Her blood ran cold at the sound of the voice. Once again it was Bob.
Bob said "hey baby, it's so good to hear your voice…I've missed you".
Kitty was shaking and her eyes started to water at the sound of his voice.
He said "so I heard you have to testify…I can't wait to see you".
Kitty still said nothing.
He continued "don't worry baby, if things go like I plan at the trial Red will be out of the picture and I can finally have you all to myself; I for one can't wait".
He said "it was good talking to you; I love you Kitty".
Bob hung up.
Kitty was still standing with the phone to her ear paralyzed with fear.
Laurie was incredibly worried.
She took the phone from her mom and said "hello"?
She heard the dial tone and hung up the phone.
It was starting to storm outside.
Laurie touched her mom's shoulder and Kitty jumped and screamed.
Laurie started apologizing.
Kitty felt like she was going to be sick. She ran upstairs to her bedroom and shut the bathroom door. She lifted the toilet lid and threw up.
All she wanted was Red.
She got in the shower and started scrubbing herself. She started crying. She could feel Bob's hands all over her. She was scared to death.
Back in the kitchen:
Laurie was terrified at Kitty's behavior. She picked up the phone and immediately called her dad.
Red's wasn't answering and Laurie was freaking out. She wasn't stupid she knew her mother needed her father. She saw how scared she her mother was.
Red had just pulled into the driveway. He closed his shop as soon as it began thundering. He knew it would be too much for Kitty.
He came inside and Laurie ran to her father.
She said "thank god you're home"!
He's never seen Laurie like this before.
He said "what's wrong"?
She said "mom and I were baking and there was a loud clap of thunder but she tried to play it off and she was doing good but then there was another loud clap of thunder and she started to panic. She went to call you but the phone rang. She picked it up thinking it was you but it was someone else. I'm not sure who but it terrified her. She started crying. I took the phone from her but they already hung up. The poor thing was paralyzed with fear. She looked like she was about to be sick and ran up to the bedroom".
Red was fuming on the inside.
He thought 'dammit it was Bob'!
Red said "it was Bob".
Laurie was horrified.
She said "no wonder she was scared".
He said "dammit why can't he just leave her alone"?!
He was so angry. He was walking through the kitchen and punched a hole in the wall. She watched him go upstairs.
Laurie jumped. She's never seen her father this angry.
She sat down at the table with her book not moving a muscle.
Red and Kitty's bedroom:
Red opened the door. He didn't see her but he heard the shower running.
He thought great she's probably scrubbing herself raw now.
He was trying hard to calm himself down but on the inside all he was thinking about was killing Bob.
Finally, he took a couple of deep breaths. He knew Kitty needed him right now and she was his first priority.
He opened the bathroom door and heard Kitty crying. His heart broke. All of the angry thoughts vanished. He was just worried about his beautiful wife.
He opened the curtain and saw her sitting on the floor with her knees drawn up to he chest. He could see how red her skin was from her scrubbing herself.
She didn't even hear him come in.
He turned off the shower and he noticed the water had gotten cold.
He grabbed a towel.
He said "Kitty"?
She finally looked up and her face crumbled again. She said "he called again Red".
He stepped in the shower and wrapped her in the towel and picked her up. He sat her on the counter and held her while she cried.
After a couple of minutes she stopped crying but continued to cling to him.
She said "why won't he leave me alone"?
He said "I don't know baby".
She tensed up and said "Red please don't call me baby".
He was confused he always called her baby and he knew she loved it.
He said "why not… I thought you liked it"?
She said "he called me that today".
He was angry again. Yes, Bob took Kitty's feeling of safety away but now Bob was taking away part of their relationship. He was hurt and sad but he nodded. He wouldn't call her that ever again. He wouldn't let his feelings show. She needed him right now.
Red let go of Kitty and backed up. She looked at him confused.
She said "where are you going"?
He said "I'm going to get your clothes".
She watched Red leave the bathroom. She didn't know what happened.
He came back with her clothes and handed them too her and went to the bedroom.
She got dressed and dried her hair and put on her makeup again. She knew she wasn't going anywhere but it made her feel better.
Red was standing by the window watching the storm. It was really picking up out there. He knew Kitty hated storms but he loved them.
Kitty saw Red watching the storm. She knew how Red loved the storms. She knew something was bothering him but she didn't know what it was. She walked over to Red and touched his back.
He turned and looked at her. He said "are you okay"?
She shrugged "I guess".
He nodded.
He said "let's go back down stairs".
She could he didn't want to be around her but she didn't know why.
She said "Red, are you alright"?
He looked at her.
He thought to himself 'freaking swell just because Bob called you baby now I'm not allowed to; your my wife not his; your letting him win dammit'!
He was upset with her but he said "I'm fine" and turned to leave the room.
She couldn't believe it he actually lied to her. She thought 'what was wrong with him'?
She followed him out of the bedroom. He may be upset about something but she couldn't bring herself to let him out of her sight.
Red got a beer and sat down at the table. Kitty followed him and saw the hole in the wall. She looked at Red and he just looked at her. She let it go.
Laurie could feel the tension in the room.
She gathered up the courage and asked "is everything alright"?
Kitty said "ask your father".
Red looked at Kitty and thought 'nice Kitty make me the bad guy'.
Red said "everything is just fine".
Laurie knew it was a lie but she knew not to meddle in their problems.
She nodded and grabbed her book.
Red looked at Kitty and grabbed his beer and walked out of the kitchen to sit on the porch to watch the storm.
Kitty walked in the living room and sat down with Laurie. She turned on the tv. There was a loud clap of thunder and Kitty practically jumped off the couch. Kitty waited for Red but he didn't come. He must be really upset. He knew that she was terrified of storms.
Laurie watched her mother. She too expected her father to come running. She knew something was up. She said "mom, are you and dad fighting"?
Kitty sniffled and said "I don't know…I mean I know he's upset about something but I don't know what I did". She said "but I need him… especially after Bob called and I hate storms".
Laurie said "I know he was angry when he found out that a phone call had upset you and then he said it was Bob that had called and then he punched a hole in the wall".
Kitty said "oh, I wondered if that was why he punched the wall".
Laurie said "do you want me to talk to dad"?
Kitty said "no, he just needs time to calm down".
Laurie nodded. There was another loud clap of thunder and once again Kitty jumped.
Hours later Red was still not saying much to Kitty.
He knew he was being a jerk but she really hurt him.
It was still storming outside and it seemed to be getting worse.
He at least was staying closer to Kitty because he knew how scared she was of the storm.
No matter how upset he was with her he would never let her be scared alone if he could help it.
Kitty had been pretty quiet. The kids could feel the tension between the two. They decided to stay in the basement where it was nice and safe.
Kitty was making dinner when there was another loud clap of thunder. She jumped and dropped the spoon. Red looked up. She had her elbows on the counter with her face in her hands. Red thought 'okay enough is enough she needs me right now…but I'm still upset with her'.
He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and she jumped. He kissed her neck. She couldn't help but smile. She leaned back against him and started cooking again. The wind was picking up outside and it was thundering a lot more. Red could feel her shaking.
He tightened his arms around her and said "do you want me to take over"?
She said "no, I've got it".
He said "okay".
Finally, dinner was made and the kids came up. The kids could no longer feel the tension between their parents and for that they were grateful.
Red scooted close to Kitty to make her feel safe from the storm and she smiled at him.
They finished dinner and desert. Red said "why don't you go sit down and I'll clean the kitchen up".
She nodded and kissed his cheek.
He couldn't help but smile.
She turned to go in the living room and stopped when she saw the hole.
She had to ask "want to tell me what happen to cause you to punch a hole in the wall"?
He sighed inwardly. He said "later Kitty".
She nodded. She realized he was still upset.