Page 23 of Recipes for Life

“Mom, Dad!” Lux’s voice cut through the moment and caused Odette to take a step back.

Saved by the bell.

Chapter 17

Odette

I couldn’t help but find comfort in Murphy when I heard his confession of why he couldn’t be in the house—it was as if I felt my soul weep right along with him. A part of me wanted to scream and cry out at him because it was clear what he had done affected him just as much, if not more, as it had affected me.

Sowhy did he do it? Why did he ruin us?I hardly noticed the tears streaming down my face.

“Mom, Dad.”

Lux’s voice shocked me, and I remembered my surroundings. I gave Murphy one last squeeze and couldn’t help but wipe my tears off on his back before I turned to face Lux.

“Yes, kiddo?”

I responded for both of us; I could tell Murphy hadn’t put himself back together enough to respond to Lux.

“What are you guys doing?” She looked over at us from the entryway to the kitchen with a mildly puzzled look on her face.

“We were just catching up.”I have no idea what I’m doing, but she’s six, and she doesn’t need to know that.

“Oookay, am I going back with you tonight?” Her gaze was still shooting between Murphy and me.

I shrugged. “That’s up to you, sweet pea; wherever you’d like to stay tonight we can probably make it happen.” I turned my own gaze to Murphy and continued, “If you have to go into the office tomorrow, it’s no problem for me to pick her up in the morning. I feel like it’s my turn to take the day off.”

Lux giggled from beside me and tugged on my pants. “What office, Mommy? Don’t be silly.”

I quirked my eyebrow at Murphy, only to be met with a shy gaze that had me stumbling over my words. “No office?” I whispered at him, overcome withsomething.

“It’s a long story, Odette, one I don’t think you’ll have time for, and one that shouldn’t be said in front of little ears.” He covered Lux’s ears in a playful manner that only had her giggles intensifying.

“I’m a big girl! I can listen, I can!”

“Nice distraction tactics, Murph.” I couldn’t help the easy grin that spread, despite the emotionally-charged moment we shared only a few seconds ago. There was a peace I felt at being in the kitchen with Lux and Murphy—a peace, if I were being honest with myself, that I hadn’t felt in the last few years.

Murphy smiled a wicked grin at me. “We can have that conversation whenever you want, Odette...just name the time and place.”

I felt my face get hot.What did he mean by that? A conversation? A conversation about his job? His life? Is that something I want?

“I can feel you thinking from here.”

I couldn’t help but bite my lip in response, and I noticed how Murphy's eyes tracked it. I witnessed the heat in his gaze, andonce he noticed I was watching him, he shook his head and looked a little bashful at being caught.

“Well, Lux, you ready to spend the night with Mom tonight?”

We were met with a sigh. “I guess...”

My heart broke for my girl. I knew it was hard for her to leave her dad sometimes. As much as Iwishedshe was a momma’s girl, she was daddy’s girl through and through. She raised her arms up in a clear sign that she wanted Murphy to pick her up, which he did without a moment of hesitation.

“I love you, baby girl; you be good for your mom, okay? And I’ll see you soon.” He held her as close as he possibly could, very clearly soaking up every last minute.

“Okay, but Daddy, we never got to write in our journals with me being sick.” She detached herself from him enough to look at him. He rested his forehead to hers, and I think my grinch heart grewthree sizes.

“That’s okay, bug, we can next time.”

His eyes met mine over her forehead and I mouthed, “Journals?”

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