The Amendment (The Contract 2)

“A million times.”

“Otay. Lub you.”

“Lub you too. Put Mommy back on the phone.”

“She’s smiling,” Katy informed me. “She kept asking to call, but I didn’t want to disturb.”

“No,” I responded. “Always call. Anything for my girls. Always. You know that.”

“When will you be home?”

I scrubbed my face and looked at my desk. “A couple of hours.”

“I’ll have dinner waiting. It’s beautiful outside tonight. You can eat by the pool and have a relaxing swim.”

“It’s only another week. Graham will be back, and life will get back to normal.”

“I know.”

“I’ll make it up, Katy.”

“You have nothing to make up, Richard. You’re helping Graham. Jenna told me Laura said he looks much better and is getting anxious to come home. This is a blip in our routine. He’ll come back, and things will settle.”

I hated to remind her, except I had to tell her the truth. “I have a trip out east coming up. I’ll be gone for a week.”

There was a pause, then she spoke. “We’ll deal with that too. Finish your work and come home to me.”

As usual, her patience and acceptance astonished me. “I love you,” I murmured.

“I love you. See you soon.”

She hung up, and I stared at the phone, thinking. I looked at the pile of work on my desk and made a decision. As important as it was, she was more important. My family was number one in my life. As patient and accepting as Katy was, I could hear the sadness in her voice. I knew she missed me as much as I missed her, and we needed a little extra time together tonight.

I grabbed my briefcase and slid the folders inside. I was going home. I could kiss my kids, maybe feed Heather her last bottle, eat, swim, and make love to Katy. Once she was asleep, I could do some work. I wasn’t sleeping much right now anyway, and I could be productive while my girls slumbered.

One more week, I told myself as I hurried to my car. One more week and our lives would go back to normal.I smiled at Gracie sitting in her chair, spilling cereal and milk as she talked nonstop, excited to find me home in the morning. I sipped my coffee as I fed Heather, tucked close to my chest, content and warm. The decision to come home had been a good one. Dinner, a swim, and a few hours lost in Katy had been the break I needed. I worked late into the night once she was asleep, and when I was caught up, I slid into bed beside her and grabbed some much-needed rest. This morning, I felt calmer and refreshed and I decided to stay home and spend a few more hours with my family. I had a busy day of meetings all afternoon, but this morning I was being selfish. Amy had adjusted my schedule, assuring me she would handle it all.

“Try to get some cereal into your mouth, baby girl.” I chuckled. “Daddy’s not going anywhere for a couple of hours. You can talk once you eat.”

She giggled, her expression happy, her eyes glowing. Katy was content and sleepy, watching us with her elbow propped up on the table as she rested her chin in her hand. Her dark hair was messy and fell around her shoulders in a mass of curls from my fingers tangling it as I made love to her. Her extraordinary blue eyes were filled with warmth as she watched us. She met my gaze and smiled. The smile she had only for me—one so filled with love, it took my breath away. Even after all we’d been through, and the years we’d been together, it never failed to affect me.

Our eyes held a silent conversation. Mine one of gratitude and love. Hers one of understanding and tenderness.

“I’m taking the weekend off,” I announced. “I’m caught up. How about we go on a picnic and to the zoo?”

Gracie squealed, dropping her spoon into her bowl, causing the milk to splash everywhere. The zoo was her favorite place. She loved animals, and I knew how much she wanted a pet. Perhaps Katy and I could discuss that soon. For now, though, I could take Gracie to the zoo and buy her lots of time in the petting area. She loved that.

Katy beamed at me. “That would be so much fun! Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I have to work later tonight, and maybe tomorrow, but I’m all yours for the weekend.” I’d pay for it the following week—except I didn’t care. I needed it. My family needed it. I needed it.

Her look of adoration and happiness was worth it.Later that day, I cursed as I looked at my car, kicking the flat tire in frustration. How the hell did that happen? I bent down to examine it, muttering another curse when I saw the nail I must have driven over as I passed through the construction happening down the road on the way in this morning. After going in late, I had been rushed all day, and this was the last thing I needed. To top it off, a storm was brewing, and I could feel one of my migraines starting to build. Jenna was needed to cover another meeting and was unable to accompany me to this one, so I had no choice except to go. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the afternoon.