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“Let me clear the air first.”
I nod.
After drawing in a deep breath, she says, “Everyone thought I had the best marriage. Like fairytale perfect.”
“No one has that.”
She smiles. “Yeah, well, I couldn’t say anything about it. Sam was rarely home, so what did I know?” She shrugs. “Maybe we would have fought, but I have no idea. And bitching about him being in the military wasn’t acceptable. I married him, knowing what that meant. My brother served with him.”
I nod. “It’s different when it’s a romantic relationship, though.”
“Yeah. I sat here last night and added up the days we were married. And you want to know something? He spent more time away from me than he did with me.”
“But it was his duty, so you feel guilty.”
“Yeah, but that last one,” she says, drawing in a deep breath. “That one was his choice. He didn’t have to go. He volunteered against his commander’s suggestion. And you were right. I was really angry with him.”
I hate the embarrassment I hear in her voice. “Hey, you have every right to be angry with him. You were vulnerable.”
I hate thinking it, but what kind of ass chooses his job over his wife? I understand when a soldier doesn’t have a choice, but in this case, he did. Any man who would choose to miss the birth of his child…I just don’t understand it. This beautiful, amazing woman was having his child, and he didn’t want to be there.
“I don’t like that word. Vulnerable.”
She says it with so much irritation that I smile. “You are one of the toughest women I know. And that’s with a sister like Everly. But no matter how tough you are, you should have a soft place to land.”
She studies me, and I’m not sure what to expect. “Are you still interested in being that soft place?” Her voice is small.
“Yeah. I really am,” I lean forward and brush my mouth over hers. I taste the saltiness of her tears before I pull back to rest my forehead against hers.
“You don’t care if people think I’m robbing the cradle?”
“Nope.”
“You should want to have kids.”
“I’d like to have them with you, but if not, I’d be damned pleased if you would share yours with me.”
Her eyes fill again. “Oh.”
I pull back. “I love you, Liv. I didn’t expect love to hit me so hard. And you are enough for me, but those kids of yours? They hold my heart in their hands. I fucking love them. I know I’ve only known them for a few weeks, but they’re amazing. Just like their mom.”
“Mason, that’s not fair,” she says, smiling.
I open my mouth to respond, but there’s a thump against the door.
“What the hell?” She stands up, and I follow. She opens the door, and Houdini comes bounding into the room. He runs right to me and rises on his hind legs, placing each one of his massive paws on my shoulders. He gives me a big lick, a trail of doggy saliva leaving my cheek more than a little wet.
“Houdini!” Liv moves to grab the dog, but I just laugh.
“Leave it, love. He’s giving me the okay.”
She gives me a sweet smile.
“The pancakes are already done, and you will miss out on them,” Savannah bellows. Houdini loves me, but not enough to miss pancakes because he abandons me to run in the direction of the kitchen.
Liv shakes her head. “We better get in there because Fritz and Avery will eat them all without us.”
“Is this normal for your family?” I ask.
