The Bathtub Incident

It's that time of year...is it almost spring? Is it still winter? It all depends on the day. Right now, it's twelve degrees, rainy, and believe it or not, now that the snow's mostly melted, the grass is (sorta) green. It's a trick, really, because the temperature's going to drop and then we get another snowstorm for Friday. But I guess that makes good writing weather, huh?

I haven't been quite as productive as I want to be, but I do have enough written to give you another edition of Work in Progress Wednesday.

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Paige finished her day early enough to get her bathroom cleaned. That was her priority, so she could fill the claw-foot tub to the brim with water a shade below scalding. She'd borrowed the bag of Epsom salt she found in the barn, and dumped the entire bag in just before sliding into the tub herself.

She leaned against the back of the tub, enjoying the hot water more than she thought possible. Feeling the heat prickle her skin and sting her road rash took her mind off the aches slowly fading from her body. The neck-deep water felt luxurious, and her limbs relaxed until they felt like jelly.

Paige was almost asleep when a knock rattled her cottage door. She flailed and slid around the slippery tub, almost drowning herself as she tried to sit up.

"Paige? Are you home?" she heard someone call.

Oh shit. It was Nick. Even though he owned the property, he didn't have the right to just barge into her cottage. She scrambled to get out of the tub, and when she had one foot out on the slick tile, she slipped and fell on her face.

"Motherfucker!" she yelled. She lay on the cold tile for a moment, stunned and sopping, until she felt warmth spreading under her cheek and tasted blood.

There was a soft knock on the bathroom door, and Nick asked, "Paige, are you okay?"

"Just fine," Paige replied, gritting her teeth. She slowly sat up, thankful she didn't break an arm or leg or anything. But then she spotted the pool of blood on the wet floor and her head spun.

It's not that bad, it's just mixed with the water, she told herself. But she didn't believe herself.

"Oh shit," she cursed, pinching her nose and trying to stop the bleeding. She looked frantically for a towel.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Nick asked again.

"You know what?" Paige replied. "No. I'm not okay."

"Do you need me to come in and help you?" "NO!" Paige yelled.

She still hadn't found a towel, and it suddenly dawned on her she hadn't actually unpacked one. Heck, she didn't know if she even HAD a towel. Hers were so nice, Stephen and Lesley probably decided they'd keep them.

She pulled half the toilet paper off the scanty roll beside the toilet and held it to her nose, tilting her head down and pinching just under the bridge, hoping she could get the blood stopped. She caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror, and was horrified to see the skin under her eyes already puffing up and blackening.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Nick asked.

"Um, so it turns out I don't have any towels," Paige replied, her face burning as much from embarrassment as pain.

"Oh. You just hang on a minute, and I'll make a call and you'll have the biggest, fluffiest towels you've ever seen."

"Not to be a choosy beggar, but could they be in a dark color? I'm bleeding pretty bad and I don't want to ruin your fancy towels."

"What do you mean you're bleeding pretty bad?"

"Um, so I'm a giant klutz and I fell and smashed my nose getting out of the tub..."

"Oh, shit. Hang tight Paige. I'll get you looked after."

"Okay. I'm getting back in the tub and warm up while I wait. It's cold in here." She shivered, and eased herself back in the water, turning the hot water tap back on. She heard Nick's voice talking to someone else, and heard her door shut, then open again. There was some rustling noises, and she wondered what he was doing.

Paige pulled the toilet paper away from her face to see if her nose had stopped bleeding yet. Blood spurted out into the water.

"Gah!" she shouted, fumbling to put it back in place.

No wonder Stephen had left her. Paige was sure Lesley never got herself into these situations. Before she could dwell on it anymore, there was a knock at the door.

"Is it okay if I drop these in for you, Paige?" Nick asked.

"Um, sure," Paige replied, sliding everything but her head under the water.

The door opened a few inches, and a hand appeared with some towels, facecloths, and a silky-looking robe. The door closed again, and footsteps padded away.

"Thank you!" Paige called through the door.

She carefully eased herself out of the tub and onto the floor. Thankfully, she didn't slip this time. She snatched up one of the towels, and it WAS the softest, thickest, fluffiest towel she'd ever felt in her life. And it was dark green. Phew.

She managed to dry herself off, and dressed in the silk shorts-and-camisole set Nick had thought to include with the silk robe. She got a new handful of toilet paper for her nose, and stepped out of the bathroom, the robe open because she couldn't tie the sash one-handed.

Nick's eyes widened when he saw her, and she ducked her head shyly, thinking for half a second he was checking her out. Then she remembered her two black eyes and gushing nose.