“Life’s full of surprises, and this is a damn fine one.”
“I agree,” she said, turning toward him as much as her seat belt would allow. “This is like our lives used to be.”
“I told you before and I’ll tell you again—we can still enjoy each other even though there are some terrible times behind us and some rough times up ahead.”
“I’ve made big mistakes, and I can’t undo them. But I’m glad you forgave me for the mistake I made believing Maverick’s message. I’m thankful for that.”
“We’ve both made mistakes,” he said, suddenly serious, and she wondered what he felt he had done wrong. “Here we are,” he said, stopping to park in the shade in front of the furniture store. He stepped out of the car and the moment for discussing their past was gone.
They shopped for almost an hour before she finally pointed to a fruitwood four-poster with a high, intricately carved headboard.
“I like this four-poster. And I like that sleigh bed. What do you think?” she asked, too aware that his opinion didn’t matter because she would not be sharing the bed with him.
“I think the four-poster is great. Sleigh beds—even king-size sleigh beds—are too short. There is a tiny off chance I might get into this bed sometime.”
“Shall we take bets on how many hours after purchase?” she asked sweetly and he grinned. “A sleigh bed is never too short for me,” she said, studying the two frames. “Okay, I guess I’ll get the four-poster.”
“That’s an excellent choice. Let’s find the mattresses.”
“You’re very anxious to get a bed in my house,” she said.
“I want you to be comfortable. You never know when you’ll really want a bed. I’m sure you’re enjoying your cot as much as I’m enjoying my sleeping bag,” he said and then frowned slightly. “What’s wrong, Em?”
“I started to say I should get a bed for the guest room now, too, but I don’t have family. Uncle Woody was the last except the cousins, and I never see them. My family is gone. You and I will get our divorce and you’ll be gone. I don’t need a guest bed.”
He put his arm around her shoulders. “You’ll have a family soon enough. I know you’ll marry again. You can wait and get another bed for the guest room some other day, but you need one for yourself now.”
She felt the tears threatening. “What happened to us, Tom?”
He pulled her around to hug her. There was no one in that corner of the store and he really didn’t care if there was. “We had the most devastating loss, and we just made too many mistakes dealing with that. But maybe some of them can be fixed,” he said, holding her close.
She pulled away and wiped her eyes. “We’re in public. I’ll pull myself together. It’s just a little scary to know I’m alone.”
“You’re not alone. Look, you can call me anytime you want.”
She smiled at him. “Sure, Tom. I’m sure your next wife will just be thrilled to hear that you told your ex to call you anytime.”
“Don’t marry me off so fast. Let’s get the bed, a mattress and springs, and go home and eat. Then they’ll deliver the bed and mattress and we can try it out,” he said, licking his lips and looking at her.
She smiled, shaking her head.
As they drove to the house, he went through what they had already done to the house, what they had lined up to do and what else should be added to the list. “Now I know you need a new roof, and I know a really good roofer. I’ll call and get you a couple of estimates.”
“Tom, I don’t want to pay for all this at once. I have lots of windows. I’m having a security system installed. I’ve bought a lot of paint. I’ll have bills and more bills.”
He kept his attention on his driving as he talked. “Em, put all of this on the ranch expenses. We’re still married. We’re still a couple and we’ll pay it out of the ranch budget.”
“That simply means you’ll pay it all,” she said, looking at him in surprise. “You’re divorcing me. Why would you pay for all this?”
He reached over with his free hand to squeeze hers. “You’re my wife right now, and this divorce is not out of anger. Don’t fuss. I’ll just add it to the ranch tab. You forget about it.”
She was surprised he would do that, but was more lost in his remark about how their divorce was not out of anger. But what difference did that make? They had made mistakes and hurt each other and soon would part.
“You’re worrying. Don’t. It’s taken care of. Uncle Woody’s house, which is now Emily’s house, is getting a makeover.”
“Thank you, Tom.”
He reached over to give her hand another squeeze. “Sure. I intend to do some things right.”