The pair didn't fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning and Anna was the first to wake up. She was curled into David's side with her hand rested on his chest. She felt his heart beating beneath the skin and she looked up at him to find him dead asleep.
He looked at peace. No stress rested on his shoulders and the weight of the world had dissipated. At this moment, all Anna could do was smile. David looked so carefree but she knew once he woke up, his face would harden and his shoulders would carry the weight of the world again.
Anna was careful to climb out of bed, not wanting to wake David before his alarm went off. The woman gathered her clothes before she hopped in the shower. She started to get ready when she heard the mattress shift, the springs squeaked loudly.
He joined her in the bathroom, his shirt unbuttoned as he started to get ready too.
"Good morning." He smiled.
The woman kissed his cheek.
"Hey honey." She moved from the bathroom into the bedroom.
The two moved around each other to get Olivia to daycare and each other to work.
"I'll see you later tonight?" It was more of a question than a statement.
Olivia was curled against Anna's chest, trying to fall back asleep.
David nodded his head slowly, acknowledging the question. His jaw was set firm as he tried to refrain from answering the question. Lately these days, he never could seem to catch a break at work. Anna pulled open the car door and she carefully buckled Olivia into her carseat.
"I'll see you when I see you." Anna blew a kiss to her husband as she climbed into the driver's seat.
David waved back to his wife before he climbed into the Jeep. Anna backed out of the driveway and David went in the opposite direction. Anna's car was quiet, except for soft cooing that came from Olivia. She pulled up outside of the daycare and she unbuckled the carseat. Olivia reached up towards her mom.
Anna carried her daughter to the door and the daycare worker met them both.
"Hey girls." The worker smiled brightly as she held out her arms for Olivia.
Anna handed her daughter over to the girl, along with her diaper bag.
"Call me if you need anything." Anna offered, patting Olivia on the back before walking away.
Anna's day at work had flown by. She was finally able to get caught up with her lesson plans and grading. When the final bell rang, she dismissed her class and they all but ran out the door. Anna continued working and she hoped to get ahead of her work, at least for a week or two.
She packed up her things and walked out the door, locking the classroom behind her. As she reached her car, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Anna tossed her bag into the backseat before she pulled out her phone.
"Hello?" She answered.
"I thought you were never gonna answer." David chuckled.
Anna rolled her eyes as she climbed into the car. The pair went back and forth for a minute before David cleared his throat.
"I've got to deal with some stuff with Darby and the white hate bullshit." He explained.
Anna nodded her head as if he could see her, inhaling a sharp breath.
"Don't wait up for me." He told her.
The couple exchanged their goodbyes before Anna hung up the phone. She drove to the daycare to pick up Olivia. The daycare worker, Jo, walked up with Olivia in her arms.
"Mama!" The little girl cheered.
Anna hopped out of the car to meet Jo face to face.
"Thanks for taking such good care of her." Anna grabbed the diaper bag and slung it over her shoulder.
"You know that it's no big deal, she's the easiest one to watch." Jo chuckled as she handed Olivia over to Anna.
Olivia wrapped her arms tightly around Anna's neck, smiling back at Jo.
"I appreciate it." Anna was grateful as she leaned down to kiss Olivia on the head.
Jo waved the pair off, watching as the SUV pulled out of the parking lot.
Anna and Olivia had been home for a few hours, Olivia was playing while Anna curled up with a book on the couch. They had already had dinner and both of them were in their pajamas. The woman closed her book, slipping down into the floor with her daughter.
"You know you can't stay up until daddy gets home." Anna sighed.
Olivia climbed onto her mother's lap, nodding her head.
"I can I can!" She shouted.
Anna shook her head.
"No ma'am." Anna laughed.
She knew Olivia would fall asleep long before David would get home but she was sorely mistaken. Headlights blared in through the front window and Olivia nearly scrambled off her lap.
"Dada!" Olivia squealed.
David met her at the front door, kneeling down to Olivia's height. The little girl kissed her dad on the cheek before he scooped her up into his arms.
"I told her she wasn't allowed to stay up." Anna chuckled.
He waved it off with a laugh.
"Once or twice never hurt anybody." He looked over at Anna.
Anna shook her head.
"Yeah, and you're gonna be the one to have to get her up in the mornin'." Anna said as she pulled herself up onto the couch.
"That's fine!" David smiled brightly at his wife and Olivia smiled too.
She cut her eyes at him before she pulled her book back into her lap. David carried Olivia into her room before he put her down for the night. He returned to the living room and plopped down beside his wife.
"I'm not as late as I normally am." He chuckled lightly.
Anna nodded her head.
"You've got a good point." She smiled, pulling him close.
David rested his head against her chest and she held him tight, her fingers danced lightly across his uniform.
"How was work?" Anna whispered.
He shrugged his shoulders, it had been a crazy day. Overall, he just wanted to forget about it. He was tired of dealing with Zobelle and Weston, especially with the blackmail.
Anna leaned down to kiss his head.
"Dinner is in the fridge if you want some." She offered, her hand rested on his back.
David nodded and he leaned up to kiss her.
"Thank you." He smiled softly.
Anna pulled herself off of the couch and moved towards the bedroom, crawling into bed. She listened for a minute to the sound of David messing around the kitchen as he whistled to himself. It was nice to have him home at a decent hour, even if decent was still eleven o'clock.
She closed her eyes but she wasn't able to fall asleep. It wasn't long before David lied down beside her. The pair lied there in silence.
"Have you thought anymore about us leaving?" Anna asked, barely above a whisper.
David didn't answer, instead he just turned over, his back to his wife. He closed his eyes and listened as Anna did the same, letting out a huff of air. Truth was, he could never leave this town. No matter how much he wanted to.