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I hold up one hand and count on my fingers. “One, I’m super handsome. Two, I’m an overachieving perfectionist. Three, I work too much. Four–”

“I’ll stop you right there. Yes, you’re a hard worker, but you have never put work over family like Dad.” She pauses. “Do you know how many times Dad forgot my birthday? You remembered, though, and called me every single year–even when you were in law school.” She smiles at me, though her expression is suddenly forlorn. “And when I married Sam, you started calling him every year on his birthday, too.”

We pull into the Bojangles drive-thru and wait in a line of cars. I place my hand on her shoulder. “I am so sorry, Soph.”

She wipes a tear from her cheek. “I know. I am, too.” She takes a deep breath. “Promise me something, though?”

“Of course, anything.”

“Don’t let your insecurities keep you from having an amazing marriage with Odette, okay? There’s nothing like being married to your best friend. Don’t take it for granted.”

“I won’t. Promise.” I say with confidence because I’m determined to show her she can trust me with her heart.

On the drive back to Sophie’s place, I ponder her comment. There’s nothing like being married to your best friend. I realize with a start that Odette really has become my best friend. She’s the first person I think about when I wake up and the first person I want to share good news with. She has been a balm to my closed-off heart and a breath of fresh air in a lifetime of busyness.

Something in my heart has changed since she walked into my life, like the molecules of my body have shifted, causing my heart to double in size. I miss her when she’s only been away for a few hours; I find myself daydreaming about her smile, and I have to touch her every time she’s nearby. She makes me want to be a better man, a man who deserves her and cares about her more than anything else in the world.

Oh, dear. I think I’ve gone and fallen in love with my wife.

Chapter 26

Odette

Today was Sam’s funeral, an equally devastating and beautiful day. Sophie wore a simple black maternity dress with little pink flowers on it. A few of Sam’s comrades shared stories about him–which made my heart feel heavy because I never got to meet him–and then the other military spouses gathered around Sophie to comfort her during the burial. When the trumpeter played “Taps”, she finally cried, breaking down in excruciating sobs. I don’t think she took her hand off her belly the entire day except for when they handed her Sam’s flag.

At 9:00 PM, Madden and I take an Uber to our hotel. I rub my lower back as we walk inside. “It will be so nice to sleep in a real bed tonight.”

Madden twists his torso back and forth to pop his back as we make our way to the elevator. “I think we’re too old to sleep on couches.”

I look up at him with a sad smile. “I’m glad we could be there with Sophie this week, though. She needed her family.”

He pulls me into a hug as our elevator goes up. “I think you’re right.”

We get to our room and I take a quick shower, put on a baggy t-shirt, and throw my wet hair up into a messy bun. Madden takes his turn in the shower while I read a few chapters in my newest book. By the time he crawls into bed next to me, apprehension sets in. We haven’t shared a bed since our debacle of an evening at the Wichita Fine Arts Society gala.

Before I can even take my glasses off, Madden grabs my novel, tosses it on the end of the bed, and pulls me into his broad, muscled chest. I laugh in surprise and he laughs with me, the sound oddly soothing. Neither of us has smiled or laughed in days.

“Now that we’re alone, can we please talk about… us?” Madden asks.

I give him a faint smile and nod.

He leans back so he can see my face. “I deeply regret putting distance between us, Odette. I know that you’ve been keeping me at arms’ length, and I understand why. I’ve given you some serious emotional whiplash.” He pauses to collect his thoughts. “Honestly, I’ve given you no reason to trust me with the way I keep pushing you away, but… Odette, I don’t want to push you away anymore. I’m not sure I could, even if I wanted to.”

Madden rubs my back gently. “Please give me a chance to earn back your trust. That’s all I want. And whatever challenges come our way, I promise to talk them out with you. No more hiding in the guest room.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and take a deep breath. Watching Sophie grieve over the last few days made me feel so selfish for wasting precious time with Madden. I pushed him away to protect myself when I should’ve given him a second chance.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll give you a chance. But please don’t break my heart.”

Madden

A day later, we’re back in Wichita. I want to help Sophie settle in, but I’ve already been out of town for five days. I know that Paul is anxious to meet today and write my public apology.

Paul arrives at our apartment a little after 2:00 PM. I gesture for him to sit with Odette and I at the dining room table.

“How’s your sister doing?” Paul asks first, his voice filled with sympathy.

“As well as can be expected,” I say with a heavy sigh.