Synchronicity for Six, Pt 03
Tuesday, January 19
Alan was awake first, slapping at the snooze button on his clock radio. The DJs were not in sync with him that morning. J. Geils Band's 'Love Stinks' did not align at all with Alan's universe. It never really had, but not especially today as he rolled onto his back and leaned over to awaken Rose with a kiss. She smiled her joy and wrapped her arms around his neck in a loving embrace. One thing led to another, and Alan was a few minutes later than he had planned to get his shower.
Rose awoke to Alan's lips upon hers, and she quickly reciprocated his affection. She lingered in bed while Alan finally got up and showered. She needed to carve out some time during her workday to speak with her mother before her father arrived for supper that evening. When she emerged from her shower, the gift of a cup of adulterated coffee and a small plate of two slices of cinnamon raisin toast awaited her on the bathroom counter. Alan was SO good to her and for her.
Maggie's alarm woke her at 7:45 as intended. Stretching, her sensitive breasts rubbed against the inside of David's t-shirt, inflaming her desire for him and exacerbating his absence. 'Sleeping alone is completely the shits,' she thought, rolling out of bed. She hurried to the hallway bathroom while scenting the coffee in the kitchen. Quickly showering, she found a Post-It note from her mother on the coffee maker. It reminded her to get her lunch from the refrigerator and to be sure the house was locked when she departed for the bus to take her downtown.
David had to scramble to make his 9 AM class. While he was assiduous in reminding Maggie to set her alarm, he failed to do so on his own phone. 'God, but it sucks balls to sleep alone,' he thought. Fortunately, Robert had laid in a supply of Mountain Dew in their tiny dorm room refrigerator. Grabbing a pleasantly chilled can, David dashed out the door, down the stairs, out the building, and across the expanse of dead grass between his dormitory and the classroom building. Chest heaving, he made it to class with a whole minute to spare.
Tom and Julie awoke much like they had for the previous two weeks -- with her wrapped around him: an octopus to his starfish. Light kisses on the lips and firmer rubbing of noses assured of the love between them. One of them would have to get up and start the coffee, as their inherited coffee maker from Middleburg did not have an automatic timer. As he had to get to class first, Tom elected to brave the cold floors in his bare feet. Shifting back and forth from one foot to the other, once enough coffee had brewed for two cups, he poured the elixir into two mugs (one with Amaretto-flavored creamer) and returned to the bedroom with his treasure. They sat in their bed, sipping their coffee and pondering the coming day.
"I have class from 10 to noon, then a two-hour break, and then the afternoon shift until 5 in the lab," Tom iterated.
"And my two classes run back-to-back from noon until 4," Julie reminded.
"But you'll come to the lab once you're done, right?" Tom asked.
"Absolutely!"
With a quick kiss that threatened to derail him, Tom got off the bed and into the shower. He was out the door by 9:30, walking to class. Julie would drive and then chauffeur them home at the end of the day.
Julie remained in their bed after Tom's departure reflecting on some recent happenings. For the past weekend, Tom seemed withdrawn, almost surly. She had not made things any easier, though. Julie had gone shopping for their food and while she was out, she looked at clothing and shoes, although she did not buy anything other than the groceries. She was in her own little world and not interacting with the contemplative Tom. She did not think to call him out on his behavior because she knew everybody needs some time to themselves. Their tiny basement apartment didn't help matters any. Sometimes she felt she had to step outside just to change her mind.
But she loved him. She could not imagine the rest of her life without him. She would make things up to him that night. She'd prepare the supper even though it wasn't her turn, and she'd snuggle up to him and breathe in his ear. She'd then have to deal with the natural consequences of those actions, and she was looking forward to it.
= = =
While taking a break at 10:15, Rose remembered to call her mother. Closing her office door (what a concept!), she spun her chair to look out her window and dialed her parents' landline.
"Hello, Mother. It's your most favorite daughter in the world," Rose began lightheartedly.
"Rose! What a pleasant surprise it is to hear from you during the workday. Is everything well with you?" her mother responded.
"Yes, Mom, everyone and everything here is just fine. Can the same be said for your part of the world?"
"I'm quite well, dear, thanks for asking. Your father had to leave on an emergency business trip yesterday. He did not say where he had to go, only that he would be back on Wednesday. I've learned not to pry too deeply into his business dealings."
"Have you heard from him?" Rose inquired. Her mother's response would help direct the conversation.
"Yes, he called once he got checked into his hotel and before he had supper. I suppose we will talk again tonight after he's had supper. Would you and Alan like to video call with us tomorrow night? I'd like very much to see you and your expanded family again."
Rose felt caught between a rock and a hard place, then opted to enlighten her mother.
"Mom, Daddy's here in Middleburg. He has something to do at his company's offices in this town today. He did not say what."
"HE'S WHERE!??" Martha's voice increased in both volume and pitch, and Rose had to pull the phone away from her ear momentarily. "How do you know that?"
"He called Alan yesterday while we were coming back from taking David down to school. He's coming to our home for supper tonight, once he's done with whatever he came here to do. I believe he wishes to have a one-on-one, in-person discussion with Alan in addition to whatever work thing he had. He wouldn't say what the discussion would be about, but he did say he thought it would mostly impact Alan but might affect me as well."
