18.
Sophie is up with Rebecca. She is sitting at the kitchen table with Rebecca on her lap. She is trying to read the newspaper and listening for sounds of Paul out by the side of the house. Rebecca is cooing and reaching for Sophie’s coffee, the newspaper, grabbing everything. Shoving everything she can find in her mouth. If she can find her mouth. It’s usually just luck. The napkin, the placemat.
Then there is a scream and Sophie sees Paul run through the backyard and hop over the fence. She watches her husband, caught in his open bathrobe and awkward boots. Struggling. Sophie remains seated but stares out the back door from her chair. Rebecca continues to suck on everything she can. Sophie watches for Paul. He doesn’t come back.
It is seven thirty in the morning. The television is on
