I parked the car, then grabbed Ash and the paper bag holding our dinner.
I’d sanded the steps earlier this morning. (Chris had informed me salting steps only added to water pollution.) Thankfully, no snow had fallen. I wasn’t ready to shovel another layer anytime soon.
Charlie barked a greeting when we walked into the living room, and Cheyenne cheered.
“Did you bring dinner?” She peeked into the bag.
“I did. Think you’re strong enough to carry this to the kitchen?”
Cheye gave me aGirl, pleaselook.
“Right. I’ll do it.”
“I’ll take Ash.” Chris looked at me from his spot on the sofa.
I handed the baby over, discreetly trying to figure out his mood. He wasn’t curt like yesterday, so maybe that had been a bad pain day.Please let him be feeling better today, God.
“Welcome home,” he murmured in a husky voice.
Chills went up and down my spine. What I wouldn’t give to turn and place a kiss on his lips andreallybe welcomed home. “Thank you,” I whispered.
I drew back, hoping my face didn’t look flushed and my expression didn’t sayKiss me, please.As much as I wanted to finally find out how his lips would feel, I needed to gethim to let me in. If he was worried about his recovery or if yesterday had simply been too overwhelming, I needed to know. I wanted us to work, and communication was key.
Are you going to tell him about the house?
My heart skipped a beat. I’d definitely wait until the girls were in bed.
Cheyenne kept up most of the chatter as we ate our meal. Ash babbled as if adding to the conversation. A few times, I saw a ghost of Chris’s smile. Not the full-blown one that made my heart flip and made me want to clasp a hand to my chest and flutter my eyelashes like Tai fromClueless. No, this one sparked hope that the Chris I knew would make it out of this. Whateverthiswas. I just wished he’d talk to me.
Then ask him how he feels.
Right. I could do that. Walk up to him and try to get down to the heart of the matter.
All through the bedtime routine, my brain kept preparing for the upcoming talk. For finding out what made Chris so sad and me trying to figure out how to tell him I’d found a place. Surely he would be happy I’d no longer be freeloading. He’d have his house back to himself and would be able to enjoy the quiet once more.
Now that Charlie was crate trained, I could safely leave him by himself while I went to work.Right?The backyard at the new place would be perfect on the warmer days, but until then, Charlie could stay in the crate while I was away. I’d be able to drive home for lunch to let him run around a bit.
I’d just have to remember those points in case Chris worried about the girls and the pup.But will he worry about me?
I changed into a hoodie and sweats and put my twists in a bun on top of my head. Then I went to the living room. Chris still sat in the same position I’d left him in when I took thegirls downstairs for their baths. Instead of the TV playing a show, it showed a caption that readAre you still watching?
Chris stared at the screen as if the words hadn’t penetrated. A lost expression I was growing all too familiar with resided on his face.
“Chris, please talk to me.” I sat down, scooting close enough to lay a hand on his arm. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”
He turned his head and looked at me. His gaze seemed to catalog every feature on my face before his chest rose, then fell. “Erykah, I think you should leave.”
Thirty-Eight
The words tore from his gut.
Chris hated to say them, but he’d been thinking about his mom’s offer since yesterday, and the only conclusion he’d come to was for Erykah to leave. He’d offered space in his place so she’d have time to find adequate housing, not to mention his desire to help her. But now he was an added burden when she’d already dealt with so much. How could he have her helping him around the house when she had Ash and Cheye, who required her attention unless they’d managed to sleep peacefully? She was literally doing everything by herself right now. For heaven’s sake, she’d shoveled snow and sanded the sidewalk before leaving for work this morning. What kind of man did that make him to have the woman he ...lovedshoveling snow?
If he gave her notice to move out, surely she’d be able to find something for her and the girls. He didn’t want to hold them back or make their life any more difficult than it already was.
“What do you mean? Where do you want me to go?” Erykah asked.
“You need to find another place to live.” He drew in abreath. “Preferably by the end of the month.” He couldn’t stand seeing her doing everything in this house another day. If she was going to do so much, she’d be better off living in her own space without a daily reminder of Chris’s uselessness. But he needed to ensure they had someplace to move to.
