6:34pm

The wire hangers cut a red line in Kendall's palm. She had hauled two suits, three pairs of pants, one dress shirt, and Jessie's favorite baby blanket up three flights of stairs because the elevator was out. The weight of the plastic covered drycleaning was too much for her and she'd had to resort to throwing the load over her shoulder to lug it all the way across the parking lot and up the stairs. Gathering her strength for one last push, Kendall shifted the two straining grocery bags to the same hand as the drycleaning and dug around in her purse for her keys to the apartment. Grunting with the effort she keyed into the beige apartment to the sound of quiet gossip and a pre-recorded audience gasping in the background.

"Hey Mrs. Mendleson," Dora said as she quietly snapped her cellphone shut. She got up from the couch and moved across the room to help Kendall in the door. "Jessie's down for a nap," she said quietly, as she took the grocery bags from Kendall's aching hand and shut the door with a soft click. "He's been fussy all day so I've been trying to keep quiet the last few minutes to be sure he was actually asleep."

Kendall laid the dry cleaning over the back of the reclining chair and massaged her hand. "Thanks Dora," she said warmly. "I've had such a long day, it's good to come home and see everything is sane somewhere on the world." They both chuckled. "How does it feel to be so close to graduation? Ready to go off to Brown?"

"More than ready, the 'rents are really getting to me; it's time to get away." Dora flipped her dark hair lightly over one shoulder.

"Oh I understand, ready to go solo for a bit. Watch out though, you'll be homesick by the time Halloween comes around."

"I doubt that," Dora replied with a smile. "I'll be to busy to be homesick."

Kendall grinned. "Let's hope so. We'll sure miss you around here though. Jessie is quite attached to you."

"Oh I know, he's a cute little guy. I'll be around occasionally, maybe I'll stop by for a playdate."

"I know he'd like that." Kendall rummaged around in her purse and pulled out a wad of cash. "For today and a bit extra for good luck at school," she said as she pressed it into Dora's hand.

"Oh Mrs. Mendleson, this is too much!" Dora protested.

"Oh no you've done so well for us, especially when Jessie got sick for all that time. I want to show our appreciation and well...just take it hun. Enjoy college."

"Thanks Mrs. Mendleson," Dora smiled happily and tucked the money away.

Kendall saw Dora to the door and wished her well before locking the door and unbuttoning the first few buttons on her blouse. Her feet hurt, her legs were sore, and her eyes needed a rest. She paused for a drink of water before putting the groceries away and then making her way into Jessie's room.

Jessie, swaddled in his light green onesie and dead to the world in his sleep, smelled of sweet baby lotion. Dora had said he had been fussy all day. He must be exhausted, Kendall thought. Jessie cooed softly in his sleep and his chubby arms and legs moved as he dreamed. Kendall stroked his superfine hair with a single finger, My baby. She smiled and gently kissed his forehead.

Tired, Kendall shuffled into her and Danny's bedroom. Danny wouldn't be home for another hour at least, she thought as she slipped off her heels and pantyhose. Kendall calculated she had enough time for a soak in the tub to recharge. If she got in now she would be out by the time Jessie woke up and she could start dinner. Excited for some personal time Kendall wasted no time in stripping off the rest of her clothes, which felt akin to peeling a banana after her day. She ran the water nice and warm and added some of the bubble bath Danny had given her for Mother's Day. The warm bathroom smelled of lavender.

Kendall set a cordless digital clock on the sink and slipped into the warm water. She moaned in pleasure as she sank into the bubbly water. Just a quick soak, she thought. The water relaxed her muscles almost immediately and she sighed and sank up to her chin into the water. Determined not to think of work or anything else Kendall counted her breaths. In...out...in...out...

Slowly the minutes passed and Kendall forgot where she was. The bathroom grew warmer and the warm water cradled her buoyant body perfectly. She forgot about her long day, she forgot about Jessie, she forgot about dinner. Her mind was blissfully blank as she drifted off to sleep and slipped slowly under the lavender scented water.

The digital clock read 6:43pm when Kendall Mendleson died.