Kat awoke the next morning with puffy lids from the night before. The brightness of the open curtains was blinding and made her skin uncomfortably warm. She squinted as she propped herself up on an elbow. She grew worried that she'd wasted a valuable vacation day and searched for the digital clock on the nightstand. She a hard time finding it with her bra covering the numbers. It read fifteen minutes to twelve. She grunted and jumped out of bed. She stumbled slightly while her head spun for a few seconds. She wouldn't let a minor hangover prevent her from taking advantage of her opportunity to fix her marriage or enjoy herself if Alejandro wasn't cooperating.
Although, in his defense, she hadn't been doing a good job of saving it herself. She stood in the bathroom mirror, disappointed in what she saw. She didn't see a woman who had learned three languages, earned a teaching degree and mothered three beautiful children on top of everything else. That woman was admirable and it was a woman she took pride in being. The woman she saw was a cheater. She was a liar. She had let her neglect consume her and weaken her to the point of infidelity. That woman had overshadowed all that she was. But even then, that woman was barely clasping onto straws. So could she blame herself for showing weakness?
Kat closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She was making excuses for herself. Alejandro couldn't help what he was going through and she knew that. He never chose to hurt her or her family. However, she was making drunk, yet conscious decisions. It was her job to stay strong for him.
A light rap on the door captured her attention. She looked into the eyes of her husband and instinctively looked away. Kat looked down at the marble counter in front of her. Her stomach was on fire and the sensation only intensified when she looked into the mirror to see Alejandro's reaction to her naked frame. He looked away bashfully and gulped roughly. His expression made her want to cover herself, she was embarrassed that he'd seen her naked. She was embarrassed that her husband had seen her body.
"Uh—Breakfast is on the table." His voice was hoarse. Kat was instantly ready for him to leave.
"Thanks." She said quietly with accidental emphasis on the "s". He turned on his heel and she let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She rested her palms on the counter and lifted her head to stare into her reflection. She now knew how easy it was for her to turn into the woman she was so ashamed to be.
*
Kat took a steaming shower and moisturized her skin. She drenched her skin in a bronzed sunscreen, brushed her teeth and wrapped herself in the silk robe she had bought for the trip. It matched the lingerie set she had planned to wear during their vacation but it didn't look like she'd have any reason to put it to use.
She opened the bedroom door and ventured into the dining area to eat the brunch sent to the room. There was a stainless steel cart with an elaborate set on the first shelf. There were two trays with a shinning cover on top of each. A single rose was laid neatly between the two and Kat lightly skimmed her finger over the petals. There was a small card with a corner stuck beneath the edge of one tray and she knew that one was hers. She picked up the glass of white wine filled to the brim and took a light sip.
Alejandro entered from the opposite side of the room. Kat quickly put the card in the pocket of her robe.
"How're you?" She asked as she lifted the lid of her tray, her eyes fixated on what she was doing.
"I'm okay. My new medication is fatiguing." She roller her eyes. She knew what that meant; he wasn't doing anything today. Especially not anything with her
The plate was still warm after sitting for almost an hour. Her plate was perfectly garnished and the presentation was symbolic of the cost of the resort. She had a half dozen chipas, small balls of Argentinean cheese bread that she loved and a piece of Pastel de Papa: a "shepherd's pie" consisting of ground beef, green olives, caramelized onions and creamy mashed potatoes right beside a huge serving of fresh, ripe fruit.
The bottom shelf had a basket full of pastries and breads with bottles of water.
She stole a glance in his direction to see that he was gazing out the large window at the head of the room. Kat was eager to read the card and she slipped it out of her pocket. She flipped it open and smiled at the messy script that she knew was Franco's.
"I hope you enjoyed your night as much as I enjoyed your company.
Thank you and we hope to see you again soon,
Franco and management"
She smiled to herself. To Alejandro, the card would have seemed innocent. It would read as a manager thanking her for coming to the resort event that welcomed all the new guests. But the written words had triggered something in Kat. She was recalling the feeling of her thighs wrapped around Franco's pelvis and the feel of his tongue dancing sloppily with her own. She took a large gulp of her wine, stole a couple pieces of fruit and a bottle of water.
"Rest as much as you need." She replied mundanely just before she disappeared into her room, the hem of her robe following a foot behind her.
*
Kat wasn't going to grovel over Alejandro this entire trip. She would offer him the opportunity to spend time with her but she wouldn't ask more than once. Regardless of his mental health, he could make a decision to help repair their relationship. She wouldn't make excuses for his lack of effort anymore.
She put on her ruby red swimsuit and tan crochet cover up. It hung off her shoulder loosely and left her thighs open for viewing and her backside almost completely exposed. Her sunglasses were holding her thick twists out of her face and she had a large beach bag on her shoulder. She slipped on her flip flops, her earphones and strolled out the bedroom door.
Alejandro was still sitting on the couch and Kat thought it would be best to check on the kids together.
"I'm going to call Eduardo." She sat on the edge of the couch adjacent to him and took out her earphones to put the speaker control on. Kat was suddenly anxious to hear from them. She shamefully admitted to herself that her thoughts had overpowered her need to speak to her kids. She didn't realize how much she missed them.
"Hello?"
Eduardo answered in his routinely enthusiastic tone.
"
Hi Granddaddy, where are my babies? They causing you too much trouble?"
Kat chuckled lightly toward the end. Eduardo had never had Andres for longer than a day and never with Maribel and Diego.
"Not at all, beautiful. We are on our way to get lunch. I was just about to start loading them up."
"
Okay well I won't keep you. Alejandro and I just want to talk to them for a second."
"
No problem, hold on and let me put them on."
He called for Maribel and Diego with the phone down at his side.
"Can you put Andres on the phone for a second? I want him to hear my voice."
Kat could hear his drooling and cooing on the other line. She smiled instantly.
"Hi mommy's baby. I miss you so much. I love you, Andres. I am thinking about you." Kat was instantly overcome with emotion. She held back to tightness in her throat and the sudden longing to squeeze him in her arms.
A booming sound in the background broke her train of thought and quick moving footsteps filled the receiver.
"Kat!" Maribel was breathless on the other end.
"Mari, I know you were not running in papa's house."
