'Heart Aches & Rainy Days'

                  Breakfast was a peaceful affair. Each caught up in their thoughts; they enjoyed each other's silence. Just as they finshed eating, the kids ran down the stairs.

                 "Mom, we're hungry!" Angelica exclaimed coming to a compete stop when she saw her father.

                 "Good morning, Princess," Paul said. "Hello, Billy. Did you sleep well?"

                 "As Angelia stuttered for an answer, Billy answered. "Just fine. Can we have ice cream?" he asked Jessica with an imploring look.

                 "Morning, Daddy," Angelica finally stammered. "No, silly, we cna't have ice cream for breakfast. Cereal, please, Mommy." 

                 Laughing, Jessica got down two bowls, the cereal and set the milk on the table. Rising from his chair, Paul kissed Angelica on the head and ruffled Billy's hair. Kissing Jessica, he said. "I'll be home later. Have a great day."

                Smiling at his retreating back, Jessica fed both children. After chores, there wasn't too much to do. She asked the children what they wanted to do.

                “Go to the zoo, please, Mommy,” Angelica pleaded.
                “Yeah!” yelled Billy. “ZOO, ZOO, ZOO!” 
                 Jessica's body was healing nicely but she still had bruises. It was to hot to wear long sleeves and jeans so she convinced them to go swimming  the creek on the property. After lunch, they all changed into suits. Jessica grabbed towels and blankets while Angelica got Rustys’ leash and collar. It took only ten minutes to walk to the creek. Jessica couldn’t believe how beautiful the land was. And Paul and she owned it! As she spread the blanket on the ground as the children raced for the water with Rusty running circles around them. Splashing and yelling, they chased each other. Jessica laughed so hard, she almost cried.
                “Mommy, come on in!” Angelica yelled. “This feels great!”
               “Okay, I’m coming!” Stripping off her shorts and t-shirt, Jessica kicked off her shoes and ran for the water. She tried to ignore the looks she was getting from both children as she jumped in the water. She knew she looked bad with all the bruises and cuts. She hoped that Billy would forget what he saw. She didn’t want him telling his parents. After splashing with the children for a while, Jessica finally swam further down the creek. Floating on her back, she relaxed. Thank you, God, she thought, it looks like things may have finally calmed down. 

               “Mom, can we eat? I’m starved.” Angelica interrupted her thoughts.
               “Sure, come on. Billy, grab a towel.”
               After drying off, Jessica wrapped the towel around her body.
              “Oh, Mom! I forgot to bring Rusty’s food and he’s hungry too.”
              Jessica realized Angelica would probably forget, but she hadn’t. “It’s okay, honey. Look!” and she pulled a can of Rusty’s food out of the picnic basket.
           “Cool! Thanks, Mom!” laughed Angelica, “you’re the best.”
            After hugging her mom, Angelica grabbed the food and called for Rusty. Jessica proceeded to set out the food. Opening containers and pouring out drinks, Jessica’s mind started to wander. She realized how peaceful it was and prayed it would last. It was getting late so she called the children to eat. After stuffing themselves on fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans and an array of fruit, Jessica leaned up against a tree with a huge sigh. 
          “Can we swim?” Angelica and Billy interrupted her thoughts. 
          “No way! You know the rules. Thirty minutes. No less.”   

          “Ah, Mom, but I didn’t eat that much,” protested Angelica.
          “Oh, no,” laughed Jessica. “Just three pieces of chicken, two biscuits, half the potato salad and all the strawberries. Thirty minutes. No arguing.”
         With a sigh of defeat, Angelica flounced off to find Billy and Rusty. With a contented sigh, Jessica sat back and closed her eyes. It was so nice here.
        Listening to the birds in the trees and the water running in the nearby creek, Jessica’s eyes started drooping. Soon she was fast asleep. So relaxed was she that she never saw or heard Angelica and Billy when they came to check the time. She never heard Rusty finish the chicken. When Jessica awoke it was to raindrops. Big ones that were falling on her face. With a yelp she jumped to her feet. Calling for the children, she grabbed up the dishes and shoved them in the basket.
        “ANGELICA...BILLY...COME ON! LET’S GO!” she yelled.
        “Coming, mom!” Angelica answered. “Come on, Billy. Hurry! Rusty, let’s go!” she called for her dog.
         Laughing they ran for the house. Slipping and sliding in the mud, they were soaked to the skin before they got halfway home. As they rounded the corner of the house, they ran into Paul. He was just coming out of the house with a large umbrella.
        “Hey, I was just coming to look for you,” he said calmly. “Rose is okay and Jim wants Billy to come home.”
        “I’ll walk him, Paul. Could I have the umbrella?” Jessica asked.
        “No, that’s okay. You need to change out of those wet clothes. I’ll
do it.” And Paul walked away.
        Jessica started to shiver and she wasn’t cold. It was the look in Paul’s eyes. The peace was over.
      “Hurry, Angelica! Let’s get changed. I need to start dinner,” she pleaded.
       She raced upstairs, changed as quickly as she could and raced downstairs. Grabbing open the cabinets, she tried to figure out what was fast and easy. Putting water on to boil, she felt Paul’s presence behind her. The fact that he was being very quiet was a bad sign. As she turned to look at him, she was scared. He was angry and there was a mark on his face that looked like scratches.
        As she opened her mouth to ask if all was okay, he slapped her. Raising her hand to her face, she started to back up. Unfortunately there was nowhere to go. The stove was behind her. As she tried to move, her arm caught the handle of the hot pan of water. Before she could stop it, it fell... splashing water on her, the floor, stove and mostly on Paul. 
       “Damn, you stupid bitch!” Slapping her again, Paul reached for the pan. Instinctively knowing what was about to happen, Jessica tried to duck. The pan caught her on the side of the head above her ear. Cussing her, he swung again and again. Striking her repeatedly he hit her wherever there was an opening. Sickened by the pain and the sound of the pan hitting her, Jessica mercifully passed out. When Jessica awoke it was dark and she was on her bed. Paul was nowhere to be seen, Gingerly getting up, she made her way slowly down the hall. At Angelica’s door she paused and listened. Hearing no sounds within, she slowly opened the door and entered the room. Seeing a form on Angelica’s bed, she released the breath she was holding. At least, she was safe. Tucking in her daughter, she kissed her on the cheek and adjusted the covers. As she turned to leave the room, she was scared to find Paul standing there. He was drunk and holding a bottle of whiskey. Taking a long drink, he lurched towards her. 
        “Hi, baby. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up.” 
        “Paul, come on. Let’s go to the living room,” she said trying to steer him out of Angelica’s room. “I need a glass if you want me to drink with you.”
         Looking closely at him, she prayed he’d listen. It was obvious he’d had a lot to drink while she was out. Paul took another drink and then turned around. As he was walking down the hall, he tripped.
        Jessica tried to catch him before he went all the way down. But she was no match for his weight and it didn’t help that she was behind him. The whiskey bottle flew out of his hand and shattered on the wall. Whiskey and pieces of glass sprayed everywhere. But Jessica couldn’t worry about that now. Paul was getting to his feet slowly and he was mad.

        Whipping around, he grabbed her by the neck. “You dumb broad. You think I don’t know you tripped me. You think I’m stupid?” He tightened his grip.
        “Paul, stop please,” Jessica begged. “I can’t breathe.”
        “You think you are so smart tripping me, don’t you? Well, when I get finished with you maybe you will think twice about trying it again.” He was strangling her with both hands. She was so close to passing out.
         All of a sudden, Paul released her and fell to the floor. Stunned, Jessica could only stand there and stare, gasping for breath. For Angelica stood there with a vase of flowers. Not realizing at first what happened, Jessica sat down where she stood. 
        “Mommy, are you okay?” she heard her daughter ask. It sounded like she was far away. As Jessica’s breathing regulated and her ears stopped ringing she realized three things. One... Paul was still out cold. Two… there was glass, whiskey and blood everywhere and three... Angelica probably had just saved her life by hitting her father over the head with the vase of flowers.
        “Oh my God!” Jessica exclaimed. Getting to her feet as fast as she could she went to Angelica. Her daughter hadn’t moved from where she stood still holding the vase. Gathering her close, Jessica gently pried her fingers apart. Sitting the vase on the floor, she held her only child as they both sobbed. 
       “Honey, go to your room and get a few of your things together. I need to check your father,” she gently pushed Angelica towards her room. As she watched her daughter she realized things had gone to far. Checking Paul’s breathing and pulse she realized he’d be okay.
       But she needed to be gone when he woke up. Going to their bedroom, she grabbed clothes not looking at them just throwing them into suitcases. Just as she was leaving the room she saw Paul’s wallet. She needed money. How would she survive? Opening it she grabbed the cash, stuffing it in her pocket. As an afterthought she took the ATM card.
       “Mommy,” whispered Angelica. Jessica turned when she heard the terror in Angelica’s voice. “He’s waking up. Please hurry!”

                   ISBN# 1-4137-5162-8 
          Release Date: April 4, 2005