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She sighed with relief. “Yes. You understand it perfectly. And Liam has been fantastic, but it’s strange knowing we’re husband and wife. Be honest with me, Kyle. How were we as a couple? Liam and I? Were we head-over-heels in love? Was I a good mother?”
These questions had been plaguing her ever since her arrival. She had left her toddler son at home to go on a dangerous search-and-rescue mission in another state. It worried her that perhaps she had been one of those mothers who put her career before her husband and child. If that was the case, she would feel ashamed of her choices.
“First of all, you were a fantastic, engaged mom. From the time Aidan was born, both you and Liam doted on him. First steps. First words. You were both over the moon about him.” He let out a ragged breath. “From the moment you met Liam, it was a love story. You fell for each other pretty fast, then got engaged and tied the knot shortly thereafter. Everyone in Love held you up as the gold standard.” Kyle held up his hands. “No pressure, though.”
Ruby let out a sigh. “That’s the problem. I do feel that pressure to be something I can’t even begin to wrap my head around. And, of course, Liam is this dreamy doctor with soulful eyes and a good heart, but it’s not like I’m in love with him or anything.”
A loud crash startled both of them.
Aidan was standing there in the doorway, his red fire truck on its side on the floor. His cheeks were blotchy, fists clenched at his sides. He was huffing and puffing like a fire-breathing dragon. “You don’t love my dad? That’s awful. Maybe you should just go back to Colorado where you belong!”
Chapter Six
Just as Liam ended his call, the sound of a loud crash drew him back toward the living room. He saw Aidan run down the hall into his bedroom, followed by a loud slam of his door.
“What in the world just happened here?” Liam asked, looking back and forth at Ruby and Kyle. Aidan wasn’t a perfect kid by any means, but it wasn’t like him to throw temper tantrums.
He spotted the fire truck on the floor in disarray. One of the ladders had broken off, along with a tire.
“Did he do this?” he asked. Aidan knew better than to treat his belongings so frivolously. Jasper had just purchased the fire truck for him.
“Yes, but he was upset about something he overheard. It’s all my fault, Liam,” Ruby said tearfully.
Kyle patted her on the shoulder. “Just chalk it up to the extraordinary circumstances of the last few days. It’s perfectly normal that he’s acting out.”
“Let me go talk to him and straighten him out,” Liam said in a fierce tone.
Ruby jumped up from the sofa. “No, Liam! Please. Let me do it. I’m the one he’s angry at. I need to smooth things over so there isn’t any awkwardness moving forward.”
“Are you sure? He can be a handful when he’s riled up,” Liam warned.
“If I’m going to get back in the swing of things with my son, I can’t avoid the hard stuff.”
“Care to tell me what this was all about?” he asked, studying the frantic expression on her face. Something big must have gone down to lead to Aidan’s meltdown and the look of distress etched on Ruby’s face.
“Later. After I talk to Aidan,” she promised. He nodded as she walked down the hall in search of their son.
Once Ruby was safely out of hearing distance, Kyle leaned back into the sofa and let out a massive sigh. “This is a really complicated situation, Liam. It could really explode if you don’t tread carefully.”
Liam stiffened. He didn’t need to be lectured by his brother-in-law. Kyle had no clue how difficult this situation was to navigate. As confused as he was about his new reality, he had to stay positive. “It’ll all work out. We’re only two days in, Kyle. We need time to adjust as a family.”
Kyle’s expression hardened. “I’m not sure how long I can keep Ruby in the dark.”
Liam crossed his arms over his chest. “About what?”
A sigh slipped past Kyle’s lips. “Come on, Liam. We both know that when Ruby left for that rescue mission the two of you were at odds with one another. You were talking separation. She told me everything.”
“Marriages go through rough times and people ride them out.” He frowned at his brother-in-law. “And after everything that’s happened, how would it serve Ruby to have that information
?”
Kyle shrugged. “I don’t know. But I do know that my sister and I never kept secrets from one another. And this feels like a big, dark secret to me.” Kyle’s brows were knitted together, his caramel-brown eyes appeared troubled. “Maybe she should know so she can make informed decisions.”
“I would never ask you to be dishonest, Kyle. But with Ruby having suffered amnesia and trying to get her bearings here in Love, I just don’t think it would be wise to bring up things that might cause distress.”
“For Ruby? Or for you?”
Tension hummed in the air between them.
