Because of how late it was, the poor boys had to eat so fast they probably got indigestion while running up and down the field. She’d opted to stay home with the girls because the weather had been windy and cold.
But there was no soccer tonight, and the girls had been slightly less clingy today and were, at this very minute, upstairs in the playroom with Dallas and Cody. And dinner was ready. If all went well, she and Austin could share more than a brief hug and a peck on the cheek.
Hearing the front door open and close, she turned and greeted him with a big smile. But something about his demeanor made her smile fade and her arms remain at her sides.
She studied his face trying to figure out what was wrong. Exhaustion filled his features, like usual, but there was something in his hooded eyes that she couldn’t interpret. The fine lines around his eyes were more prominent than usual, and he fairly scowled.
“What’s wrong?” When he didn’t answer, she tried again. “Did someone die?”
“I wish,” he said under his breath.
Debbie frowned. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”
Her mind darted in all kinds of crazy directions. Had something happened to Austin’s parents? Did he lose his job? Her heart lurched at that one. Austin would not handle that kind of setback well.
“I got a text—“
“Dad’s home!” Cody yelled as he ran down the stairs.
Dallas lagged behind, making sure Lucia and Mia, who scooted down backwards on their tummies, reached the bottom safely. He gave his dad a hug after Cody, then the two little girls followed his example and wrapped their arms around Austin’s legs.
Austin’s features relaxed as he picked up first one girl and then the other. “How are my little sugar plums today?”
The girls giggled which brought a smile to Debbie’s face. On Monday, he’d called the girls cuties and little angels, then yesterday, he called them his little princesses.
Did he plan to come up with a different endearment every day?
Debbie hoped he’d eventually run out of endearments because he spent so much time here.
She didn’t have a chance to find out what was bothering Austin because of the craziness they’d come to call dinner. At least the food was ready tonight, and the girls cooperated by sitting in their high-chairs, which gave Debbie ample opportunity to watch Austin and wonder what was bothering him.
He caught her looking at him more than once and gave a slight shake of his head each time. Even though the girls had put a smile on his face, it hadn’t stayed, and his posture remained rigid.
As soon as dinner was cleaned up and the dishes done, Austin asked Savannah to keep an eye on the kids in the playroom for a few minutes so he could talk to Debbie.
“But Dad, I have homework tonight.”
“I know, honey. And I promise I won’t take long, but I need to talk to Debbie about something important.”
“That’s what you said last time, and I came down and caught you guys kissing.”
“That’s only because you came down too soon,” Austin joked but the smile he gave Savannah as he guided her to the stairs didn’t meet his eyes.
Debbie soon found herself in the family room with Austin. “Okay, what’s going on that’s making you so ornery?”
“I’m not ornery.”
“Well, you certainly aren’t happy.”
He scrubbed his hands over his face and dropped onto the sofa. “I know. I’m sorry. Having to deal with Cheyenne always puts me on edge.”
“Cheyenne? What has she done now?” Debbie sat down beside him.
“She sent a text saying Tucker got the big promotion sooner than they expected, so don’t worry about bringing the kids to Florida next week.”
“What?”
“Tucker got the—“
