Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
There was always tomorrow, but lately, that was how it always felt to Liam. Deep down, he missed his wife. He still missed working daily with his wife at the ranch. When she first broached the subject of going back to school to become a nurse, he had floored and then completely supportive. She had spent so long taking care of her Grandmary when she had been sick until she had passed away, and Rebecca might’ve made a career then out of being a caretaker if she hadn’t been employed by a woman who had crossed many lines.
But everything happened for a reason. Liam truly believed that. Rebecca had to bear that cross in order for her to feel the need to move from New York to Shooting Star Canyon. If she hadn’t, they would never have met. They never would’ve fallen in love, and they wouldn’t have their three precious albeit rambunctious children.
During school, Rebecca had cut back her hours at the ranch, and after she graduated, she was immediately hired.
Six months.
That was all it took for Rebecca to admit that she missed working at the ranch.
Those six months had been very hard on Liam. It had been a major adjustment to not see his wife’s beautiful smiling face every day even though she had already cut back.
Part-time was what they settled on for both nursing and the ranch.
As much as he could, Liam helped with the kids. After all, raising them was just as much his responsibility as it was Rebecca’s. The duties of ranch owner fell heavily on his shoulders now, though, which was why he couldn’t help with the kids as much as he wanted. There had even been a few nights when he had come home that he didn’t even get a chance to see Aaron awake. He would go in and kiss his sleeping son, but it always made his heart fall to not spend any time with his youngest that night.
Hopefully, tomorrow, Liam would be able to leave Shooting Star Canyon Ranch earlier and help out enough that they could watch a movie together tomorrow. Maybe he should head in early even though that hadn’t been the original plan to ensure his earlier departure time.
T he late January air was colder than normal for Texas, and Liam pulled his black hat down lower over his brow. He had been at the ranch for hours and hours already. Now, it was four o’clock. He had texted Rebecca at lunchtime to tell her not to worry about dinner, that he would handle it, and he swung over to Mis Amigos Restaurante . Clara Dixon, the owner and wife of Liam’s good friend Michael, was the hostess.
“Liam! Be right back.” She held up a finger and hurried away, her dress swirling around her legs. In no time, she returned with a bag she handed him. “Your food. I included a few goodies. No charge.”
“Clara…”
“Your kids are the most well behaved when you bring them in, and I love them like they’re my sobrinos y sobrinas .”
Liam laughed. “They consider you their aunt too.”
“Oh, I know. That Mary looks just like Rebecca, doesn’t she? Give Rebecca my love!”
“Tell Michael?—”
“He’ll be coming in to the ranch tomorrow, so you can tell him whatever woodwork you need tomorrow.”
Liam laughed again. “I don’t need him to play carpenter tomorrow. Just cowboy. Think he remembers how?”
Clara roared with laughter. “‘Play carpenter?’ If I tell him you said that…”
“He would laugh.”
Her smile turned a bit dreamier. “He’s mellowed out some the longer we’re together.”
“And you aren’t quite as spontaneous. Not that that’s a bad thing, but…”
“Yes, I agree. We balance each other out, and love changes a person.” She clapped her hands. “I don’t want to keep you. Go on now. Enjoy your enchiladas and tacos while they’re hot.”
Liam lifted his hat toward her and left the restaurant. The ride home was uneventful, and he and his family had a wonderful dinner. Liam helped with the kids brushing their teeth and getting ready for bed. He kissed Aaron first.
“Mommy,” Aaron mumbled.
Sometimes Aaron went through phases about who he wanted to tuck him in.
“Come in in a few minutes,” Rebecca murmured to Liam. “Come here, Mary, Jacob.”
She kissed them, and Liam tucked in Jacob first.
“Why can’t I stay up later?” Jacob asked through a yawn.
“You can when you’re older.”
“But I want to be older now!”
“Trust me. One day, you’ll miss taking naps.”
“Never!”
Liam laughed and kissed his son before heading to his daughter’s room.
“Why do I have to go to bed with my brothers?” she grumbled.
“Someone was a little cranky this morning so some extra sleep tonight might help.”
“I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I’ll get up on the right side tomorrow if I can stay up for a half hour! Just thirty minutes!”
“Maybe you can have that half hour on Friday night,” he said. “Maybe. If you do your chores and get along with your brothers.”
“It’s so hard, though. They don’t get along with me!”
Liam managed to refrain from laughing until after he kissed her and shut her door behind him.
He grinned and went to Aaron’s room. “You don’t mind giving your dad another…” He trailed off as he realized Aaron was already asleep and so was Rebecca, curled up with their youngest on the toddler car bed. It was such a heartwarming sight, and he took out his cell to snap a picture.
Quietly, he shut the door and then sighed. He was so very thankful for the life God had provided for him, but he missed spending time with his wife.
He missed Rebecca.
He never thought they would stop having time for each other. What had happened? All of the late nights with crying babies were over. Aaron was three and a half and not really a toddler anymore. Shouldn’t he and Rebecca have more time, not less?
There had to be some way to reignite the spark that never should’ve gone out in the first place…