Chapter Two #2
“Ain’t a man allowed to have some fun?” Then his hard frown softened some.
“No one will ever replace their mother. She was my everything—my world— but until the day comes when the good Lord takes me home to see her, I have to live on this earth each day with only a memory.” He swallowed some of the whiskey as if to ease the sorrow.
“Trinity makes me happy. She doesn’t expect too much. ”
Wyler slapped Sam on the back, feeling a bit sorry for him. Wyler understood loss and pain. “Then there’s nothing else to explain. If you’re happy, your daughters should be happy. I know myself that’s what they want.”
Sam downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp and smeared the back of his hand over his mouth. “How are things going with you and my daughter? She seems a bit frazzled lately. Has she been feeling okay?”
With an exaggerated pause, Wyler finally said, “She’s been busy.”
“With the business. Yeah, I get it, but is she pregnant?”
Wyler nearly choked on his whiskey. Once he managed to get his hacking under control, he shook his head. “No, sir, she’s not pregnant.”
“Better get to working fast there, young man.” Sam slapped Wyler on the shoulder. “You should know by now that Honor and Liberty are always in competition and can never do anything alone. I’m relying on babies being one of those.”
“Can I get you another?” the bartender asked.
“I’ll take a beer.” Wyler thought it best to go lighter and keep his wits about him.
Sam’s cell phone rang. He checked the screen and sighed. “Ah, shit. I better take this call. Can’t get one evening of peace,” he muttered as he left the bar for the balcony.
Wyler sipped on his expensive bottled beer. He was more of a simple man and preferred domestic.
He felt a bit out of sorts. Confidence had never been foreign to him, but in his defense, he’d never asked a woman to marry him.
Through the mirror behind the top shelf of bottles he saw Liberty making her way into the dining room.
He turned to get a better look as she sashayed his direction in a crème-colored dress that scooped low on her chest and stretched across her curves perfectly.
She garnered multiple appreciative glances from men, and women.
Pride grew in Wyler. Not because she was the most beautiful woman in the room, but because he remembered what they’d shared last night.
She swept up to him in a breeze of spiced vanilla and morning dew. He loved her scent. He inhaled it deeply into his lungs. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “I almost didn’t make it. One of the horses was limping and I had to call in Keller,” she said as she pulled away.
“I just got here. Sam is on the balcony taking a call.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Are you okay?” She set her purse on the bar and slid upon the stool.
“What do you mean?” Could she sense his tension?
“You just seem a little uptight.” Tendrils of hair had fallen from the neat style that showed off her long neck. She’d been outside working so much she had a scattering of freckles across her nose and on her shoulders.
“Liberty, I—”
“It’s okay, Wyler. Honestly, I’m a little nervous too. I’ve never done a staged breakup before. I feel like we have one chance to get this right.”
He rubbed the burden from his brow. “There’s something I need to speak to you about.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Hello, honey.” Sam swarmed in and gave her a hug, drawing her away from what Wyler had been about to ask.
“Daddy, you best put that phone away,” she chastised her father. “You’re supposed to be away from the office.”
“The ringer’s off. Come and have a seat at the table.”
She scooted off the stool and slipped her fingers around Sam’s bent elbow. He led her to the table, pulled out a chair for her, and said proudly, “I just sold the property over on Redneck’s Ridge for triple what I paid for it.”
“Congratulations, Daddy.” She kissed him on the cheek then took a seat.
“Congratulations,” Wyler said, a little upset that Sam had the worst timing.
Wyler sat down next to Liberty and looked at her profile. Damn. He had to get tonight right.
“Where is everyone else?” Liberty said.
“Late as a Sunday, as usual.” Sam took his place at the head of the table. “I’m starving.”
Freedom, Justice, and Hope came strolling in with a flurry of chatter. Cave and Honor were close behind. While the sisters greeted each other, Wyler stood as Cave came over to give him strong handshake.
“I didn’t think we’d make it. I could eat a damn horse.” Cave dropped down into the chair and dramatically resituated his large, but lean, body in the chair that barely fit his frame.
“Tired?” Wyler asked.
“We have to get our wives on good terms again. I love Honor and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make her happy, but there are things I have no clue how to fix.
Like raging pregnancy hormones. Hemorrhoids.
And going to the bathroom every five minutes,” Cave shook his head.
“You know how many times Honor has asked me for a divorce just this week?”
“Is this another competition?” Wyler muttered, shooting a glance at the circle of sisters.
“What?” Cave asked.
“How many times?” Wyler thought it best not to discuss his discussion with Liberty. Picking up his beer, he drained the bottle.
“Three times. The first time was because I accidentally left the toilet seat up and she got wet. Then I forgot to grab the right flavor of ice cream. Who knew there was a difference between brownie batter swirl and brownie batter marble. And hell, the third time? I still don’t have a clue.
Maybe I looked at her wrong, or my tone was off.
Nothing makes a strong man more powerless than not knowing how to take care of his wife. ”
“You know she’s not being serious. You two are like butter and bread.”
Cave shrugged. “The pregnancy and the fact that she hasn’t spoken to Liberty in a couple of months is adding up. You know how those two are. They finish each other’s sentences.”
Wyler looked back over to where the sisters were gathered in a huddle.
All five looked alike, yet there were unique differences, even between Honor and Liberty.
He watched his wife play with a piece of her hair, twirling the strand around her knuckle repeatedly.
It was a nervous habit. The planned break up must really have her in a spiral.
Or the fact that she and Honor weren’t even acknowledging each other.
Wyler knew Liberty missed Honor . He didn’t know quite what had come between the sisters, but they were both stubborn and prideful. One of them would give in, eventually.
When Liberty came to sit next to him, he whispered into her ear, “Why don’t you just speak to her?”
“There’s only one person who’s more complicated than me. And it’s not my father.” She took a sip of wine and her pert nose wrinkled. “That doesn’t taste right.”
“The expensive stuff never tastes right.”
“Taste this and tell me what you think.” She slid the glass toward him.
He took a gulp. “Tastes as disgusting as white wine always does.”
She sighed and pushed the glass away. “That was no help.”
He reached for his bottle and remembered it was empty, so he downed the contents of his water glass. “Liberty, I need to speak—”
“Can I have everyone’s attention.” Sam stood up, his commanding voice gaining everyone’s attention. “I’d like to first wish my lovely daughter, Freedom, a happy birthday.” He saluted her with his glass.
Everyone at the table, and surrounding tables, followed suit.
Freedom brushed her hair over one shoulder, looking a bit flustered. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“It has just been brought to my attention that Honor and Cave have found out that they’re expecting a baby girl. Congratulations to you both.” Pride shone in Sam’s expression.
Honor stood and went to give him a hug.
“Thank you, sir.” Cave shook Sam’s hand.
“They’re expecting a girl,” Liberty whispered as if Wyler hadn’t heard Sam.
Wyler leaned forward, seeing a mysterious gleam in her eyes. “Are you crying?”
“Of course not. I’ve got something in my eye. I need to go to the restroom.” She pushed back her chair and practically flung herself out of the room.
“Is she alright?” Freedom asked, a look of concern in her silver-blue eyes.
“Something in her eye,” he said as he kept his eyes on Liberty.
“Should I go and check on her?” Freedom started to get up.
“I’ll go.” He quickly stood up. Now was as good as a time as any to have that talk.
He strolled down the corridor toward the women’s restroom and knocked on the door. “Liberty?”
“What, Wyler?” she called through the door.
“Are you alone?”
“No. I have half of the restaurant in here with me and we’re throwing a rager.”
He could practically hear the eye roll in the tone of her voice.
Grunting, he opened the door, and peeked in. She was standing at the sink and she caught his gaze through the mirror. “This is the women’s restroom,” she whispered.
He crouched down and looked for feet in the stalls. He stepped deeper inside, closed the door, and blocked it with his body. “We need to talk.”
She swung around, her eyes wide and glazed. “It couldn’t wait? I need to use the toilet.”
“Go ahead.”
“Not with you in here. What’s so important?”
Swiping off his hat, he pressed it against his chest, feeling like he’d been socked in the stomach. “Don’t do this, Liberty.”
“Don’t use the toilet?” One brow lifted. “You’re acting weird. And I guess I am too. I don’t know what is wrong with me.”
“Liberty, you and I…we need...” He took a step toward her.
“I’ve been so tired. Overwhelmed. In a brain fog,” she said, throwing up her hands in frustration.
“I need to air my feelings—”
The door came swinging open and struck Wyler in the back. He stepped aside and Justice entered, stopping mid-stride. She swiped her curious gaze from Wyler to Liberty. “Please tell me you two aren’t planning to do the bathroom bliss.”
“Yes,” Wyler said, unsure what bathroom bliss referred to.
“I can come back.” Justice started to back out.
“Justice, you came at the right time. Wyler has just asked me for a divorce,” Liberty blurted, wringing out her hands nervously.
“He what?”
“I what?” Wyler muttered at the same time.
“No, he didn’t.” Justice narrowed her gaze on him and her mouth twisted.
“Yes.” Liberty moaned. “I haven’t been the best wife. I tried, but I failed.” She slipped Wyler a wink.
“I think you two need to discuss this in private. I don’t need to use the bathroom that bad.” Justice took a step toward the corridor.
“Wait! I’m leaving too.” Liberty spun to look at Wyler.
“Fine! I’ll give you a divorce!” Liberty sprinted for the door.
She looked back at Wyler, her eyes glistening.
She was playing the part so well that she appeared sorrowful.
“You’re right, Wyler. We should separate.
You deserve better. I’m sure you’ll want to move out of the Manor.
I only wish the best for you.” Then she was gone.
Justice, who was still standing in the doorway, exchanged a look with Wyler.
“Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” she said.
Wyler stood frozen on the expensive Italian tiled floor, trying to catch up to what had just occurred.
He felt like he’d been slammed against the wall a few times then kicked in the face.
Everything spun around him like a racing funnel cloud.
The air was thin and he couldn’t quite drag enough oxygen into his lungs.
Finally, his mind kicked back into gear.
“Justice, give your family my regards. I’m not feeling up to dinner.”