September 24th Evening at the Del Mar Residence by Littlewing1957
Alma watched her husband and that man drive off as if she didn’t exist! Alma sat her purse down on the table and took off her sweater. So much for a nice and relaxing social evening out with Ennis and his friend. It just wasn’t fair! But Alma had children to care for and a home to run. Or did she?
The tears started to fall along about 11:00p.m. when Alma realized that Ennis wouldn’t come home after all. She had hoped against hope that he would feel funny about leaving his family to go up into the hills with his buddy, doing God only knows what. Alma looked down at her cotton nightdress and pondered her life – such as it was. She was content, for the most part, but always felt that something was missing. She was aware of the faraway look in her husband’s eyes, and learned to cope with his aloof nature. His refusal to open up to her was often very disconcerting. But Alma had to accept those things. She knew what kind of man Ennis was before she married him. And so what if her marriage wasn’t perfect? Precious few were. In fact, she could have done much worse. Her friend Tammy was beaten by her low-life husband for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Twyla rarely ever saw her cheatin’ man, and Debbie’s deadbeat spouse couldn’t keep a job and was a poor excuse for a husband and father. Yes, Alma knew her marriage wasn’t the greatest, but it could be far worse. She could overlook Ennis’ quirks to keep her family together.
At least she hoped she could. The tears fell in earnest as Alma thought back to the complete tenderness and raw, animal passion she witnessed under the landing just that very afternoon. She saw a thing that she couldn’t define, and it terrified her. Alma looked in on her girls one last time before turning in. She climbed into the marital bed, chilled by the soft roar of the wind right outside her bedroom window.