“Oh, my god,” Anne cried. “Denise, honey, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Denise replied meekly, still sobbing. “I’ll be fine. Well, so much for a baby saving our relationship.” Denise sighed, trying to steady herself as she rose from the ground. “I guess we can stop believing in that idea now.” She looked wistfully at Anne. “So, now what?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll stay with you tonight so you will have someone to help out in case he comes home later. Let me think on this one. We’ll figure it out. In the meantime, let’s get you inside and settled on the couch so you can rest.”
“But, Anne,” Denise protested frantically, “you heard him! I have to get the housework done or he will kill me whenever he does finally come home!”
“No, Denise,” Anne replied firmly. “You are not going to do anything but rest. I will take care of the house. Now, come on and don’t argue with me,” she stated sternly, as Denise began to open her mouth. “I am serious.”
“All right,” Denise sighed. “I guess I could use the rest. Are you sure you don’t mind helping?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t offer if I minded. But,” she said thoughtfully, “we really do need to figure out what to do about Mitch. He’s really gone off the deep end now, and there is no way you or the baby will be safe if this continues.”
“I know. I’m scared,” Denise whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”
“We’ll figure it out. I promise. Now get indoors before you catch pneumonia.”
“All right, all right! I’m going!” Denise smiled briefly. “No matter what, Anne, you always seem to pull me out of a bad mood. Thanks!”
The women went inside and Denise melted onto the couch. Anne took a quick glance at the double-wide mobile home. She scrunched up her nose in confusion.
“What exactly is Mitch hollering about, anyway?” she queried. “The house is in good shape. I wish I could get my place to look half this neat and clean, for goodness sake! I don’t see the problem.”
“Well,” Denise began, without even thinking about it, “the laundry needs to be folded and put away; the bathroom needs a quick once-over; the living room and bedroom need to be vacuumed; and the whole house needs to be dusted. Aside from that, I’ve done everything else.”
“Now that I have been fully briefed, I will get a move on,” Anne chuckled. “But first, can I get you anything?”
“I would love a glass of ice water, please.”
“Done!”
As Anne returned from the kitchen with Denise’s glass of water, the phone rang. The two friends looked at each other in horror, as Denise picked up the receiver, shaking.
“Hello?” she said softly.
“Denise, it’s me.” Mitch’s voice came through the receiver, sounding far calmer than he had previously in the yard.
“O-oh, h-h-i, hun,” she stammered.
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into me. Why did you have to go to the hospital? Are you and the baby okay? Is everything all right?” His voice sounded very apologetic, but Denise wasn’t sure she could trust what her ears were hearing.
“I’m okay. I had a few painful contractions, but the doctors said it was normal. The baby and I are fine.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I’ll make it up to you. I guess I’ve been just worried about money and having enough stuff for the baby. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you. It won’t happen again. I promise. Can you forgive me?” He was pleading with her now. She desperately wanted to believe he was sincere.
“Yes, Mitch, of course.”
“Thank you, baby. I mean it. This won’t happen again. I’ll be home soon. I love you.”
“Me, too. See you then.” Denise hung up the phone and turned to face Anne. “He says he’s sorry, that this will never happen again, and that he will make it up to me.”
“Uh-huh,” Anne scoffed, “and we’ve heard that before, now, haven’t we?”
“But he’s never been this bad before. He really sounded sincere. Shouldn’t I give him another chance?” Denise searched Anne’s face with saddened eyes. “My baby should have a father, right?”
“In my opinion? Not if it has to be Mitch. But that’s me. You have to do what you think is right for you and the baby. It’s not my decision.”
“I know, I know,” wailed Denise as she sank back down on the couch. “I don’t know what to think anymore. We’ll wait and see what happens.”
Anne hustled about getting the housework completed, and then kissed her friend good-bye. “You’re sure you want me to go? You’ll be okay?”
“Yes, Anne, thank you! I’ll be fine. He’ll be okay when he gets back. I’m afraid that he’d flare up again if you were still here.”
“Okay, but call me if you need me, do you understand?”
“Yes. I promise.” Anne left, and Denise paced about waiting for Mitch to return.
When he walked through the door, he rushed to his wife and held her close in his arms. He apologized profusely, and kissed the top of her head, her cheeks, her neck and her face until he reached her lips. Then he picked her up tenderly and brought her to bed with him.
The next morning, Mitch was still being tender, kind and gentle. Denise softened, and decided that maybe this time he really did intend to change his ways.
I’ll give him just one more chance, she thought silently. He can’t get any worse, can he?
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