Redemption

by Phil M. Williams

  One of Michelle’s parents opened and shut the bathroom door. The bathroom was separated from Michelle’s room by one thin wall. Grunting noises and sounds of raising the toilet lid came from the bathroom. Then a steady stream of urine. It was Frank.

  Michelle straddled Jason again, rubbing the crotch of her cotton underwear against his shiny erection, the movement causing little bed squeaks.

  Jason mouthed, “Stop.”

  But she didn’t. She reached between her legs and moved her underwear to the side. She grabbed his erection, lifted up, and placed the head of his penis in position. When she sat back down and straddled him again, he pushed deep inside her. Michelle let out a long sigh, her head tilted upward, and her eyes half open.

  The sound of running water came from the sink in the bathroom.

  They moved together in rhythm, like rolling waves. They adjusted their movements each time the bed squeaked, trying to keep quiet, but they were moving stronger, their breathing heavier. Jason gripped her hips. She leaned back, her mouth parted, grinding her clitoris against him, his penis deep inside. She was close.

  A knock came on her door.

  Michelle sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes like saucers. Jason was paralyzed, like a deer in headlights.

  “You okay?” Frank asked through the door.

  “We’re trying to sleep,” Michelle said in an annoyed tone.

  “Sorry. Good night.”

  “Good night, Dad.”

  Her parents’ bedroom door opened and shut.

  Michelle smiled in the moonlight and mimed wiping sweat from her forehead. She started to grind again. Jason moved his hands up her nightgown, cupping her breasts. They rolled like waves again. Steady yet growing. Her eyes were closed.

  Then he went still. She opened her eyes. He whispered, “I should get a condom. We shouldn’t.”

  Through heavy breaths, she replied, “Just a little longer. I’m close.”

  He moved his hips in rhythm again. She kept grinding back and forth. Harder, stronger. So close. He was in the perfect spot. The perfect angle to take her over the edge. Her face was flushed, her lips swollen. She shuddered. Heat radiated through her body, from the tips of her toes to her fingertips. He must’ve felt it too. He pushed faster, his penis spasming inside her.

  The bed squeaked unmistakably, but neither of them thought about it in that moment.

  Chapter 6: Frenemy

  Maguire’s Irish Pub was packed with childless twentysomethings, searching for a place to party and to escape their families on Christmas night. A bar ran along the east wall. Three bartenders, all wearing Santa hats, tended the throng of drunks. Neon beer signs popped in the dim lighting. A fake Christmas tree stood in the corner, decorated with beer cans, hung by the tabs.

  Tables and chairs filled half the room. The other half was the dance floor and the stage. A Def Leppard cover band was onstage, singing a familiar hit. Headbangers did exactly that, banging their heads to the beat, dressed in faded Def Leppard shirts and black leather pants. Many of the women and even a few men had big hair for the occasion, teased and set in place with Aqua Net.

  Michelle stood far from the stage, nursing her rum and Diet Coke. Danny and Susie flanked her. Michelle had convinced Jason to go to the bar with Susie and Cody. Jason had been having a good time, until Danny walked through the door.

  “These guys are pretty good,” Danny said, leaning in, so she could hear over the noise.

  “They sound just like them,” Michelle replied, leaning in, close enough to smell the beer on his breath and the cologne on his neck.

  Danny nodded and surveyed the crowd. He leaned back in. “What happened to your boy?”

  “Jason?”

  He grinned. “You got another boy I don’t know about?”

  Michelle shrugged. “I don’t know where he went.”

  Susie butted into their conversation, also reeking of alcohol. “He’s too good for us.”

  Michelle glared at her sister. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  Susie rolled her eyes. “Nothing.”

  Cody came from the crowd with a beer and a Long Island iced tea in hand. He handed the mixed drink to Susie.

  The lead singer said into the mike, “This is for all you lovers and sexpots out there.”

  The guitarist strummed the cords to the beginning of a slow song.

  “I love this song!” Susie said something in Cody’s ear, and then they were off to the dance floor.

  Danny took a swig from his beer and leaned in again. “You wanna dance?”

  Michelle shook her head. “No thanks.”

  “I’m surprised …”

  “I don’t like this song.” That was a lie. She didn’t want Jason to see them dancing, but, if she said that, Danny would make fun of Jason as insecure.

  “No. I’m surprised you married him.”

  Michelle frowned.

  He smirked. “You usually go for athletes.”

  “He’s athletic.”

  Danny snickered. “For an accountant.”

  Michelle’s face felt hot, embarrassed that Danny was making fun of her husband. “He’s not an accountant.”

  “He’s in finance, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Same difference.”

  “Who should I have married then?”

  Danny popped his collar and grinned again.

  A fake blonde with a fake tan and pink lipstick strutted toward them in a tight dress, her perfect gym body on display.

  Michelle chugged the last of her rum and Diet Coke and said, “She’s why I didn’t.”

  Danny turned to the blonde and winced.

  The blonde smiled at the two of them as she approached, a cranberry mixed drink in hand. Michelle gritted her teeth.

  “Hey, Carrie,” Danny said, lifting his beer to the woman. “Merry Christmas.”

  Carrie arched her eyebrows, a smirk on her face. “What are you two doin’?”

  Michelle narrowed her eyes. “I was just leaving.”

  “Looking for your husband?”

  Michelle cocked her head, confused.

  Carrie simpered. “He was just hittin’ on me. I thought about it, but I turned him down.”

  Michelle clenched her fists. “My husband wouldn’t touch a skank like you with a ten-foot pole.”

  Carrie threw her drink at Michelle, soaking her light-blue fleece with cranberry and vodka. Carrie admired her handiwork with one hand on her hip and one side of her mouth raised in contempt.

  Michelle rushed her with her fist reared back. Danny grabbed Michelle around the waist, holding her back.

  Michelle shrieked at Carrie, “You fucking bitch!”

  The surrounding patrons laughed and pointed at the scene. A bouncer approached and pointed at Michelle. “She has to go.”

  “Me?” Michelle pointed at Carrie. “She was the one.”

  The bouncer gestured with his chin for the exit. “Let’s go.”

  “I got her,” Danny said, taking Michelle by the arm.

  Michelle snatched her arm from Danny’s hand. “Leave me alone.”

  Danny showed his palms. “Fine.”

  Chapter 7: The Stain

  The burly bouncer escorted Michelle outside. The parking lot was dimly lit by the nearby streetlights. She was freezing in her jeans and fleece pullover, especially with the cold cranberry juice seeping through her fleece. She had left her coat in the car. She opened her purse and fished for her keys. “Shit.” Jason had the keys.

  She walked to her BMW on the off chance it was unlocked. It was running, exhaust coming from the tailpipe. She peered into the car. Jason lay in the back seat. She opened the front passenger door and climbed inside, slamming the door behind her. Jason sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

  She turned to him, annoyed. “What are you doing?”

  He scowled back. “I got sick of being ignored in favor of your ex-boyfriend.”

  “I wasn’t ignoring you. I was bei
ng social.”

  He squinted at the dark stain on her fleece. “What happened?”

  “Carrie Fuller happened.”

  He knitted his brow. “The Carrie Fuller?”

  “Yes. That one.” Michelle crossed her arms over her chest. “Did you hit on her?”

  “What? No. I’ve never even met her.”

  “She’s a fake blonde with a fake tan. Nice body. Wearing a skintight black dress. Did you hit on her?”

  “I didn’t hit on anybody. Nobody even talked to me. That’s why I’m out here.”

  “She said you hit on her, and she turned you down. I told her that you wouldn’t touch a skank like her with a ten-foot pole.”

  Jason laughed. “You said that?”

  Michelle uncrossed her arms and dropped her hands to her lap. “Yes.”

  “Let me guess. Then she threw her drink on you.”

  “Exactly. Then I tried to punch her fucking face, but Danny held me back, and the bouncer kicked me out.”

  Jason’s mouth turned down. “I’m sure Danny loved putting his hands on you.”

  “I yelled at him. Told him to let me go. Carrie was my best friend, and Danny cheated on me with that bitch. That’s why we didn’t get married. You know that. You’re the one I want. Not him.”

  “Then why did you ignore me? This happens every time we go out in Loganville.”

  “I’m sorry for neglecting you. I get around the Loganville party scene, and it’s like I’m twenty-one again. I know that’s not an excuse, but I’m sorry. Can we just drop it?”

  Jason let out a heavy breath. “Okay.” He exited the back seat, reentering the car from the front driver’s door.

  Jason drove them across town, back to Michelle’s parents’ house. Once inside, they walked toward Michelle’s room. Ruth was in the hallway in her pajamas, arguing with Becky.

  “I don’t wanna go to bed,” Becky whined. “I want you to play with me.”

  “It’s late, honey,” Ruth replied. It was after ten.

  “Hi, Mom,” Michelle said, as they approached.

  “Hi, dear,” Ruth replied, then stared at her fleece. “What happened to your shirt?”

  “Someone spilled a drink on me.” Her parents didn’t know about Carrie and Danny. The whole thing had been humiliating, so Michelle had never told her parents the specifics about their breakup, only that it had been Danny’s fault.

  “Well, that stinks. Did you two have fun?”

  Jason looked down.

  Michelle lifted one shoulder. “It was okay.”

  “I take it Susie and Cody are still out?” Ruth asked.

  “Yes. They’ll probably be out until last call. Are they supposed to pick up Becky?”

  “No. She’s sleeping over with Grandma tonight.” Ruth bent down closer to Becky. “Aren’t you, honey?”

  Becky tugged on Ruth’s pajama pants. “He can play with me.”

  “Your sister’s a night owl, just like this one.” Ruth stood, facing Michelle and Jason again.

  “Ask him.”

  “I can play with her for a few minutes,” Jason said.

  “You’re a dear.” Ruth bent down to Becky again. “Thirty minutes and then it’s time for bed.”

  “Let’s play Ice Cream Shop downstairs,” Becky said, holding out her hand to Jason.

  Jason took Becky’s hand and smiled at Michelle.

  Michelle smiled back.

  As Jason and Becky walked away, hand in hand, headed for the basement, Michelle thought, He’ll be a great father.

  Chapter 8: Baby Fever

  Michelle lay on her childhood bed, reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was a recently published YA novel that some of her sixth-grade girls had been reading on their own. The themes were a bit too mature for eleven-year-olds, but her gifted kids read well above their age level.

  Jason stepped into the room, shutting and locking the door behind him. He wore his pajamas, his hair still wet from the shower. Jason hung his towel on the closet doorknob, and placed his toiletry bag into his open suitcase.

  Michelle set her book on the bedside table facedown, next to the lamp. “All clean?”

  Jason nodded and removed his pajamas, revealing his boxer briefs. “I hate smelling like smoke.”

  Michelle had showered, while Jason was playing with Becky. “Did Becky go to bed?”

  He climbed into bed. Jason and Michelle lay on their sides, facing each other, the blanket covering their lower halves. He replied in a low voice, “She’s sleeping with your parents. She wouldn’t sleep in the guest bedroom.”

  “She could’ve slept with us.”

  Jason frowned. “That wouldn’t be appropriate. I’m not her father.”

  “It would’ve been fine, but it doesn’t matter. As long as she’s sleeping.”

  “She’s crashing now. Probably coming down from her sugar high. I think your mom let her eat too many Christmas cookies.”

  Michelle sighed. “My mom always has too much junk around. Especially at Christmas.”

  “I got her to brush her teeth before she went to bed. I thought with all that sugar …”

  Michelle kissed Jason on the lips, sucking his lower lip for a beat.

  He grinned. “What was that for?”

  “For being you. I think you’d make a great father.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “No, that’s wrong. I know you’d make a great father.” Michelle leaned in and kissed him again. When they separated, she said, “I want a baby.”

  He pulled back, his brow furrowed. “Now?”

  “Not necessarily tonight, but I think we should start trying.”

  Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “I wanted to talk to you about that. I’m a little worried about last night. We didn’t use anything.”

  Michelle frowned. “I doubt I’m pregnant, if that’s what you’re asking. I just had my period.”

  Jason nodded again, a wave of relief passing over his face. “I thought we were going to wait, so we can have some time with each other.”

  “We’ve been together for five years. How much longer?”

  “We’ve only been married for three.”

  “I may not get pregnant right away. We should start trying.”

  He rolled away from her, now on his back. “I don’t know if I’m ready. I don’t want things to change yet.”

  Michelle reached out and took his hand. “Our children won’t have the same childhood that you had.”

  “I know.”

  “Then what are you afraid of?”

  “I just need a little more time.”

  Michelle let go of his hand and rolled to her back. “Is it me? Do you not want children with me?”

  He rolled to his side, closing the gap between them. “Of course I do.”

  “We’re financially secure. It’s time.”

  “Soon. I promise.” He pecked her on the lips.

  Michelle kissed him back, openmouthed, her tongue in his mouth. He responded in kind. She slid her hand down his boxer briefs, his penis hardening in her hand. He slipped his hand between her legs, rubbing her clitoris. She moaned, moving her pelvis against his hand. She tugged on the waistband of his boxer briefs, signaling what she wanted.

  Jason got the hint. They removed their underwear, like they were on fire, the bed squeaking under their sudden movements. Michelle lay on her back and spread her legs. He was inside her immediately afterward. They were in perfect sync, moving as one for several minutes. Michelle edged close to her climax, but Jason pulled out, grabbed a condom from his bag, and rolled it over his erection.

  “No. I want to feel you,” Michelle whispered.

  “I know what you want,” Jason replied.

  When they resumed, the synchronicity was gone. He came, but she didn’t get what she wanted. They didn’t say anything to each other when he rolled off her, slipped on his pajama pants, and went to the bathroom.

  Chapter 9: The Nightmare Begins

  “God da
mn it!” Frank shouted.

  Becky cried.

  Michelle woke in the darkness, her parents arguing across the hall. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table—1:03 a.m.

  “She peed the bed,” Frank said.

  “It’s fine. I’ll clean it,” Ruth replied.

  “It’s seeping into the mattress.”

  Michelle turned on the lamp in her bedroom.

  Jason groaned and rolled toward Michelle. “What’s happening?”

  “I think Becky peed the bed. I should help.”

  “Can you turn out the lamp before you go?” Jason rolled away from the light and covered his head with his pillow.

  Michelle exited the bed and dressed in pajama pants and a PSU sweatshirt. She turned off the lamp and went into the hallway. Ruth came from her room, leading Becky by the hand.

  Becky sniffled, her face tear streaked.

  “Do you need any help?” Michelle asked.

  “Can you help your father strip the bed and wash the sheets?” Ruth replied.

  “Sure.”

  “Thank you, dear.”

  Ruth took Becky into the bathroom to get cleaned up. Michelle went into her parents’ bedroom. Frank pulled the comforter from the bed, dumping it in a heap on the floor.

  “The mattress is ruined,” Frank said, one side of his mouth raised in disgust.

  Michelle walked to the side of the bed, opposite Frank, and stripped the top sheet from the bed. “Maybe. You can always flip it over.”

  Frank undid the corners of the fitted sheet on his side of the bed. “Or I can burn it.”

  “Come on, Dad. It’s only pee.” Michelle removed the pee-soaked fitted sheet from mattress, placing the sheet on the floor.

  Frank scowled at the dark pee stain in the middle of his mattress. “This is why I never let you kids sleep with your mother and me. Looks like a map of Russia.”

  Michelle laughed and shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.” She scooped up the sheets from the floor. “I’ll take these down to the wash.”

  Michelle went down to the laundry room in the basement. Wet clothes were in the washer, and dry clothes were in the dryer, so she had to put the dry clothes in a laundry basket and then move the wet clothes to the dryer to make room for the sheets. Ruth had the bad habit of forgetting about clothes in the wash, giving them a mildew smell.