The Fine Print: Daniel Knauf and HBO own Carnivale and, unfortunately, Justin and Iris.

Minutes Like Hours

By twinb80

Chapter Eight: For We Will Sin

The morning sunlight echoed throughout the kitchen windows as Norman entered the room. Iris had already set the table for breakfast and was currently standing in front of the stove scrambling eggs. Her back was to him, but he knew that she had heard him come in. Norman quietly sat down at the kitchen table, waiting for her to speak. The radio was playing a song that Norman could not place. Iris still did not turn say anything. Norman took the opportunity to study her. She had pulled her hair up back up into a French braid that ended in a bun at the base of her neck. The clothes she wore were practical for work and were accented by the necklace Iris had taken to wearing constantly. Norman's eyes continued to study her form, and he soon realized that he still wanted her.

Shame filed his entire body and mind. Before coming downstairs, he had berated himself repeatedly for last night. He had tried to convince himself that their lovemaking the night before had been a one-time event. Now he wasn't so certain. As if sensing his unasked question, Iris turned around. Norman's breath caught in his throat. She still resembled the Iris he had made love to. Here standing before him was the passionate woman whose body had given him much pleasure. She continued to say nothing as she placed the scrambled eggs onto his plate. The song on the radio changed as Iris sat down in the chair next to him. Norman felt like he had been bewitched and cursed at the same time. Why had his thoughts toward her turned from fatherly to wanton lust? Perhaps it was because he was afraid that Rose didn't love him anymore. Maybe it was his age. What were people calling it - a midlife crisis? Yes, that's the term Norman had heard. But he had never stopped to think that he would be going through a midlife crisis. Especially with Iris of all people. Yet here it was. They continued to eat their breakfast in silence. Norman finally broke the silence when he asked the question he most dreaded the answer to.

"Are you going to tell Justin about last night?"

Iris turned her head to look at him with shocked eyes. Amazingly, she had never thought to tell Justin about last night. It would have hurt him beyond reason, and Iris did not want to do that to him. She did not care if he became disgusted with her actions. But purposely hurting him was not an option. Her dark cloud that had been following her around for days had disappeared while she was in Norman's arms. She did not stop to think why that was why she had acted not like herself last night or why she welcomed not being herself if for only a few hours. Besides, last night had only concerned her and Norman and no one else.

"No, I wont tell him. Will you tell Rose?"

It was Norman's turn to be shocked at the same question. Shocked because he found that he didn't want to tell his wife about their affair. The entire time upstairs, he had tried to convince himself that it was the right thing to do. And as a Reverend he knew that his actions with Iris had damned his soul. This information should have made him more concerning about telling Rose. But he didn't want to. Part of him knew he was being a selfish asshole. But he didn't care. Not right then not at that moment.

"No, I am not going to tell her."

Iris smiled and was grateful that others would not get involved with this mess they had created. It was hard enough for her to go on day in and day out since her birthday and she didn't need any other problems intruding. Just as they were about to say more to one another, they heard a car pull up to the house, and Rose's voice called out to them. They went out to greet her, and found that she had brought her friends she had stayed with and their children. It had been decided that Ray and Lucy Donalds and their children would be coming to visit with them this time.

"Isn't it great Norman?" Rose asked. "This way I can still visit with Lucy, and you can spend time with Ray catching up on all your news."

Norman just smiled at Rose, and walked over to the car to help bring the luggage inside. Rose had been so happy for her extended little vacation, that she did not notice the look on Iris's face. Where were these people going to stay? Iris thought. The house was big enough for everyone. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that Iris hadn't had time to clean the guest room that her and Norman had used. The bed sheets still needed to be taken off and cleaned and she didn't know when she would be able to do this. She was supposed to be at work in half in hour. Fortunately, she was saved from this problem by Rose telling her to go put on clean sheets in the guest bedroom while the Donalds and Balthus converged on the kitchen. Iris went back into the house with lighting speed and got the guest room ready in record time. She had opened the window to let in fresh air and even dusted the vanity table for Lucy. Just as she was leaving the house for work, she ran into Norman in the back of the hallway. No one else was inside, but Iris still felt like there were eyes watching her. She tried to walk past Norman, but he caught her arm, holding her close to him. She looked up into his face, and found that he wanted to ask her something. Too afraid that his voice would echo down the hallway, he whispered his question in her ear. Iris's face became flushed, but she merely nodded her head in answering him. Norman let go of her arm and she quickly made her way out the front door and to the Inn.