Snippet #1618093

Lenore Williams lived outside of DC, just far enough to own a little house with a white picket fence and just close enough to feel the hum of energy that radiated from the city. It was a peaceful life, one the young mother had enjoyed. At the moment, she sat in a small park not far from her house, watching her kids play with the dog. It was her intention to tire the little monsters out so she could finish her housework while they napped. If the house wasn't spotless and dinner on by the time Robert got home, her husband would be furious.

If Lenore was honest with herself, she'd realize that nothing pleased Robert anymore. When he got his promotion with the Air Force, he started to change. He worked longer hours and would come home, clutching a black briefcase. He started locking himself in his study with it, and locking the study if he left the briefcase inside. Then he started drinking. Lenore watched helplessly as paycheck after paycheck vanished and bills became harder to pay. He blamed her for there not being money in the bank, but she never saw a dime that he didn't personally hand to her.

Whatever he kept in that briefcase was the cause of his mood swings, and Lenore hated it. She tucked a few strands of her light rust-colored hair back in the bun, wondering what could be in that briefcase. Robert took it for granted that she couldn't get into his locked study, but she had a way. How else did he think it got dusted and vacuumed every day?

"Jack! Don't pull Farley's ears! Kelly, don't hit the dog!" Lenore started to stand to stop her little monsters from hurting the dog, but they quickly moved on to another game. By now, her kids knew that Mommy only got angry once and then she told Daddy. The threat of the belt was enough for now to keep them behaving.

She sat back down and sighed. What she wouldn't give to have her perfect life back.