Page 24 of Reckless

“I can do that!” She leaps into action, a blur of little girl racing out thedoor.

My laughter turns into a groan as I try to roll out of bed. When I bartend, I usually go to bed around three or four. Sometimes later. So getting up with the cows is not something my body knows how to do. I haven’t gotten up this early since that internship firedme.

A few minutes later, when I get to Cody’s room, his big smile perks me up. These kids are so freaking happy, I don’t know what to do with myself. I grin at him and snuggle his warm body tome.

“Did you sleep well, munchkin?” He nuzzles closer. I close my eyes, loving his sweet baby scent. “Are youhungry?”

His grumbling tummy answers the question, and I hurry to get him changed so I can feed him. It takes a few minutes to wrestle him out of his pajamas, and when I get to his diaper, his smilewidens.

“Poopies!” He kicks his chubby legs. “Poopies!”

“Okay, buddy. Thanks for thewarning.”

Except for the toxic diaper, the morning goes smoothly, but by lunch time, Mila’s not wearing that bright smileanymore.

This little girl who never stops moving is staring out the back window, completelyfrozen.

I kneel down next to her. “What’s wrong, honey? You lookworried.”

Her lips twist in her cherubic face. She waves me closer to whisper in my ear. “Can we make my daddy something toeat?”

I almost laugh, except the serious expression on her face tells me I shouldn’t. “What does he usually do forlunch?”

“My grandma makes himfood.”

Ethan expressly told me I shouldn’t make him any meals, but that’s kind of weird if he’s used to coming into the house to eat. Whatishe doing forlunch?

Movement catches my eye in the back yard, and I look across the expansive field to the beautiful red barn where Ethan leads a horse to hisstall.

Returning my attention to Mila, I give her a hug. “How about we make some extra food in case he comes in forlunch?”

She looks down, still frowning, and nods. Clearly, that wasn’t the answer she wants tohear.

“Mila, what would you like to do for your dad? What would make youhappy?”

“Can we make him lunch and take it tohim?”

This kid is toosweet.

“Of course we can.” And if he doesn’t want it? Too damn bad because I’m not sure I can tell herno.

11

Ethan

Loganand I toil side by side the entire morning, grooming horse after horse. I should be shitting rainbows after seeing how well the kids have taken to Tori, but the phone call I got from my lawyer this morning put me on edgeagain.

My brother takes a swig of his water bottle and wipes the sweat off his brow. “So it’s set then? When you guys go before the judge in a few weeks, it’ll be a done deal? You’ll bedivorced?”

I grunt, hating the looming courtdate.

That word.Divorce. Sounds so final. I guess itis.

The misery of the last two years weighs on my heart, the failure of it reverberating through my bones. This isn’t what I wanted for my kids. Splitting time between two houses. Me worrying if they left their clothes or toys behind. Wondering what they’re doing. Hating that I’m not with them. I may work a lot now, but I can check on them a dozen times throughout the day and hear their laughter when they’re playing in theyard.

“You want me to come with you to court?” Logan chugs another drink and then douses his face. “I could tagalong.”

He’s acting like we’re talking about grabbing a beer instead of ending my marriage. I could use his support, though. “Yeah.Thanks.”

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