A Broken Ladder

Synopsis

There really is something calming; almost medicinal, about being absorbed by an impromptu dusk—drive on a powdery dirt road; laid to sleep between those picturesque tall wheat fields that seems to stretch out forever. Sustenance not yet harvested — but, will. Soon. And hanging low over such beauty; tucking it all in tight — before drowsiness seamlessly turns to dreams, the crisp early evening air, a promising scene overhead, implying to pull the rest of the clouds nearer to the full moon, and maybe, just maybe, some rain...

Prologue

Her voice quickly turned exited as she rushed over to the phone, plucking the receiver from it. “No one else has the number...” She smiled as the thought arrived, and she was right. “To make this phone ring, could only be him...”
The rather cramped town house was sparsely furnished and decorating it was accomplished without any real sense of purpose. Neglected; it would have appeared for an outsider. But in a strange sense it was a home. A different kind of home. One where again, she could be a younger her. Answering the call, she momentarily glimpsed over at the kitchen counter. Not that it mattered, but it was bare. No bread bin, toaster, or waiting—and—ready appliances parked and lined—up near the kettle — which too was absent. In its place, a tall empty bottle of semi—sweet red wine, two small and crumbed side plates, and next to that — two large empty wine glasses. She wouldn't have to bother washing up much and no one would have anything to say about it. Not here. It was unlike her kitchen at home. And here, inviting friends and family over, would not be prudent. “I Love you too!” Then lowered her voice to a seductive whispered tone, “Hi sexy, it's only been five minutes — do you miss me already?” Not waiting for him to reply she continued. “You barely left... You can't be further away than three blocks?” Her smile was almost permanent as she looked over in the mirror in the lounge room where she stood — still undressed, brushing away at her long waist—length hair. She'd come to love her colleague. More than she'd ever loved her husband. “It's not long now... Yes, we'll meet in the next town tomorrow for a qui...” She didn't feel she needed to complete her suggestion. He'd know exactly what it was about. “No, it's far enough away, and no one knows me there...” Replying to his concern. “Oh I wish, but, you know I have to be with my family tonight. It's my son's birthday... And I... thanks to work... (but work could not be blamed for her absence) I haven't spent any time with my son for a while.” The call ended, and she applied a lighter layer of lipstick than what had circled her mouth until two hours before. “That's better. The purple would be too much for this evening.” Her conversation with herself in the mirror carried on while she looked over her shoulder to spy where he'd left her clothes. She noticed how it was trailing towards the bedroom, right from the front door, with short spaces in between. It made her smile again, and she blew a kiss into the mirror. Feeling needed; wanted, and sexy, wasn't a feeling she had been accustomed to. Not until recently that was.