Chapter Three

Slowly opening her eyes Michaela's eyes focused on the sconce that was nailed to the wall, noticing that it was slightly cock-eyed she closed her eyes again trying to remember why she was lying on the couch. Suddenly her memories of last night came flooding back to her. Turning to look at the grandfather clock she noticed that it was ten to eight. Jack was up and already out of the house an hour ago.

Pushing the blanket off of her she lifted from the couch. Stretching her back she rubbed her neck feeling the pain of sleeping in such a cramped space. Making her way into the kitchen she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a fresh bowl of strawberries and Granola. Sitting at the table she started to read the paper and an article in the lower left hand corner caught her eye. It was an editorial on a new medical breakthrough founded at Boston Memorial by Doctor William Burke. "William," Michaela smiled. "Good for you." Scanning the article Michaela remembered her time at the hospital with both William and her father. "What a threesome we made," she smiled. Closing the paper she glanced at the clock and remembered she needed to stop at the grocery store, pick up Jack's dry cleaning and run to Home Depot.

Walking up the stairs and into her bedroom she quickly started the shower and stripped her clothes. Looking at herself in the mirror she turned to the side looking at the two large bruises on her upper left thigh and lower arm. Jack had grabbed her about a week ago throwing her into the wall after she forgot to call in an order to the catering service for a dinner party they were having the next night. She had another bruise just under her rib cage, it had been there for some time. Shivering at the memory Michaela turned from the mirror and walked into the shower.

Letting the water splash down on her face Michaela took her loofah and began to lather her body wash upon herself. She watched as the suds made a soapy path down her thigh and land on the tiled floor. Washing her stomach she rubbed her abdomen trying the smother her feelings of possibility having a child. She didn't want to go through that again. She didn't know how many more cold nights she could cry herself to sleep.

Applying the shampoo on top of her head, Michaela began to gently massage her scalp. Her mind turned to Maureen and Robert and how they had tried so hard to have another baby. Robert had been so kind and patient during the entire ordeal, often taking her away on special getaways to forget her problems. Feeling hot tears sting the backs of her eyes Michaela took a deep breath quickly rinsed her hair and turned off the water. Grabbing a towel she wrapped it around herself and walked into her closet. Opting for a light pink sun dress she laid it out on her bed. Walking past her window she noticed the same man from last night outside cutting the lawn. His wife was weeding along with her daughter. They looked like such a nice, happy family. She was excited to have another woman next door that she could talk to. Admiring the family for a moment she sat at her vanity and started to apply her make up.

Slowing her car, Michaela drove into her driveway and cut the engine. Grabbing her packages from the passenger seat she opened the door and stepped out.

"Nice day."

"Oh my goodness," Michaela dropped her bags to the ground bringing her hand to cover her mouth. "You…you."

"Sorry," he laughed bending over to pick up her belongings. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"It's alright," she laughed waving her hand. "I just didn't expect anyone to be here."

"I'm Daniel," he handed her, her bags. "Just moved in next door."

"Hello," Michaela extended her hand. "I'm Michaela Taylor. It's nice to finally meet you, and to have neighbors! That house has been vacant for so long now."

"Yes, my wife and I are very happy with it. It's exactly what we've been looking for."

"That's wonderful," she exclaimed.

"Yes, I'll have to introduce you to my wife. She'll be happy to have some friends in the neighborhood. And my daughter, do you have any kids?"

"Oh, no, no it's just my husband Jack and myself."

"Ah," Daniel smiled. "Well Michaela what do you have in here?" Daniel handed her another bag. "It's heavy!"

"Oh! Oh," she laughed. "A wrench, the pipes under the kitchen sink are leaking and my husband has been too busy to fix them so it looks like I'm going to have to try to tackle it myself."

"Daniel!" A distant voice was heard. "Daniel are you over here?"

"Abby, I'm over here," Daniel waved.

Watching the women Michaela saw the night before walking onto her lawn she smiled. "Hello."

"Hi."

"Abby," Daniel put his arm around her. "This is Michaela Taylor. Her and her husband Jack live here. Michaela this is my wife, Abby."

"Nice to meet you," they said in unison.

"Honey," Abby spoke up. "What are you doing out here?"

"Well I was just about to fix Michaela's pipes here. They seem to be leaking."

"Oh. Oh, no," Michaela shook her head. "I can do it. I'm sure you have plenty to do at your own home."

"Daniel used to be a Plummer, Michaela. I'm sure he could fix whatever your problem is quickly," Abby offered.

"Well," she hesitated knowing Jack wouldn't like it.

"If it's only a leaky pipe it should only take me about ten minutes. Do you know how to fix a pipe?

"I ah, bought a book," she smiled.

"A book, huh," he smirked.

"Well, If you're sure it won't interfere with your own housework," Michaela said.

"Sarah and I are going to run to the market to pick up groceries for dinner. So you have plenty of time."

"Thank you," Michaela said sincerely to the couple. "It's really been a pain."

"Well, show me the way," Daniel laughed.

"I'll be back in about an hour," Abby called.

"Bye," he waved. "So, Michaela what does your husband do?" Daniel followed her up to the house.

"Jack, Oh, he's an account over at, Taylor, Taylor & Watkins."

Opening the front door Michaela glanced at the clock it was just a little after two. Jack wouldn't be home till six. Feeling a little better Michaela walked over to the kitchen sink and opened the bottom cupboard. "It's all yours," she waved her hand toward the pipes."

Getting down on his hands and knees Daniel open the box containing the wrench and found a toolbox already under the sink. Picking up the flashlight he pointed it upward and saw tiny water droplets leaking from where the two pipes meet. "I think I found your problem Michaela."

"Already!" she was surprised.

"Told ya I was good," he laughed.

Michaela rolled her eyes. "What's wrong with it?"

"The washer that connects the two pipes are cracked," he told her. "You got a few extra here in the tool box. They look like they could fit."

"Good," Michaela moved over to the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of lemonade. "So, Daniel where did you move from?"

"New York, Abby and I both wanted to move out of the city," he explained. "And we both have family here in Mystic. We wanted Sarah to have cousins and stuff to play with."

"Yes, that's very important," Michaela nodded pouring two glasses of lemonade.

"What about you?" He twisted under the sink. "Where are you from?"

"Jack and I are both from Boston. Well, he's originally from Connecticut but that's where we met."

"Hey, Michaela I think I'm going to need-"

Suddenly Michaela heard a crack and turned around just in time to see Daniel jump out from underneath the sink soaking wet. "Shit," he laughed wiping his eyes.

"What happened," she tried not to laugh.

"You didn't have the water off," he held a deadpan expression.

"Oh my goodness," her eyes grew big. "I'm so sorry. Oh my goodness."

"It's okay," he held his hand up. "I should have asked you first."

"I should have known better," she shook her head pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Really its fine," he reached for the water valve under the sink.

"Here, let me at least throw your shirt in the dryer."

Laughing, Daniel tore off his shirt and tossed it to Michaela. "I'll just replace the new washer and I should be done here."

"Alright," she smiled. "I'll just toss this in. There's lemonade on the table if you get thirsty."

Walking to the laundry room Michaela mentally scolded herself for being so careless. She should have known to turn off the water. Thank goodness it wasn't Jack under that sink. She sighed, remembering that all the men in the world weren't like Jack. There were actually decent, nice men out there. Opening the dryer she pulled out her towels and placed them in the laundry basket on top on the washer and threw the shirt inside. Picking up Jacks dry cleaning she walked to his bedroom closet and placed his suits inside. Hung up his ties and placed his new shoes neatly in a row.

Making her way into the bathroom she picked his towels up from off the floor and placed them in the hamper. Opening the linen closet she pulled out fresh towels and placed them on the rack. She lined up his shave gel, aftershave, and cologne on the bathroom counter making sure they were in the order he liked. Giving one last glance to the bathroom, Michaela made her way back into the kitchen.

"Michaela," Daniel called.

"Yes."

"Do you have Phillips Head Screwdriver?" he asked poking his head from under the sink. "I didn't see one in the tool box."

"Is that the long skinny one?"

"Yeah," he laughed.

"Oh, it's right here in the drawer. I was replacing the batteries in the fire alarm last night."

"Ah, thanks," he reached for it.

Going to the kitchen table Michaela started to empty the contents of her grocery bags. "So Daniel, how old is Sarah?"

"She'll turn four at the end of the month. She keeps her mother and I on our toes, that one."

"I bet," Michaela stopped in front of the fridge peering out the window. "This is a wonderful neighborhood to raise children."

Grunting Daniel placed the wrench on the floor and wiped his hands. "All done!"

"Oh great," Michaela smiled. "Here, have some lemonade," she handed him a glass. "Let me get your shirt." Crossing the kitchen back to the laundry room Michaela kept up the conversation. "I know there is a play group that meets at the park Friday afternoons. You should tell Abby about it." Opening the dryer Michaela pulled out Daniels shirt and made her way back into the kitchen. "There are quite a few girls her age in the neighborhood."

Stepping into the kitchen Michaela heard the screen door slam. Rounding the corner her husband came into view. "Jack!"