Chapter 32 Begining Again

After finally putting Tommy to sleep, I tiptoed out of his room, gently closing the door behind me. It had been a long day, and the cool sheets of my bed beckoned to me.

But first, I needed a hot shower to wash away the exhaustion that clung to my body.

The remnants of chlorine from the pool clung to my skin, making me feel sticky and uncomfortable. As I walked to my room, the quiet of the house settled around me like a comforting blanket.

Once inside my room, I peeled off my swimsuit and stepped into the shower. The hot water cascaded over my shoulders, soothing my tired muscles and washing away the tension that had built up throughout the day. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth sink into me, and tried not to think about Richard.

It had been so long since he had come to my room, so long since we had shared anything more than polite conversation.

The distance between us had grown wider with each passing day, and I had resigned myself to it, burying the hurt deep inside me w