Chapter 2
Ash
Well, I suppose there was nothing like pissing off my husband after he’d had a long day at the hospital. Ultimately, I wanted him to be more present with me and our children, but I didn’t want to go at it like I had with Collin’s sneaky three-way call.
After being married to the man for nine years, I learned that nothing ever went as planned with my husband.
Once Collin was thrown into the mix, I should’ve guessed how it would go.
Those two tended to act like three-year-olds throwing temper tantrums whenever they were asked to do more to help their wives.
It wasn’t like Jake and I were growing apart; I just missed him.
So, when the ladies and I got together for lunch yesterday, I was grateful to find that I wasn’t the only one missing my husband while juggling parental responsibilities and navigating married life.
It was all very typical, but with our men, it seemed that if we didn’t ask them—or mandate them—to be present and part of things more often, they’d think everything was okay and continue on like nothing was wrong.
I’d learned a long time ago with Jake that he never intentionally tried to avoid family things like Halloween or birthdays for the kids and such.
Still, since his absence bothered me, I needed to communicate that I wanted my husband to be a part of these things.
If he didn’t know, he would think everything was fine—simple communication 101.
Regardless, I didn’t intend to smear it in his face like I felt I had done after that phone call.
Honestly, I’d had plenty of nights like I was having tonight where I missed dressing sexy for my husband when I knew he’d be home by seven if traffic were clear. I loved looking beautiful for him—desirable to him—but I was far from that tonight.
I was just in a funk. I wore boxer shorts and an oversized shirt, and my usual wavy hair was frizzy and controlled by the damp ocean breeze.
I didn’t meditate this morning like I always did first thing in the morning, and since the sun never broke through this damn moist fog that loomed over the ocean just beyond the back of our beach house, I concluded that combination was a significant contributor to my mood.
“Hey, monster,” I heard Jake say. “Where’s your momma, and why aren’t you in bed?”
“I wanted you to say good night to me, Daddy,” I heard our daughter, who was just as mischievous as her dad, say. “And tell me a story.”
“You got it, sis,” he said. “But first, where’s John? I have a bone to pick with your brother. Then we’ll do bedtime stories.”
“Was traffic bad?” I questioned, walking out to my handsome man, who couldn’t look like shit if he tried. “Or did you sit in the driveway until nine, crying over having to take the kids trick-or-treating?”
“Daddy’s taking us trick-or-treating?” Kaley questioned with excitement.
“I am now that you’re aware of it, my little bug. Now, where’s John?”
“I’m right here, Dad, and I’m too old for bedtime stories.”
I smiled, always amused by how our eight-year-old son loved challenging his father like he was the adult in the relationship.
Jake set Kaley back on the ground after squeezing her tight and giving her smooches on her chubby, three-year-old cheeks.
“You’re too old for bedtime stories, eh?” Jake arched a challenging eyebrow at him.
“Yup,” John said. “I need to go to bed and—”
“Well, I’m too old to dress up for Halloween and take you trick-or-treating, wise guy.”
John smiled, “Ha, you have to dress up?”
“I don’t have to do anything. I want to.”
“What are you going to be?” John questioned, his excitement growing with the knowledge that his dad would be a part of our Halloween festivities.
“I’m not sure yet, but you know your dad. I’ll be the coolest one dressed for Halloween, kid.”
“Is Uncle Collin dressing up, too?” John questioned.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Then you won’t be the coolest,” John said.
“No way. Uncle Collin will be,” Kaley confirmed with a chipper giggle.
“You kids only think he’ll be cooler because he spoils both of you,” Jake rolled his eyes dramatically. “He won’t be better than me. Trust me.”
“It’s time for bed,” I said. “It’s past nine, and we all have to be up by six in the morning.”
“And your poor, old dad has surgery early, that means I need to wake up at four in the morning,” Jake said while I internally sighed.
I just wanted to have more time with him.
We had so many nights like this where he got home late and slept only a few hours before he had to get up and do it all again.
I missed the old Jake and me. I hated feeling like this because most doctors who lived an hour away from the hospital would just sleep there if they had to be up at four for surgeries the next day.
I was grateful that Jake always came home to us, but those efforts weren’t enough tonight.
“Do you want me to read to them?” I questioned.
“No,” Jake took Kaley’s hand. “We’ll do a quick bedtime story, then it’ll be light’s out, Mom.”
“Okay,” I said, turning and allowing this negative vibe to follow me into the bedroom. I took the decorative pillows off the bed and turned to go wash my face, brush my teeth, and prep for bed, praying that this rotten mood would be gone in the morning.
“Hey, baby,” Jake said, his strong hands running up each side of my legs. “Your sexy ass is not going to sleep until I have my way with you.”
“I’m far from sexy,” I admitted.
“Don’t ever speak lies about yourself like that,” he said, his voice low.
“Well, I don’t feel sexy,” I said, hating that I was in this pathetic mood.
Jake’s lips touched my neck while he pulled my oversized tee shirt over my head. “Then it’s time I make my wife feel on the inside the way she is on the outside. You’re beyond sexy, baby. You’re fucking gorgeous, and you’re going to know that very well when I’m finished with you.”
His lips and tongue ran down the center of my spine, his hands cupping my breasts before moving down to remove my shorts and underwear.
I grinned when his teeth gently nipped each of my ass cheeks, and then he turned me to face him.
I looked down, tears filling my eyes with so much love and gratitude for this man who always made me feel beautiful, even on my worst day.
I cradled his face in my hands, smiling down into his deep blue eyes that were peering up at me with a love that made me feel like his queen.
“I love you, Jacob Mitchell,” I said. “You are the best man.”
He rose and carried me to our bed with ease. “The kids are down, and I don’t care if I go to sleep late tonight.”
“But your surgery?”
“Stop making excuses for your grown-ass man of a husband. You are my priority, angel. Tomorrow’s surgery should not be on your mind because, I assure you, it’s not on mine.”
Being loved by a husband who knew how to meet not only your sexual needs but your emotional needs as well was something all wives wanted. I was so thankful I didn’t have to ask him for this or that I didn’t have to complain about my shitty day for him to make me feel beautiful again.
Jake just knew. He always seemed to know what I needed without me ever saying a word.
I was blessed beyond all measure to have this man in my life, and even with my battle with cancer, he’d proved himself to be ten million times the husband I could’ve ever asked for, helping me get through that terrifying time not just physically, but mentally as well.
I was a very blessed woman, and I was so happy the funk that’d followed me throughout the day was nonexistent now.