“I know you don’t like asking for help…” Margie continued.
“I don’t like asking for help all the time,” Annie corrected.“You’d think a few days here or there and I’d be able to right the ship.It makes me feel…” Her voice trailed off.
Margie smiled at her.“I know, but the demands are endless, and you’re only one person.”
Annie nodded.She picked up the baby monitor.“Wow.Did you cast a spell on the house?It looks like they both might be asleep.”
“Perfect!They won’t even know I’m here.What do you want to do?Go to bed?See your mom?Have a night on the town?”
A weak smile crossed Annie’s face.Her eyes were so tired.“I’d like to go see my mom.I made chicken enchilada soup for her.”
“Then you go and see your mom,” Margie said, pushing her toward the door.“I’ll stay as long as you like.”
“Are you sure?”
She took Annie’s coat off its hook and guided her arms into it.“Positive.Go.Relax.Listen to silence on the drive over.”
“Thank you, Margie,” Annie said.
Once she was out the door, Margie got to work.First, she tackled the kitchen – putting away clean dishes, washing the pile in and around the sink, and wiping down surfaces, including the crusty microwave.
Then, she tidied the toys, folded the laundry, found a pike of dirty clothes and got it into the dryer before Annie got back.
“Any issues?”Annie asked as she rushed in the door.
“None at all.”
She dropped her purse with a sigh.“It looks great in here.Thank you, Margie.”
“It’s my pleasure.What else can I do?”
Annie put her hands up.“Please, you’ve done enough.More than enough.You should go home.”
“I don’t mind spending the night so you can catch up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.But thank you, Margie.I really appreciate it.”
“I know you do.”Margie grabbed her coat and squeezed Annie’s hand.“I know how hard it can be.I’ll be back tomorrow!”
“No – ” Annie started, but Margie only smiled and disappeared out the door.
Three
“That’s enough!”Annie yelled.
Leon and Noel froze.Noel was halfway to the other side of the ferry, and Leon had one leg up on a table.
Whenever she had to take them on the ferry, Annie always foolishly imagined driving on board with them sleeping peacefully in their car seats.
But there was no sleeping.There was no keeping them in their car seats.Annie’s only option was to take them upstairs, onto the passenger decks, where they ran amok as she chased after them, her face red and her nerves pulled as tight as violin strings.
Their excitement over the boat, and the water, and the people, had built to an explosive crescendo until someone ended up yelling – normally, all three of them.This time, Annie broke first.
As per tradition, she immediately felt terrible, but it was too late.The mood was ruined, and as soon as she got control of them, the announcement rang out that they were pulling into Anacortes ferry terminal.
She’d almost made it the entire way without losing it.
Almost.
