Bare feet with painted toenails padded soundlessly past the open refrigerator door, stopping at the end of a polished marble counter where the coffee machine sat. Tess reached for one of several mugs hanging on a rack above the backsplash, but halted mid-reach, turning instead to watch her husband giving the fridge contents an intensive review.
“Tess!”, barked the disembodied voice from behind the white refrigerator door.
“I’m right here Tucker, you don’t have to yell.” Pulling the door towards him he leaned back a little to see past it. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you come in.”
“Obviously. What are you looking for?”
Tucker stood up, retaining his hold on the refrigerator door. “That roll of film I’d kept in the butter compartment—it’s not there.”
“Shouldn’t butter be kept there?”
He sighed. “Batteries, film, rubber bands, butter, whatever.” Eyes of pearlescent jasmine stared back at him for a moment.
“And all this time I thought the refrigerator was only good for storing food. Look what I’ve missed!” she mocked, turning to pour her delayed cup of coffee. Her flippant dismissal chafed him a bit.
“Look, your mother was a nurse, right?” She’d kept her back to him while preparing her coffee. “Yes, but the closest thing to medical advice she ever gave me involving butter was to never coat a burn with it, so I fail to see how she figures into this.”
“The lower temperature in the fridge helps to slow down the decay or degradation of certain materials, therefore extending their useable life span,” he stated, gesturing needlessly into the fridge. “Cooling the body during surgery reduces the brains need for oxygen by slowing down metabolism.” Tess turned back around, mug in hand, and stared at the refrigerator door. “So, from what you’re telling me we could, simultaneously, gain weight and become dumber simply by standing in this room cooled by the open refrigerator door.” Backing away from the door he closed it, a touch harder than intended, leaving the impression he was irritated.
“Don’t be angry with me because you lost your stupid roll of film,” she countered.
“Number one, the roll of film isn’t “stupid”,” he shot back, “and second, I’m not angry with you.”
“Tucker . . . ”
“Tess . . . ”
She motioned towards the refrigerator. “The way you closed the door just now, and you snapped at me—but you’re not angry.”
“I really need that roll of film . . . ”
Tess rolled her eyes. “You’ve had it for almost a year now. I’ve watched you take it out of the fridge, let it set for a day or so, then put it back. What’s so important about it?” Tucker leaned his 5’10” frame against the opposite counter. “It’s a roll of black and white film, with important stuff on it.”
“Can’t be all that important if you’ve kept it this long.” She was baiting him, trying to goad him into acquiescing.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he huffed, walking out of the kitchen with his head hung between his shoulders. The mug landed on the countertop with a heavy ceramic clunk as she began following him. “Tucker, why won’t you tell me what’s on that roll?” He waited until reaching the coat rack by the front door before replying.
“Because,” he grasped his coat, then closed his eyes and
sighed, “because I can’t yet. I’ll tell you when the time is right.” Her scowl of disapproval not only conveyed her feelings, but also ground a finer edge upon the guilt he felt for keeping it from her.
“Where’re you going?”
“To the lab. Maybe I left it there.”
“It’s only six in the morning,” she pleaded, “can’t it wait?” He stepped forward and softly placed his hand upon her back, then gently answered, “No, it can’t. I love you Tess.” With a soft kiss upon her cheek he opened the door allowing a moment of crisp morning air to waft into the living room.
Green eyes moistened in the aftermath of a disheartening April morning.
For those of you following along, I must confess that I’ve had this much written for some time now, as well as a nice chunk towards the end. Now, however, I must take some time to fill the void between the two parts. I won’t give anything away here, but I hope you will check back often for the next installment.
I’m enjoying this so much, J.W. The characters are so interesting and I just want to know more and more about them! I think I’m going to re-read all the parts tomorrow and start forming speculations and suspicions to sustain me until the next part is ready for the outside world!
I’m really liking this story. Can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
“Eyes of pearlescent jasmine” threw me though. I associate jasmine with a smell. I think it’s a flower, but no idea what color it might be. *Waves bye for now and wanders off to the Google.*