Twenty Three

During the last month Andrea had painted nothing. Painting was part of the world she shared with Torry, and Andrea didn't live in that world anymore. She couldn't. She kept the house clean, paid the bills that had piled up, and saw to the other details of life. Andrea played with the children, read to them, and did her best to make up for the months of irresponsibility. If she couldn't be happy, at least she had her priorities straight.

She hired a teenager that lived across the street to sit with the children on Friday. Their grandparents would have taken them, but Andrea wanted the kids there when she and Mark returned. Coming home to an empty house would not be wise.

The sitter, a gangly girl of sixteen with a sweet disposition, arrived early and watched television with the children while Andrea dressed for her evening with Mark. The day had been hectic, but Andrea had accomplished much. She'd done the laundry, shopped for groceries, and made a pot of minestrone -- all before lunch. That afternoon she'd taken the minivan in for an oil change and Buddy for his overdue rabies shot. She had even stopped by the library for a how-to book on wallpapering. It was a time for new beginnings; and Andrea thought a fresh look to her bedroom would be a good start; perhaps something with a cheery yellow.

That could wait, though. Andrea smiled at the mirror as she applied her makeup. She was ready for a relaxing evening. A lunch or two with Joni had been all the entertainment she'd allowed herself recently.