The Arrangement

“I CAN NOT TAKE THIS CRYING ANYMORE!” Joanne bellowed.  “How can something that small make so much noise!”

“She is your daughter,” Ian whispered.

“Shut up!” she screamed.  “She is your daughter!”

“She wants her mom,” Ian pleaded, trying to hand the crying baby to Joanne.  She glared briefly at the child, then took her stiffly into her arms.  The baby stopped crying briefly and tried to nurse.  They had tried unsuccessfully.

The baby began crying again, Joanne got up and shoved the infant into Ian’s arms.  She walked out of the front room through the screen door to the garage.  She hit the garage door opener and stepped over to the Viper.  She started the big motor, letting it warm up before she began to progressively rev it up.  Its throaty roar soothed her inner turmoil.

After half an hour she came back inside the house.  There was no more crying baby now, just the stench of dirty diapers and clothing ruined by being spit-up on.

She turned to the calendar and marked off another day closer to being able to fly again.  If she could keep it together until then she would be alright.

Ian walked into the kitchen and gently wrapped his arms around her thin shoulders and kissed her nose.  “Pretty nose,” he whispered.  She giggled in her throat, then tears trickled out of her eyes.  “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,” he softly sang as he kissed the tears away.  Her breathing deepened as he kissed her neck.  He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom, where he kissed her on the face.  She moved her head slightly each time, indicating where she wanted him to place his lips.  He did that until she fell asleep.