Page 56 of Winning Back His Wife
Darn him. He’d left the decision up to her. Sure, she had an easy out if she said she was tired. People would understand. Too bad she was confused and wary and apprehensive, but not tired. How could she lie to a woman who had done so much to care for her? “Sure, sounds fun.”
As much fun as more surgery.
Hannah grinned. “Great.”
Yes, great. At least Hannah was happy. Sarah’s face muscles hurt trying to keep her panic from showing, but her smile never wavered. She had a feeling this would be a long evening. At least she had one of Carly’s desserts to look forward to at the end. And Sarah realized there was one bright spot ahead—she wouldn’t be spending the evening alone with Cullen.
She tugged on her ear. Maybe dinner out wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
* * *
“The lasagna was great, Hannah.” Cullen enjoyed being at the Willinghams’ house. Nothing like sitting at a crowded dinner table with good friends, tasty food and his beautiful wife. His arm rested on her chair. The ends of her hair tickled his skin with each turn of her head. He could get used to this. “Thanks for inviting us over.”
“Everything was so delicious,” Sarah agreed, as did Jake and Carly.
Cullen’s thigh touched Sarah’s. He thought about shifting positions to break the contact, but she wasn’t scooting away. Might as well stay put, even if his blood was simmering.
He wished it could always be like this with Sarah. Hanging out with other couples. Kids running around.
Going out with others was something they’d never done in Seattle. With such busy schedules, they’d kept to themselves, spending any free time with each other. Maybe that had been a mistake.
Hannah wiped the mouth of her two-year-old son, Tyler. The boy squirmed and scrunched up his face. She didn’t miss a beat. “Would you like dessert now or later?”
“Later,” all the adults said at the same time.
“Then let’s go into the living room,” Hannah said. “Cleanup can wait.”
Garrett leaned over and kissed his wife. “I’ll take care of it for you.”
Her older children—Kendall and Austin—bolted from the table. Tyler and fifteen-month-old Nicole, Jake and Carly’s daughter, toddled after them, nearly crashing into each other twice.
Carly laughed. “At least diapers provide padding when they fall.”
The adults followed the kids into the living room and took seats on the worn but comfortable furniture. Pieces from a jigsaw puzzle covered the coffee table. Crayons and Lego lay scattered on the floor.
This was the kind of house Cullen wanted to buy. Warm and cozy, well-built and designed for a family. But his dreams about having a family had always included Sarah. Never any other woman, only her.
She sat on the couch with Carly.
He wished Sarah had sat by him on the loveseat instead.
The two women joked about something wedding-related.
He understood why Sarah had wanted to elope after being jilted on her wedding day, but he’d never asked if she wanted a reception or a party to celebrate their marriage. They’d never taken a honeymoon, only short climbing trips. They’d never shared a bank account, either.
Framed photographs covered the fireplace mantel. The wedding pictures drew his gaze. He and Sarah had two wedding photographs, one with the Elvis impersonator and one of the two of them. It had seemed enough at the time. And too much when he’d been moving out.
Jake and Garrett fiddled with the stereo until music played.
A picture of a climber standing atop Mount Hood with a big grin on his face caught Cullen’s attention. The gear, over ten years old, dated the photo. That must be Nick Bishop, Carly’s brother, Hannah’s first husband and Kendall and Austin’s dad, who’d died in a climbing accident on Mount Hood.
The women laughed over something borrowed. Or was it blue?
Kendall, who was around twelve, carried in a cardboard box and set it at Sarah’s feet. “My mom says you’re a volcano scientist.”
“I am,” Sarah said enthusiastically. “At Mount Baker Volcano Institute. My specialty is seismology.”
The girl’s face fell. “Bummer. I need someone to help me who knows something about lava flow.”
The corners of Sarah’s mouth twitched, but she kept a serious expression on her face. “I know something about lava. What do you need help with?”
“My science-fair project.”
Hannah touched her daughter’s thin shoulder. “Sarah is a guest. Let’s not bother her with your homework.”
Kendall shrugged away from her mother’s hand. “But you and dad know nothing about volcanoes.”
“I’m happy to help,” Sarah said, much to Cullen’s surprise, given her pensive mood and how inexperienced she seemed to be around kids. “I’ve given some talks at schools and led geology field trips around Mount Baker.”
