King ☞ r. grimes

46

Work

When Katie woke up the next morning, she was alone.

Rick's side of the bed was empty and made up.

A piece of stationary lay on his pillow.

It read:

Good morning. Left for work early. Be home soon. I love you. Rick.

Katie sighed.

Her head was pounding.

She wasn't hungover.

She didn't have anything to drink.

Her head hurt from all the crying she did the night before.

She climbed out of the bed and made up her side.

She walked into Judith's nursery.

The baby was standing up in her crib, waiting for Katie.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Katie said as she walked in.

"M-m-mama," Judith said, reaching out her chubby little arms to Katie.

All of the pain and heartache Katie had felt the night before disappeared in an instant.

That one little word changed Katie's whole perspective.

Katie had a big grin on her face.

She picked Judith up out of her crib with a sense of satisfaction.

Judith had just said her first word.

She had also called Katie mama.

Katie had two things to be excited about this morning.

She brought the baby downstairs and made her something to eat.

She sat Judith down in her high chair and placed the homemade apple sauce in front of her.

Judith was at the age where she could feed herself now.

"Carl! Carl?" Katie called.

She got no answer.

He must be at Ron's, she thought to herself.

Katie went to the stove and made herself something to eat.

She sat across from Judith and ate with her.

It was a good morning.

She decided to take Judith out for a walk.

She had hoped to see Rick this morning, but hopefully she'd happen to pass him while he did his rounds.

She loaded Judith up into the stroller and left the house.