Worth the Fall(73)

“There was a look in your eyes,” Tony said seriously, “when you used to talk about being a SEAL.” He held up his hand to stop Matt from arguing. “I’m sure you’re just as good at your job as you ever were. But that look—I hadn’t seen it in a long time. Not until you talked about Abby. If you really love her, don’t lose her over guilt. I’ll get your ride.”





Chapter 26


Abby carried another load of laundry to the couch. It was happy laundry. Pregnant-woman-nesting laundry. Each item she folded held a special memory. The white gown Annie had worn home from the hospital. The tiny pink and white onesie Angie had given Gracie with a matching blanket. The new baby was due in six weeks. There was no greater anticipation than waiting for a baby.

And this would be her last. Last time to feel a baby moving inside her. Last time to nurse. The only thing that could possibly make it better was Matt being here. She hadn’t wanted to get close enough to miss him, but she did, she thought smiling. And at least for now it didn’t hurt so much, thinking of him. Actually the opposite.

Some nights she’d put him on speaker while they ate dinner, took baths, or got ready for bed. The kids sang him silly songs from the bathtub, and a couple of times he’d even told them a bedtime story over the phone.

After the kids were asleep, she’d curl up, phone pressed to her ear. They’d talk for hours about everything and nothing—movies, TV shows, his life, her life. Sometimes they’d watched the same show all the way through as if they were sitting on the couch together.

He didn’t say a lot about his military work, and she didn’t ask. They focused more on how she spent her days, the kids, and the progress with his current house. He’d sold another one and bought two more, which were in the early planning stages. A man of many talents.

Her phone rang as she folded the last baby blanket. Seeing Matt’s name come up, she answered quickly, a smile on her lips. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Matt said. “What are you doing?”

“Talking to you. What are you doing?” It was their standard exchange. Even through the phone, she felt closer to him than anyone in her entire life.

“Just grabbing a late dinner.”

“Matt, it’s nearly ten o’clock.”

“Like I said, late.”

“What have you been doing all day?”

“Painting. Building. How are you? You feeling okay?”

“I’m good, but I’d kill for some Phish Food right now.”

“Okay, babe, that is weird.”

“Ha-ha. It’s a Ben and Jerry’s flavor. You know, chocolate ice cream, marshmallow, and little chocolate pieces shaped like fish.”

“Ah. An ice cream craving.”

“Yes. I can’t believe I ran out. I’ll stock up tomorrow.”

“So, how is everybody?”

Abby started to give him the short version, but, as always, he wanted details. “Well, we started our day with Jack spilling cranberry juice on Gracie’s favorite yellow shirt and then telling her it was ugly anyway.”

“Ooh, dissing a woman’s clothes. I’ll have to talk to him about that.”

“Good luck. He’s in an I-hate-girls phase.” Abby wondered if Matt would be around when Jack changed his mind, but she quickly pushed those thoughts aside. “Charlie had dinosaur day at preschool, probably the best day of his life to this point. I’ll let him tell you about it himself. Gracie had a teddy bear picnic. They brought their favorite stuffed bear and ate lunch on the big-kid playground. You know how it galls her to have a special playground for preschoolers—such a nasty word.”

She’d heard Matt thanking a checkout person during that long recitation.

“What are you buying?”

“Just some frozen stuff.”

She skipped the part about her meeting at school with William. No need to upset him. “Charlie got a scraped knee at Jack’s football practice when he tried to demonstrate a tackle on one of Gracie’s friends, but what really made him cry was Gracie telling him he played like a girl.”

“Well, that’s a pretty bad insult.”

“Really? I’ll let you say that to Gracie’s face next time you’re here.”

“Okay, I take it back.”

“Baby.”

“Yep. I’m not going to tangle with that three-year-old spitfire. Hey, do me a favor and go check the doors while I’m on the phone.”

Matt was always reminding her to be safe. “I’m sure I locked them.”

“I’m sure you did too. Just go check for me one more time while I’m here.”