made the house a home after much work done by Daniel.
"Hey…You're back quick," Corinne replied slowly. “How did it go?”
“It was alright, I guess. Lots of people were there today,” Daniel said, wondering how much he should tell her. “I got a few things that I know we can use. Sorry, but the milk is crazy expensive now. We still have plenty of that powdered stuff though…I don’t think Rebecca even notices the difference anymore.”
“Did you get anything to eat? I’m getting pretty sick of rice and beans,” Corinne accused, figuring that he had only gone to the Warehouse to buy a bunch of useless crap for himself.
“Yeah…I got some bread and eggs, a little meat, let’s see…some potato chips for Rebecca…” He knew better than to mention the weed out in the garage. “Listen, I only had a few stipends. You could go back over there after we get paid, you know? Although, it’s probably not the best of ideas after what happened to me today…” Daniel snarled with a slightly raised voice. Some of the anger was creeping its way back in.
“Why? What happened this time?” Corinne moaned, as if whatever it was going to be was surely of his own doing.
“Oh, it was nothing much. Just that three guys tried to jump me!” Daniel said, emphasizing the “jump”.
“Really, what did they try? Did you say something to them?” Corrine asked, without any real interest. Daniel always had some kind of story to tell after going to the Warehouse and he had obviously not been hurt.
Realizing that Corinne would never truly understand just how close he had come to a life or death situation, and that if he tried to explain it to her she would most likely blame him for not handling it better, Daniel downplayed the encounter. “It was just some drifters outside the fence. No big deal, honestly. The one guy was totally covered in hair.” He laughed at the remembrance, making the lie sound genuine. “You should have seen him, Babe. He looked like a big cat.”
“Oh, yeah? Pretty hairy, you say? I’m just surprised that you are back so soon. Aren’t you the one that wanted some ‘alone time’?” Corinne asked coyly, setting him up for any future instances that he might dare ask for the same.
“It was just that I traded those books for some really good stuff right after I got there. I worked over this new vendor pretty good.” Daniel laughed again, this time for real. “Once I got the food, I guess, I just…Well, you know me and crowds,” Daniel scoffed, it came across as defensive. “Where is Rebecca, by the way?” he asked quickly to change the subject, hoping that Corinne had not let their two months from five years old child go outside unsupervised again. He was still upset about the last time she had done this.
After a long pause, Corinne replied uncertainly, “I think she’s downstairs…” Thus, indicating that the conversation should end here and now.
Daniel knew not to push his wife further. If he kept questioning her about Rebecca’s whereabouts, it would ruin any chance that he had of enjoying a pleasant conversation later. Trying to stay right with the ways and rules of the world, Daniel calmly asked, “Are you hungry? I’m heading down to the basement. Do you need anything?”
“I’m good. Oh…I guess we could use some water. The pitcher is empty again…” Corinne replied, taking the given way out more than the olive branch. She then returned to flipping pages on whatever romance novel that she was currently reading.
Corinne had not meant for some of her responses to sound malicious. She had always been good about giving Daniel time to go read or putt around on his projects. It was not her fault that Daniel did not use his prearranged time efficiently. To her it was as if he seemed to dread being on his own.
Daniel spun on his heel and headed down the stairwell that was right beside the door out to the garage and across from the unused half bath. Moving before Corinne decided that she was hungry too, he switched the biting canvas bags into his right hand allowing blood to flow back into his left, which now had semi-permanent creases laced across the palm.
In the all-around Corinne was a good mother. When it came to keeping Rebecca in clean clothes, plentiful toys, and appropriate books Corinne was the best. Daniel still loved his wife dearly, despite their recent