He held her gaze but waved his hand toward the calendar. “Because my family isn’t home. The only time I see the kids is when I’m driving them somewhere you planned, and we don’t even do that together. I see more of you on Instagram than I see you in real life.”
That stung. She wanted to deny it outright but couldn’t. “I want you to be there with us.”
“I’m working all week to pay for all the things that take you guys away from me.” He sighed and stared up at the ceiling for a moment before looking at her again. “I get they need something to do. But they don’t need to do everything, all the time. By the time we finish with Spanish lessons, swimming, and whatever other sport you’ve got them in for the season, the weekend is gone. It’d be nice to go to the beach or hiking together. Hell, I’d love a whole weekend at home just hanging out playing board games and watching movies and stuffing ourselves on microwave popcorn.”
That sounded like bliss. “We could do that.”
“When? In the hour between one playdate and a birthday party for some kid in their class they aren’t even friends with?”
“All the kids get invited to the parties so no one gets left out.”
“That doesn’t mean they have to go to every single one. They need to know that family time matters.”
Frustrated and at her wit’s end, she snapped. “What does that have to do with us going on a date?”
“Time. And the fact you don’t have any for me.”
“Are you guys fighting?” P.J. asked from the kitchen entry.
“No,” Amy said.
“Yes.” Rex dared her to contradict him again with a sharp look. “Put your shoes on, kiddo. Let’s give Mom the night off from cooking and go pick up burgers.”
“Yes!”
Rex waited for P.J. to run to his room to get his shoes before saying, “Something needs to change around here, Amy. You’re always telling me to tell you how I feel. Well, I feel left out. I feel like you schedule all this stuff because you don’t want to be with me.”
“That’s not true.” She hated that he felt that way.
He glanced at the damn calendar again. “Really? Sure looks that way to me.”
P.J. and Emma appeared in the entry, side by side, looking nervous about them arguing in the kitchen.
Emma smiled up at her dad. “I want to go, too.”
Rex scooped her up and hugged her close. “Absolutely, princess. I bet you want french fries.”
“And a chocolate shake?” Hesitation and hope filled her soft voice.
Amy didn’t even bother to try to deny her daughter the sweet treat or Rex a moment to spoil the kids with junk food.
“Shakes all around,” Rex announced, as he touched P.J.’s back to get him moving toward the front door. “Say good-bye to Mommy.”
P.J. and Emma said in unison, “Bye, Mommy.”
The front door closed behind them and Amy felt her stomach drop. She and Rex had had this same argument over and over again the past couple years, but now they rehashed it every few weeks.
She wanted to give her kids everything. She wanted them to experience all kinds of things.
She wanted more time with Rex.
More family time would be so nice.
She looked at her color-coded life hanging on the pantry door and thought about all she’d given up to be a mother. Oh, she loved it. But the satisfaction and joy waned as she lost herself in it. Everything she did was for the kids. She barely had time for herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she did something fun just because she wanted to do it.
Sierra got that great job.
When did her own life turn into one endless art project, bake-off with the other moms, and cheerleading for her kids?
Amy wiped her palms down her chic yoga pants. She couldn’t remember the last time she put on a sexy dress and heels. Hell, she barely remembered the last time she didn’t go to bed in an old T-shirt and flannel shorts, let alone the last time she and Rex spent an hour or more making love.
The last time they had sex, she’d given in to his advances, not really feeling it because she was tired. She’d made sure he got what he wanted and fell beside him, unsatisfied and blaming him for it, when really it was her fault.
She’d just wanted the chore over.
Making love to her husband shouldn’t be a task on her list.
The kids’ schedule shouldn’t be an endless loop of chauffeuring them around and keeping them busy because she didn’t know what to do with herself if she wasn’t doing something for them.
Rex was right. Something needed to change.
She needed a change.
Chapter Eleven
Heather sat Hallee on her play mat in front of her tower of toys then answered the door. She smiled at the resolute knocks from her sister, and the two other little pitter-patters from the boys’ small fists.
She turned the knob and swung the door wide, loving the smiles on all three of their faces as they held their hands up mid-knock. “Hello, munchkins. Was that you pounding on my door?” She gave them a mock angry face, but it only sent them into a round of giggles. Heather found her sister’s eyes were full of mirth, too. “Hey, sis.”
“Hey. This place is so cute. Away from the road, and you’ve even got a little white picket fence with the flowers blooming along it.”
“Thanks. I got lucky when I found it.” She held her hand out toward the living room, hoping her sister didn’t see it shaking. She didn’t know why she was nervous. Okay, she did, but she shouldn’t be. “Come in. Hallee is playing with her toys.”
The boys raced past and fell on their knees beside Hallee, quickly picking up toys and engaging her. Heather took a second to watch them and enjoy the moment, seeing her little girl with the boys.
She closed the door behind Sierra, who stood in the tiny foyer checking out the living room and through to the small kitchen and dining area.
“It’s so you. Boho chic with a touch of elegance.”
Heather didn’t have much, but she made the most of her little space. She loved the wood-framed daybed with the colorful pillows she’d added in green, blue, and a pop of dark pink. They picked up the vibrant colors in the rug. Gauzy white drapes covered the window. Intricate woven baskets hung on the wall in a cluster as art. A simple wood oval coffee table served as a place for Hallee to play with some of her toys and Heather to prop her feet.
She’d added the elegance in the pretty antique chandelier-style lighting. Crystals gleamed and sparkled in the light. A collection of mercury glass candle holders lined the fireplace mantel.
Sierra touched her arm. “I love this place. It seems so perfect for you and Hallee.”
“It’s just what we needed. Her room turned out so great. I found this beautiful chandelier with golf-ball-sized crystals and she’s got a sleigh bed crib that she’s growing out of way too fast. I’m going to have to get her a big girl bed soon. I painted the walls a pale lavender and hung these cute butterflies from the ceiling.”
Sierra took her gaze from the room at large and focused on her. “The kids seem happy. Show me.”
Heather led Sierra on a tour of her house that didn’t take more than a few minutes. They ended up in the kitchen where Heather had left two wine glasses on the counter next to a bottle of Moscato.