Chapter 96
Violet
The throb in my arm wakes me from my slumber, and I screw up my face in pain. The sun is peeking through the crack in the curtains, and I look over to see Gabriel is not in bed with
- me. He must be downstairs..
Zzzzz.
sit up. “Huh?” I can hear him breathing. I lean down and look under the bed to see him
sleeping flat on his back on the hard floor with not even a blanket.
I glance at the clock. 8:20 a.m.
Shit.
“Gabriel,” I stammer. “Gabriel.”
His eyes slowly open before closing again.
“We’ve slept in,” I tell him.
“Ironic, seeing as how I didn’t sleep at all.” He keeps his eyes closed.
“Seriously, you have to get the kids up.”
“They can have the day off.”
“They can’t, it’s photo day.”
“I’ll take a photo of them with my phone.” “Gabriel,” I snap.
He drags himself up onto his elbow and forces his weary eyes open. I burst out laughing. His hair is standing on end and his eyes are red and bloodshot.
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“You look bad,” I whisper.
Teel worse.” He pulls his hand down his face as he sits up. “You have to go and pack the lunches and get the kids ready.” He nods and climbs to his feet. He limps out of the
bedroom.
“What happened to your foot?” I call after him.
“I broke my toe in the middle of the night…not that anyone fucking cares.”
I lie in bed and listen to him walk down each stair. “Ahh… Ohhh…
Fuck… Ahh.”
“Kids,” I call. “You need to wake up. We slept in.”
My phone beeps a text.
Do you want coffee?
I reply.
> You don’t have time for coffee.
I smile to myself as I wait for his reply.
I don’t have time for your negativity.
“Kids,” I call again. “You need to wake up.” My phone beeps a text.
What do I pack them for lunch?
I reply.
A sandwich and some fruit.
A bottle of water and a few cookies or something.
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Their lunch boxes are in their bags.
Dominic appears at my door. “Hey, buddy,” I smile and hold my arms out for him, he comes and cuddles me for a moment. “You need to wake your
sister up and go down and check on your father.”
“What’s he doing?”
“He’s making your lunch and might need a hand.”
Oh no!” we hear Gabriel yell from downstairs. “What the hell do you call this?”
“What’s he doing?” Dominic asks.
“I have no idea, go down and check on him, please.” Dominic gets up and walks downstairs.
“Oh my god!” Gabriel cries. I hear a sound and I listen to try to make out what it is…wait…is he dry heaving?
“There will be no school today,” he bellows through the house. I hear the front door open
and slam.
I hear a shuffle up the stairs and Dom appears; he’s panting and looks panicked.
“What’s going on down there?” I ask.
“A banana has gone rotten and smashed all through Lucy’s bag, it’s all on her pencils and everything. Dad is heaving and threw the bag out the front door.”
“Oh.”
Gabriel appears at the door; his eyes are wild. “In what universe do you put a banana in a school bag without a container?” I stare at him.
“It’s all slimy and…it stinks and…” He dry retches as he thinks of it. “I’ll never eat a banana again.”
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You’re going to have to clean it.”
How?”
“With a wet cloth?”
He dry retches at just the thought of it.
“Okay, she can use another bag. You need to wake her up first.”
He limps off, and I listen to him talking to her. “Wake up, baby girl.”
“No. Go away,” she snaps. “I’m tired.”
“Join the club.” I hear him hobble down the stairs. “Get up.”
Lucia walks into my room and crawls into bed with me. “You need to get ready, honey,
we’re late today.”
She disappears, and I hear more things slamming around downstairs.
What is he doing down there?
“I hate Tupperware,” he cries. A cupboard door slams and I smile to myself. I wish I had a camera down there so I could watch this firsthand.
Eventually, the three of them appear at my door. “We’ve come to say goodbye.”
I hug Dominic and then turn to Lucia. “You need your hair done, bubba.”
Gabriel’s face falls. “Oh.”
“Get the brush.” I point to the dresser. “Just brush her hair and tie it up. Quickly, though, you’re going to be late.”
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The Perfect Husband’s Secret
