when you wake up you can’t move, and you start to panic.” She was fidgeting with her cup. “Sorry. That sounds melodramatic doesn’t it.”

“Not as much as you think.”

Cate smiled. “You know, I had these recurring dreams for a while. A faceless man pins me to the floor, and no matter how hard I scream I can’t make a sound. They were so vivid, one time I had an anxiety attack when me and Felix were wrestling. He ended up kneeling on me with his hands on my shoulders and I panicked and jerked right up. Shot him right onto the floor.”

“Really?”

“I know, right? And I can’t even count the number of times I had to get out from under Noah in bed so that he wasn’t on top of me.” The television was still on and still loud, but Cate lowered her voice, shyly. “I never told anyone that. Not even Noah.” She glanced over at the clock on the stove. “It probably has something to do with why I had the affair.”

Cecelia’s eyes widened briefly at Cate’s unexpected candor.

“He didn’t tell you, did he,” Cate said.

“Not a word.”

“That figures. He’s good that way. I still felt terrible about it.” Cate sat down and rested her elbows on the chipped melamine of the table. She looked right at Cecelia. “You know, I didn’t think it would be, but it’s been nice having you around.”

Unsure how to respond, Cecelia tried to smile, but the trying was obvious.

“Oh, it’s not weird, is it?” Cate asked.

“It is a little.”

“OK, a little weird. But I’ve been here three years and I still hardly know anyone. And when you don’t have anyone to talk to except a ten-year-old you go a little crazy, even if he is a sweetheart. I was uneasy when you started coming around, and I wasn’t as welcoming as I could have been, but really it’s turned out fine.” Cate hesitated and her gaze drifted down towards her hands.

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