Page 128 of Nothing But It All
Jack pulls me close to him and looks down at me with his clear brown eyes.
“Want to tell me what ‘stuff’ is all about?” I ask. “Because it’s been a damn day, and I don’t think I can worry about anything else.”
“It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Easy for you to say,” I say as he sways us back and forth. “Also, as soon as these people leave, I’m probably going to pass out. I’ve cried a lot, and crying makes my eyes sleepy.”
“I don’t think your eyes can be sleepy.”
“Then you’ve never experienced sleepy eyes. I assure you, it’s a thing.”
He hums, grinning.
I wait for him to break down the meaning of “stuff.” When it’s clear he’s not going to, I fist his shirt in my hands and shake them. “Tell me.”
“Fine.” He widens his stance and takes a deep breath. “Dad and Snaps aside, we’re going to have to make a lot of changes to our lives going forward, Lo.”
I still. “How?”
He looks around the porch and sighs. “When you look back on our marriage, we’ve always lived for something besides the two of us.” His attention returns to me. “We were planning a wedding, buying a house, trying to have a baby. Having a baby. Then another one. And I was trying to find a way to feed us and pay the mortgage, and you were keeping everyone alive.”
“Yeah.”
“But it’s time to live forus, Lauren. Me and you. More than just dates and sex and dinners. A whole upheaval of our marriage.”
I stop moving. “I’m not sure I follow you, nor am I sure I want to.”
He grins. “I want to spend time with you. Taking trips to Maine to see the leaves. Coming up here to Story Brook for weekends so we don’t have distractions. Starting every morning and ending every night with a kiss—at least.”
“Okay . . .”
He shifts his weight. “I don’t want to put any pressure on you. I had an idea and was going to just start making things happen, but I realized that wasn’t fair to you. So, I want to run something by you.”
“English, please.”
He dips his chin. “You have supported me and my business for the last fifteen years. I want to support you now.”
I can’t believe I’m hearing what I think I’m hearing. I’m also afraid to hope I know what he means.
“I don’t want to put any burden on your shoulders that you don’t want,” he says. “I can keep working as much as you want me to, as much as I need to. But I’m ready to step back. I’ve already talked to Tommy and the guys, and they know we might be changing the structure around at the shop.” He leans forward. “Because I’m going to be helping my wife. It’s your turn to shine, Lo. It’s your turn to liveyourdreams.”
My lips part. I try to speak, but I don’t know what to say. I’m also afraid to talk because then I might cry—again—and I’m tired of crying today.
“We can work it out later,” he says. “We have the rest of our lives. But whatever you need me to do to support you and Story Books—I’m in.”
I collapse into his arms and hold him as tight as I can. He presses kisses to the top of my head and whispers things I can’t hear.
But that’s okay. I understand what they mean.
“I love you, Jack.”
He kisses my head again. “I love you more, Lo.”
The door creaks open behind us.
“Mom? Dad? Do you want to come in and eat?” Maddie asks.
I pull away from my husband and smile. “Yeah. We’re coming.”
