Page 9 of His Weekend Wife

The four-year-old started climbing, but couldn’t maneuver the ladder very fast, her feet slipped several times. Ash stayed close, just in case Abby started to fall.

Once they were safely inside of the ramshackle treehouse, they snuggled up into the corner, partly from fear, and partly from the chill in the air. They covered themselves with the blanket, but it wasn’t quite big enough to cover their shoulders and their feet.

“I scaret,” Abby whimpered.

Ash tucked her arm around her little sister’s quivering shoulders. “It’s okay. I won’t let nothing happen to you, ever. I promise.”

“It’s colt.”

“Here. You take my shirt.” She dragged off the long-sleeved penguin pajama top. She was wearing her favorite pink T-shirt underneath. Ash helped her sister pull on the shirt and the trembling in her body stopped—some. “Now try to go to sleep. We’ll wait till they find us.”

Ash sat stirring, time ticking by, the wind howling through the cracks in the wood. Her sister was sleeping, but it took a long time before Ash fell asleep too.

Sometime later, the creaking of a board brought Ash awake. She fluttered her eyes open, realizing where she was and sliding in front of Abby who was still asleep. A second later their father appeared in the opening to the treehouse. He looked mad. “Are we in trouble?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No, you’re not in trouble. I looked everywhere and was worried. It’s too cold outside for you to sleep here.” He started to reach for the youngest child, but Ash moved forward, blocking him. “It’s okay, Ash. I’m only carrying her inside. You come too and I’ll tuck you both into bed.”

Reluctantly, she allowed her father to take Abby into his arms. Ash followed him down the ladder.

“I’ll carry you too. Your feet will get frostbite.” He lifted Ash into his free arm and he was warm, but he smelled bad, like he did at the New Year’s party when Ash’s mom accused him of drinking too much.

They retraced the steps the girls had taken earlier, but the yard was now covered in a layer of snow. Inside, the house was quiet. The only light on was the lamp in their bedroom.

“Where’s Mommy,” she asked.

“She’s sleeping. She has a headache,” he said. “Now crawl into bed and I’ll tuck you in when I’m finished with your sister.”

Afraid to argue because she didn’t want to see his mean face again, she did as he requested. The covers felt warm and lulled her body into a cocoon that she didn’t resist. She laid her head deeper into her pillow and was almost asleep when she felt the mattress sink. She fluttered her eyes, seeing her dad through a sleep haze.

“Were you scared,” he asked, dragging the cover tighter around her shoulders.

She nodded, yawning. “Why were you and Mommy fighting?”

There was a second’s hesitation. “We can’t see eye-to-eye.”

“She has blue eyes, like mine. You can’t see them?”

He darted a hand through his hair. “No, I meant we can’t get along. It’s only getting worse. I’m getting worse. I’m sorry, Ash.”

She blinked. “Don’t be sad, Daddy. Buy her flowers. She likes yellow roses.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work, sweetie.” His eyes glistened in the light of the lamp. “I need to go away for a while.” He lowered his gaze to his lap. To her, he’d always been as brave as the hero, Superman, but now he looked tired.

“My Christmas play is next week. You can’t miss that. I’m the snow angel, remember?”

His shoulders dipped even further. “I won’t,” he murmured. “But I won’t be living here. Your mom and I, well, we need our space.”

“I don’t want you to go. Please don’t go. You and Mommy can see each other’s eyes and we will be a family. Just like you said, remember? You said you’d work harder. You’d get another job.”

“It’s not working. One day I hope you’ll understand.” He gently wiped her bangs from her forehead and kissed her tenderly. “I need you to promise me something, little bug.”

She nodded her head against the pillow.

“You need to be a big girl. You need to take care of your little sister. Make sure you let nothing happen to her. Okay?”

“I always take care of her. You stay and take care of her. I don’t like her!” she huffed.

“I know that’s not true. You’re always a good big sister. Now promise me.”

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