Informed Consent by Saorise Roghan Page B

  Andrew kissed his wife hard
on the lips.   “A man wants a kiss
when he comes home, Babe.” He dropped her arm.
    “Are you joining us for
dinner, Cardman?”   He disappeared
into the dining room.   Denise heard
him keep going, and then the sound of his feet on the stairs.   She grabbed the dog’s ruff and tried to
steer him to the garage.
    “O.K.   That was intense.”   Robert grabbed another hunk of pizza
and waved it under the animal’s nose.   Moving fast, he opened the door to the garage and tossed the slice down
the stairs.   The dog stood on the
threshold, looked at the pizza lying at the foot of the stairs and then back at
Denise.
    “Oh for shit’s sake.”   She reached for another slice and sent
it to join the other one.   Two was
too much for the dog’s new sense of responsibility and it bolted.   Robert slammed the door.   Denise looked at the depleted tray of
pizza and wondered if there’d be enough for five males in various stages of
development.   Fortunately, she felt
too sick to eat.
      Don’t
be a dick .   Yep, that’s exactly
what she had said to her Head of Household Husband.
    ***
    Robert chose not to join
them for dinner and swept out the door after eliciting a promise from Denise to
meet for coffee the next day and spill her guts.   The house phone rang a few times and she ignored it.   It was attached to an answering machine
everyone routinely ignored.   People
used cell phones these days.   She
looked for napkins, plates, cups and silverware feeling much as she imagined
Betty Crocker had felt doing her thing, nevertheless aware that her annoyed
husband would still have to be dealt with.   Maybe he’d forget?
    Right.
    The next time the back
door opened William and Lucas lounged through the door followed by a nice
looking young guy who introduced himself as Tom.
      Tom’s hair was the color of corn silk
and his eyes were green.   He
blushed. “Mrs. Marrow, Ma’am?”
    Denise blushed too. Who
knows why?   Because her life was
turned upside down?   Because her
husband chose that moment to return to the kitchen? Obviously not expecting
anyone, recently showered, shirt open and pants not yet buttoned all the way.
    Denise opened her mouth.
Not a sound came out.   Andrew’s
face demonstrated no hint of embarrassment. He buttoned his pants as he moved
into the room.   “William! Lucas!
How was life on the slave ship today?   Tom, this is Ms. Marrow.”   He pointed to Denise and thrust out his hand.   “I’m Andrew Cross.”   Very jovial.
    Tom accepted his
hand.   William and Lucas were
grazing their way through the room headed for the rest of the house, shedding
backpacks and clothes.
      “Or,” Andrew said, “Mrs. Cross.   What can we do for you, Tom?”   He draped an arm possessively around
her shoulders.
    This day will absolutely not end.   One fucked up scene after another.   Her brain hadn’t unscrambled since she started reading the
kinko blogs.   How was that for a
lesson about idle hands .
    “So, I’ll be driving the
boys.” Tom’s head moved slowly up and down while he spoke.   “Is it ok for me to check in with them
about times? Or should I discuss this with you? Maybe in the afternoon?   Do you want one trip, or are a couple
all right?”
      Andrew leaned down and kissed her
cheek.   “Nice, work, Dinx.   I think it’s best to check in with Ms.
Cross-Marrow daily, Phil.   She’ll
be sure to know the guys plans and let you know how many trips are needed.   I take it you’re pretty flexible?”
    Denise stiffened.   He’d renamed her. The bastard.   He’d highlighted clearly her need to
know what her little brothers were doing. Which made perfect sense, except it
was her business and she should have thought of it. Ok, she hadn’t thought of
it but she hated him telling her what to do.
    “Check with the
guys.   I don’t know their
schedule.” Denise snapped.   There
came a time when one’s self-respect demanded