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“Be nice. I worry myself sick every time I'm at home. Now I’m here and I’m spending the day with you.”

Lucky me. Who else is going to show up?

“Think I’ll go get the rest of the supplies we talked about since Tyler's here to help unload them,” Paul said.

“I don’t want him hanging around. I want him gone.” Lexi's head throbbed. “It’s been a week and every time I turn around, he’s here. Why won't he go back to Olkfield? He’ll never be happy here.”

Lily stared at her, hurt apparent on her features. “Why wouldn’t Tyler be happy here? You're his wife. This is technically his home.”

Arms across her chest, Lexi clenched her teeth so tight pain shot up the side of her jaw. “Why don't you go home too?”

“Now, don’t be a witch. And you know, maybe Tyler would be happy if you’d talk to him.”

“He left.”

“But he came back.”

That he had. But why? “You convinced him to, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Lexi confessed. “He’s your husband and he belongs with you,” She fiddled with the strap of her purse. “You’re being unfair, Lexi. You’re angry about losing the baby and no one blames you for that. But you shouldn’t be taking it out on Tyler.”

Lexi was. She knew she was but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t handle Tyler's sudden return on top of everything else. “I’ve asked for a divorce. Why sleep in the other room when he can just go?”

“I guess because the boy doesn’t want a divorce.” Her father pointed a finger at her as he stood. “Maybe you should pay attention to that. I’m heading back out. Too much tension in here.”

“Tell him to leave!”

“You want to talk to him, you do it yourself. But if I were you,” Paul continued, pulling his hat on his head, “I wouldn’t be too hard on the boy. It was his baby too, Alexia.”

Guilt stirred. Tyler had been much more excited at the pregnancy. Was he handling the miscarriage okay?

“Besides, I happen to relate to his side of things.”

“Dad.”

“It’s true. Women might carry the babies, but how helpless do you think a man feels when something’s happening and he can’t do anything about it? Then you try to kick him out and divorce him. That's just sad if you ask me.”

Just what she wanted to hear. Lexi moaned and turned toward the cabinets, pulling out her pots and mixing bowls.

“And there you go again.” Her father cursed. “At least Tyler is being productive in his grief instead of moping around starving himself to death. For all those muffins you bake, you sure ain’t eatin’ them.”

“I’m fine.”

“And I’m the president. Lily dear, see if you can talk some sense into her.”

After her dad walked out, Lexi stalked to the table to grab up his soup bowl, carrying it to the sink.

“He’s right, you know.”

“Don’t you start, too.”

“How can I not be concerned? Lexi, the doctor told you to take at least a week off to recover from your injuries, but did you? No, you went to work days after even though you were so sore you could barely walk. And look at you. Your clothes are hanging on you. You’re trying to work yourself senseless to keep from thinking about the baby and Tyler and everything that happened.”

Lexi flipped the handle of the faucet and grabbed the dish detergent, squirting enough for five sink loads. “What good is dwelling on it? Especially when it’s probably the best thing that could’ve happened for everyone concerned?”

Lily scooted back her chair with a screech. “I hope to God you don’t mean that. I hope it’s your upset talking because if not, you don’t deserve to be married to Tyler.”

She didn’t turn to look at Lily, couldn’t after her shameful remark. “Stop saying his name like he’s a saint. Tyler has his own problems.”

Lily shoved the chair in with a bang. “Yes, he does—with his wife, not that you’re acting like one.”

Her whole body ached. “This is exactly why I refused Tyler in the first place, why I didn’t want to get married to him just for the baby. And now look, I was right. What do you want me to do?”

Lily stomped to the door. “I want you to see what you’re doing by being this way. You think you can protect yourself from being hurt, but you can’t. Lexi, love hurts. It sucks, it’s messy, it’s painful and—” she yanked her purse strap over her shoulder “—when you care for someone you give them power over you and it’s scary as hell. I get that. But I’ve been watching you and I don’t think you feel anything. Your baby died. Have you cried?”

Lexi flinched. “That’s cruel.”

“Is it? I can’t tell by the stony look on your face. Tyler lost his baby, too. Have you comforted him? Given him an ounce of compassion? I never thought I’d say this to you of all people, but you’re being completely selfish.”

The door slammed shut behind Lily, leaving a deafening silence.

_______

For the next couple of weeks Tyler stayed and worked around the house. Whether Lexi worked or had the day off, whether she wanted him there or not. Each day he watched her with that sad expression on his face and her heart broke a little more. It was so hard not to respond to him, not to want to comfort him. She could tell he was hurting.

She could also tell that Tyler was getting tired of her silence, of the treatment he received from her, and even though she told herself to talk, to speak up, something held her back. No doubt her selfish nature. 

She liked listening to Tyler, liked the things he said to her. He always asked how she felt, if she’d eaten. Did she see that her mums were blooming? The leaves were gorgeous this year. She looked beautiful.

What woman didn’t want to feel beautiful? She didn’t want to encourage him, but she still shivered every time Tyler caught her unaware and brushed the hair from her face, stroked his knuckles down her arm or placed his hand on her back to gain her attention and show her something.