For Their Child's Sake

Chapter Seven

“When should I start packing for the beach?”

Tara stilled, clutching her daughter’s comforter as she tucked her in for the night. “The beach?”

Marley nodded, clutching her stuffed toy mermaid. “You and Daddy said we were going and I wanted to know when.”

The beach trip had been canceled due to...well, her marriage and life falling apart a year ago. But, Sam had been back in the house a week and they were all going a bit stir-crazy. They needed this break.

“I can’t wait to build a giant sandcastle,” Marley went on as she stretched her arms vertically to show how large her castle would be. “Daddy said he’d get me new sand toys and he’d help me build it. He even said I could bury him in the sand.”

Tara swallowed and attempted a smile. “Don’t pack just yet.”

Marley’s smile instantly vanished. “We’re not going?”

“Oh, of course we are.”

Well, damn it. Now she had to follow through. The words slipped out before she could stop herself, but the look on Marley’s face left her no choice. Was this how Sam had been sucked into the new dog?

“I need to talk to Daddy, though. Okay?”

The sweet, innocent smile returned. “Ask him if I can get a new purple suit for the trip. If not, that’s okay, but I really want one.”

Tara leaned over and kissed Marley’s forehead before adjusting the covers. “When we go to the beach, I promise you can get a new bathing suit.”

“I love you, Mommy.”

No matter how old her daughter got, Tara never tired of hearing those precious words. They’d seen her through some of the toughest moments of her life.

“I love you, baby.”

“Did you get your hair cut?”

Instinctively, Tara reached up and felt the ends of her hair, which was just past her shoulders now. A little over a year ago it had been longer, but she had gotten it cut recently.

“I did,” Tara stated, going along with whatever was in Marley’s mind. “Do you like it?”

“I noticed it yesterday, but I forgot to tell you. I think you look pretty.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Tara came to her feet and reached over to turn off the bedside lamp. “Good night.”

“Is Daddy sleeping in here again tonight?”

The words filled the darkness and Tara was glad only a sliver of light from the hall crept through the crack in the door. No way would she want her daughter to see the look in her eyes. Tara had no idea what truth her face revealed these days. She could attempt to lie, and likely convince her daughter, but her expressions always gave her away.

“We’re going to be in...um, in our room tonight.” Tara pulled in a deep breath. “If you need anything, come get us.”

Tara slipped from Marley’s room and closed the door. When she turned, she found Sam standing in the doorway to their room.

No, not their room. Her room. That master suite hadn’t been theirs since she asked him to leave. Clearly having him back had clouded her mind, or perhaps the fact that he had been in her home for two nights had taken her to a time when everything was perfect.

He said nothing as he stared across the hallway, almost as if he were throwing down a silent challenge for her to cross to him.

Nerves swirled in Tara’s belly. What could she say that hadn’t already been said? He had told her earlier he would be in her bed tonight. At some point she was going to have to give in, despite what her heart told her to do.

Without a word, Sam stepped aside, allowing her the opening to pass through. Tara smoothed her hands over her simple cotton nightgown and crossed the hall. She was careful not to brush against him as she entered their bedroom.

There she went again, thinking of this as their bedroom. This could not be the new norm for them. Nothing about this was normal, and nothing about this was comfortable. She couldn’t let it be because they’d all be hurt in the end.

Yet every part of her wanted to lie next to him once again and maybe just forget everything that was wrong and pretend, even if only for a moment, that everything would be okay. If she did that, there would be that fine line that could be too easily crossed. The line she had to keep firmly in place, in black and bold, because letting him in, even a little, could put them back to where they were when everything started falling apart.