As soon as Franklin left with a briefcase in his hand, I got up and stretched my limbs. My joints groaned with the effort.

I started to explore the house. It was nicely sized – not too big but not too small. Everything seemed to have its place, and there wasn’t a speck of dust to be found. On the mantelpiece, I picked up a framed photograph. Franklin was holding his infant daughter in his arms. He seemed to be in the hospital – alone. Once again, I wondered where Gina’s mother was.

The other pictures were similar, depicting a happy relationship between father and daughter. I smiled, wondering if my life as a single parent would be as successful as his. An inkling of fear crept under my skin. What if I wasn’t cut out for motherhood? What if I failed my child? What if I couldn’t do it on my own?

Panic started to bubble inside of me before I quickly shook it off. No. I would make it through this – one way or another.

Next, I ventured down the hall. I considered exploring the bedrooms, but that felt like an invasion of privacy. There was already enough tension between Franklin and me; I didn’t need to exacerbate the problem. He was, after all, doing me a big favor.

In the end, I walked into the master bathroom. It was nicely decorated with porcelain floors and matching wall tiles. The predominant white color was offset by accents of gold found in the towels, light fixtures, and backsplash. As I studied it a little longer, I noticed that a few of the tiles were crooked. Other small flaws came into focus. It dawned on me that Franklin must have worked on this himself.

I liked that.

A man who was good with his hands.

For a second, my mind toyed with the implications. Maybe he was good with his hands in other ways as well…

I quickly shook my head. What was I thinking? I blamed the sudden fantasy on hormonal influx. Being pregnant affected my body in very strange ways.

Thinking a bath would do me well, I turned on the water. There was a button beside the faucet that perked my interest. I pressed it.

Suddenly, jets of water shot out from the sides of the tub. My eyes widened in surprise before I grinned wildly. Today must be my lucky day.

I shrugged off my clothes, letting them pile around my feet. Once naked, I stepped into the tub, easing into the warm water. I grabbed a bottle of bath salts and poured them in. They fizzled, and soon enough, a sweet aroma filled the air. It wrapped around me, lulling me into a state of relaxation. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes as the jets massaged my body.

The feeling was heavenly.

So much so that I nearly fell asleep. I could feel myself nodding off, so I sat up. The jets turned off automatically, leaving the water still and calm. Its surface became glass-like. Peering into it, I could see my reflection staring back at me.

I didn’t like what I saw. I never did. My features were much too pinched. My hair lacked the luster I craved. I had no figure; I was skeletal. Even in pregnancy, my collarbone protruded in an almost grotesque way. I had tried for years to gain some weight and tone up, but nothing seemed to work. Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw a woman with no hips to hold. No wonder I had been single for so long. What man wanted to date a boney thing like me?

Quickly, I swiped my hand over my reflection, destroying it. No one knew about my insecurities. I knew how to appear confident and sure of myself. No one dared to question the fake smile on my face.

I chuckled to myself. It was a gesture of self-pity really. A sense of dread and failure weighed down on my shoulders, threatening to pull me into the water and keep me there. So I got up, dried myself off with a towel, and redressed.

At least I felt a little better.

* * *

I started making a habit of these daily baths. Sometimes, I would take them in the morning; sometimes, late at night. Essentially, the bath became my safe haven. It was a place where I could think and breathe – a place where I didn’t have to worry about the future.

One day, Franklin left the water bill on the kitchen table. I don’t know if he left it there purposefully so I would see it, but I nonetheless picked it up. The chart on the second page demonstrated that the last month had seen a significant rise in the amount of water used in the household. The bill had increased by about $50.

A part of me felt bad for causing the added expense, but at the same time, I felt like I deserved those little moments of bliss.

As I was looking over the chart, Franklin walked in. He didn’t say a word as he turned on the coffee machine.

“Where’s Gina?” I asked.

“She’s at a birthday party with some of her friends.” he answered, but it was clear that he didn’t want to talk. He started to move around the kitchen, picking up the various mugs, plates, and utensils I had failed to clean up throughout the day. He did so with an air of annoyance, practically throwing them into the sink. Finally, he turned to face me. “Would it be too much to ask that you try to keep things tidy? I’ve tried to hold my tongue in the past, but this place is starting to look like a pigsty.”

“What are you talking about? I left a few plates on the table. What’s the big deal? I was going to wash them, but my feet were swollen this morning.”

“What about all the clothes you’ve been leaving in the living room? Not to mention, the couch is littered with crumbs.”

“It is not,” I protested.

Franklin’s lips pressed into a thin line. It was clear that he was holding back.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, my arms crossed over my chest.

“You’re just saying that. If you really meant it, you would’ve made an effort to better yourself. Instead, you just stay in the bath all day or watch TV. It’s driving me crazy. I get that you’re pregnant – you have a way of reminding me of that every single day – but enough is enough, Lauren. I’m sorry you came on hard times, but I can’t keep supporting you if you don’t at least try to get back on your feet.”

“Oh, so you think I’m being a lazy bitch, do you?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It is what you’re implying,” I countered, stepping forward.

“No.”

“Then tell me what you really think,” I pressed.

We were locked in a death stare for a moment. I felt the tension rise between us. For a second, I thought he would lash out at me, but instead, he just snatched up his keys and stormed out of the house.