Dreams beneath the surface

Sarah rubbed her hands together over the garbage can, expelling clouds of flour particles into the air. Somewhat satisfied, she wiped her hands on the sides of her pants. She heard a snicker. Looking down, she noticed the white prints she left behind. She smiled, but gave her husband a sarcastic pursing of her lips.

"I think I need a cute apron or something."

James got up from behind the stacks of papers spread across the face of the dining room table to join her by the sink. Sarah smiled at him before turning the water on awkwardly with her wrist. 

"But then I don't get to make fun of you as much," he laughed, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and pulling her close. Sarah wriggled around, twisting to meet his gaze. 

"Well I could just stop making you cookies," she jabbed playfully. Sarah watched as James' face turned to a comical pouty face. She placed her hands on his cheeks.

Calmly James, still pouting, crooned, "Your hands are very cold and wet, dear." 

Sarah leaned forward and kissed him. 

"I'm sorry. Is that better?"

"Well no, but I'm not complaining. Please don't stop making me cookies. I'll behave. And you definitely deserve a cute apron."

As he walked back to the huge amount of work on the table, she noticed a very long, blonde hair clung to the back of his dark shirt. Her heart skipped a beat and she immediately turned back to the mixer full of cookie dough before he could see her darkened expression. 

Don't jump to conclusions, Sarah. James loves you. 

This single positive thought drowned in her distrust. Distrust that had been grown and nurished by past lies and deceipt. Distrust that ran her life, caused her to be invasive and jealous, and made her anxious constantly.

God damn it James... you promised this wouldn't happen again. She thought, turning to look at him. His head was bowed over his work.

Cautiously, so as not to raise suspicion, she turned to face him.

"Why do you have so much work left to do today?" Her tone was cheery and sounded fake as it left her lips.

"It's the end of the quarter. I've just been falling behind."

"Ah."

She started to rip little peices of dough from the bowl and plopped them on a cookie sheet. She felt her heart dropping to her stomach, internally shattering everything she had left. She had noticed the new secretary last time they had gone to lunch... a secretary with long blonde hair. 

"How is your new secretary doing? What was her name again? Daisy or something..."

"Her name is Lauren." He chuckled. "Daisy? You were way off... she's fine. A little slow on the uptake but she seems to be getting it."

"How is she in bed?"

Silence.

"Excuse me?"

He hadn't looked up. Sarah's heart beat wildly as she tried to maintain her calm external composure.

"You heard me."

"Why would you think I have that information, exactly?"

"Don't bullshit me. Are you sleeping with her or not?"

He still hadn't looked up. 

Fuck. I hate always being right.

"James, you promised me this would never happen again. I told you you had one last chance. I want you out. Now."

He stood up and went to the bedroom, shutting the door gently behind him. Sarah picked up the cookie sheet and threw it violently against the wall.

The moment it hit she had a thought she didn't comprehend.

I wish the goblin king would take me away.

The thought faded and disappeared as quickly as the cookie sheet clattering to the ground.