“I like my hair,” he insisted.
I lowered my face so he wouldn’t see me smothering my laughter. He was sometimes adamant and stubborn even as a little boy. He reminded me of his father so much in that way. I sighed just thinking of all of the ways this kid was going to test me over the years. And Robert said we’d be having three more.
Rolling my eyes, I made a disbelieving noise in the back of my throat. The way I was feeling, Robert would be lucky if I kept him around long enough to raise the little boy we already had.
“To answer your question, no.” I shook my head. “Your father and I aren’t mad at you.”
“But you’re angry at each other.”
I sighed, shamefaced. “You heard us yelling?”
He nodded.
I’d tried to keep my voice down, but every time Robert spoke all I could think about was a terrified Carter running, screaming and crying that he’d fallen in the lake. He was so distraught that I couldn’t make out what he was saying at first. I had, however, realized that he was soaking wet, while he’d been dry when I’d let him go outside to see his father once we’d arrived home from work and school. He’d been so excited to learn that his father was home, he begged me to let him out to see his dad, even though I knew Robert was on a conference call.
By the time I’d realized he’d fallen in the lake, I’d assumed Robert was the one who’d fished him out. However, as Robert came barreling up the backyard hill, I realized that he was bone dry, or nearly so. He couldn’t have jumped in the water after Carter. It still didn’t fully register with me what had occurred. I knew how scared Carter was of water and swimming, so I thought he may have slipped, Robert quickly pulling him out, and Carter was just upset about the scare he’d had.
It wasn’t until Robert opened his mouth and told the entire story that I’d become furious.
“Are you going to get a divorce?”
My eyes popped wide. “How do you even know that word?”
“Jake says his mom made his dad sleep in a different room for a long time, and now they’re getting a divorce.”
I frowned. “We’re not Jake’s parents.”
“But I heard you tell Father he has to sleep in another room.”
Placing my hand on Carter’s back, I rubbed soothing circles on it. “You don’t worry about your father and I.” I pushed his hair aside with my free hand to kiss his forehead.
“He was just teaching me to swim.”
I bit my tongue. Carter loved his father beyond measure, so of course he was going to try his best to protect him, even though he’d been petrified earlier as a result of his father’s actions.
“Go to sleep, baby,” I whispered and tugged at his ear, causing him to giggle.
I stayed by his bedside, rubbing his back until he turned his head to face the wall, and his breathing steadied, alerting me that he’d fallen asleep. Quietly, I rose to my feet and padded my way across the carpeted floor, opening the door and slipping out. I stopped abruptly when I came face-to-face with Robert.
“He’s sleeping.”
“I was just coming in to check on him.”
Lifting my chin, I folded my arms across my breasts. “He’s fine.”
“Deborah—”
I shook my head. “No, Robert. No,” I stated sternly, walking away and swiftly entering our bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind me.
****
Then
Robert
“What?” I barked into the phone as I answered.
“M-Mr. Townsend, you have a call on line one,” my secretary responded through a shaky voice.
