Landline

“Shh, mom,” Kelly whispered into her cellphone. “Don’t make me laugh, I just got both the babies down for their naps and I don’t want to wake them!” Being a mom was all Kelly had ever wanted. She had the best mom, so it made sense that she would want to be just like her. “Derek will be home in an hour and I want to have dinner ready for him. He has been so distant and grumpy lately. I know it has to be hard for him, working so many hours at the factory, especially knowing I could probably make twice as much as him, if I could put my Master’s to work, but then who would watch the kids?” “I’m sure he is exhausted,” Marie, Kelly’s mother replied. “It is heavy physical work, but it is what he committed to when you guys got married. He promised he would let you stay home with the kids to fulfill your dream of being a stay at home mom.” “I know but I still feel guilty. He comes home later and later every night and we still are barely making it.” “Kel, if the money isn’t there like it should be…”Marie trailed, not sure how to broach this difficult subject. “Are you sure he is at work all that time.” “Of course he is,” Kelly snapped defensively. Sure, she wondered about this as well, but having someone else bring it up made it feel more real and it was definitely not an idea Kelly was willing to entertain.