He could hear his long thumbnail tapping the railnervously as he held it tightly, afraid, and then his calf muscle gaveout, lowering his left foot to ...he next step. The laws of gravity andforward momentum though could not be stopped as he couldn?t look down atwhat awaited below."Smile! You look so beautiful, honey," yelled his mother as he hadlittle choice but to slowly master each step in a tight dress and thenbefore he knew it, the flash bulbs were popping in his face.While his mind was. .. and take care of daddy and me?" Oh Amelia..."She hugged her not even trying to stem the tears."I would love to be your new mommy."Becky let go of Amelia to grab a tissue from the night stand.She wiped her eyes and said,"Amelia, do you think your daddy wants me to be the new mommy?"She looked at Becky as if she had just asked a stupid question. Adults were very puzzling creatures sometimes."I've been watching daddy ... and I see that he looks at you like he did mommy. He loves you..." Do you. "Hey!" Sorry, honey."I wished he wouldn't call me that."I have to get moving," I said."They can get by without you," he said.I walked to me ajoining bathroom and flicked on the showerlight and vent. I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was frazzled and would need to be washed, really washed. There were hickeys on my neck. 'What are you, sixteen?' I thought, rubbing the bruises anxiously. I got in the shower.The water spilled down my hair and over my shoulders. I felt like a new woman. I. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the implications, but they upped and smacked me in the face. I felt the Italian food rising in my throat, ran to the bathroom and lost my dinner.I rinsed my mouth out and sat there on the toilet, trying to think.“Anthony? Are you all right?” She was outside the door.No, I’m not all right, you cheating bitch. “Sick. I need a few minutes.”“Okay. I’m going to sleep in the guest room then. Don’t want to catch anything.”Thanks for the comfort and support, whore..