She loved this man. The man who had patiently and lovingly taught his toddler son with autism to use a hammer was the same one who had helped a fourteen-year-old girl learn how to shoot free throws so she wouldn’t embarrass herself at a new school.
He was the best husband and father she could ever wish to find and she loved him with all her heart.
She picked up Silas and went to Cody. With her free hand, she touched his face and then kissed her husband with all the fierce tenderness burning through her.
“Down,” Silas said, using yet another new word. Apparently, he wasn’t a fan of his parents’ public displays of affection. She lowered him and he immediately went to his sandbox and started playing with his trucks, which left her free to kiss Cody again, this one more lingering and tender.
“What was that for?” Cody somehow managed to look both confused and aroused.
“Because you’re amazing. Because I’m the luckiest woman in the world. Because I love you more than life itself.”
His expression blazed with heat and an answering tenderness that slid through her like healing balm. He wrapped her tightly in his arms and kissed her with so much love that Rachel felt tears rise again.
These were happy tears. Cleansing tears. How had she forgotten how much safety and peace she found in her husband’s arms?
“Any chance your mom could watch Silas for an hour or so?”
He looked a little dazed. “Probably. Why?”
“Oh, I’m sure we could find something to do.”
“I’ll check.” He stepped away and whipped out his phone so quickly she almost laughed.
He texted his mother and she responded almost instantly.
“She said she would love to watch him. She didn’t ask why.”
“Tell her I need your help with a project that requires both of our undivided attention.”
He grinned, looking so much like the sixteen-year-old boy she fell in love with that everything inside her seemed to sigh with happiness.
While he and Silas left, Rachel went inside to shower and change into some sexy lingerie she bought a long time ago and hadn’t worn yet.
This was an important part of their life together and both of them had neglected each other for too long.
Her joy seemed to bubble over. She loved her husband. She loved their children, she loved their home, she loved the life they were building together.
Like the children’s playhouse that now had hammer-sized indentations on the shutters, it might not be Instagram perfect.
But it was as close to it as she could ever need.
33
Jess
“We’ve cleaned out every other space in the house, Eleanor. I’ll be leaving in only a few days so I can move on to my next job.”
The older woman’s mouth drooped. “Oh, don’t remind me. I don’t want you to go. I have so loved having you here.”
“I’m sorry. You know I can’t stay here indefinitely, though.”
“I know. You have other obligations. You’re a busy woman.”
This was Friday. If she and Eleanor worked hard that day and Saturday, they could finish. That would give her Sunday to spend with Rachel, Cody and the kids before she drove south Monday.
Technically, her next job wasn’t scheduled to start until a week from Monday, but she had planned to spend a few days at her long-neglected apartment, catching up on paperwork and doing some strategic planning with Yvette.
They needed to make a decision about adding another person to their team. She and Yvette had more work than the two of them could handle and she hated turning down clients.
That was a worry for another day. Right now, she needed to focus on finishing this job.
“Eleanor. Today’s the day. We’ve put it off long enough. It’s time to start going through Jack’s clothing.”
She tried to use the gentlest tone she could manage, but Eleanor still tensed.
“Today? I don’t know if I’m up to it today.”
Jess frowned. “That is your decision, of course. You can leave things like they are, with his things taking up half your closet and an entire chest of drawers. If you want my help, I’m afraid we’re running out of time.”
Eleanor pressed a hand to her heart, as if the gesture could ease the ache there at missing her husband. “I know. It’s just so hard to think about boxing up his things for the last time. Not being able to stand in the closet and smell him. It makes everything feel so...final.”
“I understand. We don’t have to do it at all. I told you that. If you would rather tackle the job on your own once I’m gone, that’s totally fine. It’s your choice.”
Eleanor sighed. “Without you to push me, I would probably leave his clothes in there forever.”
“If that would make you happy, there’s nothing wrong with keeping his things close to you.”
Eleanor gazed off into space, her lined face etched with vast grief. After a moment, she shook her head. “No. It’s only his clothing. It’s not him. I won’t forget him. I don’t need some dusty old sweaters to remind me how much I miss my husband. He’s with me constantly, right here.”
Again, she pressed her heart.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Let’s do it. Though I confess, I’m not sure I can watch.”
“Then you don’t have to,” Jess declared. “As you and Nate have already taken out the things you want to keep, the rest is simply sorting through what should go to the charity shop and what they likely won’t take. It shouldn’t take long at all. Why don’t you go to your craft room and work on your knitting and watch the sea? I think another storm might be coming and I know how much you enjoy watching them.”
Eleanor looked tempted, then shook her head. “I can’t abandon you like that.”
In some respects, the job would be easier, the decisions more clear-cut if she didn’t have Eleanor standing over her shoulder.
“I don’t mind. But you could also sit in your chair by the window there and knit. You still would have a view and could offer input if I need help. But that way you wouldn’t have to be as hands-on.”
“That would work.”
Eleanor left the room. When she didn’t return immediately, Jess started folding up clothing and sorting items into piles. Some for the charity shop, some for a consignment store Yvette liked to use and a few for the rag pile.
When Eleanor returned after about fifteen minutes, she carried her knitting bag and her eyes appeared suspiciously red-rimmed.