Chapter 57 Baked

Alicia woke up that morning to the smell of freshly baked cupcakes and bacon. She stretched her arms out, but didn't feel her husband on the other side of the bed. He must have been in the kitchen making her breakfast. Maybe he had finally done something right and remembered her birthday. Full of excitement, she shot out of bed and put on her red silky robe. It was Zach's favorite and quite frankly even hers because it left very little to the imagination. If he'd finally remembered her birthday, maybe she was going to do something nice for him in the kitchen. The counter would be a good place to start her new birthday ritual. Alicia walked on her toes down the stairs to the kitchen. Zach always startled easily and she wanted to surprise him. She couldn't help but feel excited for her birthday. She was turning thirty and that was a big deal for any woman. She paused at the kitchen door to the sound of voices. Someone else was in there with Zach and judging by the high-pitched voice; it could be only one person. She felt her smile turn into a sour frown at the thought of that woman being in her house again. This was the third time this week. "Good morning Alicia," she called. Alicia was crouched behind the door trying to listen in on their conversation. “I can see you never stop snooping around. Even in your own house," the woman said mockingly as Alicia emerged from her hiding place. "Good morning Stacy," she replied as she moved into the kitchen. "What are you doing here at this time of the day?" "Feeding my son. Clearly, you're not doing a very good job at it," she replied. A few years ago, a comment like that might have hurt Alicia, but she had gotten so used to all the scathing remarks that fell from the woman's lips. She never had anything nice to say to her no matter how Alicia tried to be. "Why would I do that when it's your only purpose on Earth?" Alicia answered giving a remark of her own. She flashed a brief look a Zach who was clearly made uncomfortable by the exchange. Alicia had tried talking to him numerous times about her mother not giving them enough space but he was too much of a mama's boy. "What's for breakfast?" Alicia asked walking to the oven. If Stacy had decided to make them breakfast, she might as well enjoy it. Alicia had never liked the other woman, but one thing she had to admit was she was a terrific cook. "We have some bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, mom's famous cupcakes…" Zach started to say. Alicia must have zoned out because when she next looked up, Zach was searching her eyes for something. Maybe it was approval he needed from her. He'd been doing that for a while now. "Okay," she said walking back to their bedroom without touching any of Stacy's food. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction when he'd clearly forgotten her birthday again. What Alicia needed now was a long bath after which she could go out and do all those things she'd promised herself before she turned thirty. She'd never quite gotten around to doing any of them because Zach wasn't very interested in doing anything with her. He'd rather spend time days with his mother than even a single minute with her. She'd tried telling him how his relationship with Stacy was putting a strain on theirs, but Zach was too in love with his mother to care. That long bath was much needed because once Alicia was in the tub, she felt extremely relaxed. She couldn't remember ever feeling like this with Zach. He was always making her feel like she didn't matter to him. He never talked to her, never told her how much her loved her anymore. All the things he did for his mother, he never did with her and though Alicia loved him, she just didn't think she could do it anymore. She couldn't compete with his mother for her husband's affection.