For Jack

Jack was due back pretty soon from his routine post-building shower, and Kate had been preparing. She's cleaned the house and put Eli outside (in the little fence that Jack and Duck had built) and had made herself look as good as she could manage with the heat and jungle and everything. Bread and fruit and cheese had been stolen and arranged on their little table. Okay, good. She lets out a nervous breath. They haven't really talked about what had happened the other day at rehearsals, but Kate just couldn't let it go. She'd obviously said something really stupid and communication was the key to a good marriage, apparently. And it was just ridiculous to keep avoiding it because what if she did it again and he didn't say anything and that's how resentment built up. Those kind of little things could ruin relationships.

She sits on the bed and lets out another breath and waits to hear Jack's footsteps on the stairs.