Page 23 of Trouble Comes in Threes

“It’s quiet out here.”

“And it’s noisy in there,” he said, pushing off the porch with his feet to set the swing in motion. “I know it’s been harder for you since I got elected sheriff. You’re carrying a good portion of the load on your own. Would it be easier if we got someone to watch the kids at the house?” he asked quietly. “Or maybe someone to do some of the housework, like the mountains of laundry?”

“The housework sure, but someone to watch the kids here?” I considered it. “I suspect Hope and Liam would hate it. They love daycare, and Hope would really miss Daisy. Those two are inseparable.” I took a breath, admitting something I’d been considering for a few weeks. “I’m wondering if maybe I should go part time.”

He turned to me in surprise. “But you love what you do.”

“I know,” I said, feeling a lump in my throat. “But everything is just so crazy. Four kids is a lot.”

“I know,” he said, grabbing my free hand with his own. “Sometimes I wonder if I should have waited to run for sheriff until Liam was older. It was easier when I worked with you at the nursery and the landscaping business.”

“Yeah, it was easier,” I said. “But you weren’t happy. Not really.”

“I loved working with you and having a flexible schedule to help with the kids. I feel like I’ve dumped it all in your lap for my own happiness.”

At times, I felt it had all been dumped on me too, but I’d never seen it as a selfish move on his part, which was why I’d never admitted it to him.

“You love being sheriff,” I said. “And you’re good at it. Not to mention the people love you. They need you.”

“But you and the kids need me more.”

“It’s just growing pains,” I said, sitting upright and turning to face him. “We’re still feeling our way. But even if you were working with me, I’d still feel this way. I rush them off to school and daycare, then rush to get us all home. And we both know things are just going to get busier and crazier. Ashley loves her dance classes, and the older she gets, the more classes she’ll be taking, and then there’s Hope and Liam…” I took a breath. “I’m thinking about hiring another designer so I can pick Mikey and Ashley up when school gets out, then get Hope and Liam. But the tradeoff is, I’d be bringing home less money because I’d have to pay the designer.”

“If it comes to that, we’ll figure out the money part,” he said. “Don’t make your decision based on that.”

I nodded, then took a sip of my now lukewarm tea. “I just feel like I’m missing so much of their little lives,” I said past the lump in my throat.

“I know, I feel it too. If you want to go part time so you can be with them more, I’m all for it, but if you’re doing it because of guilt for not being here, we’ll figure out a way to make sure everyone’s happy.” He kissed my temple. “Including you, Rose.”

“Thank you.”

“Now tell me what’s going on with Ashley.”

I filled him in on our conversation that morning, my talk with the principal, and our discussion after school.

“She seemed okay tonight at the Pizza Palace,” he said, tightening his hold on my arm.

“I know, but I think we took her mind off it. I’m hoping it will all just die down after a few days.”

“How about I take her to school tomorrow?” he asked. “I’ll take her to breakfast and see if she’ll talk to me.”

“She’ll like that,” I said. “But just remember she was worried you’d be upset.”

“I hate that she thought that. I’ll be sure to let her know I’ll always have her back.”

“Good.” I snuggled into his side. “You’re a great daddy.”

“I have my own guilt,” he said softly. “I feel guilty that I’m not home as much because my job is taking me away from all of you.”

“We already discussed this,” I said, wrapping an arm around his chest and tucking my hand under his arm. “I’m happy you ran for sheriff.”

“I know, but still…I miss you and the kids.”

“So let’s plan a family weekend,” I said. “No job stuff, just you, me, and the kids. Games and fun all weekend. Maybe we can go to the zoo in Little Rock for a day in a few weeks.”

“I’d love that.” He tilted his head down and kissed me with more passion than he would have in front of the kids. Heat flooded my veins.

“What do you say we continue this upstairs?” he murmured against my lips.

---