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Show Motherlunge a novel 200 As it happened, I decided to feed Xavier in the break room while Eli finished up with the plants, and then the three of us left the office building together. I pushed the stroller and Eli carried Xavier, who fell asleep on his shoulder. We stopped to put a blanket over Xavier. Eli and I walked all the way back to the townhouse without talking, a kabuki journey-all my movements strangely intentional, my face bloodless under the theatrical sun as I waited for what would happen between us. Back at the townhouse, we put Xavier down to sleep in his crib. We lay down on Pavia's big bed beside him; we lowered our shoes to the floor. Eli and I turned toward / each other on our sides and wove our sweaty fingers together. I pulled my glasses off and set them unfolded on an open book on the nightstand, as if to let them read on without me.... I looked at the skin on Eli's clavicle, his pulse in his neck. I didn't meet his eyes but I let him look at me. Time passed, as it does. We listened to Xavier^sifttle snufflings and movements-just as we will, very soon now,Tisten to yours-and then we fell asleep with a sudden muted klonk. The phone was ringing. I sat up and looked over at Xavier, who was sitting up in his crib staring at me. He looked over at the phone; I picked it up. "Pavia?" Walter coughed percussively in my ear. "No, it's me." "Put her on." |
