like to be idle. “When we got married, I really wanted to be a mom. That’s all I thought about.”
“You’re a great mom.”
“But I’m also your wife.”
His mouth drew back on one side into a half frown filled with sadness. “We live in the same house, but I still miss you.”
She knew exactly what he meant. “It’s not that we’ve lost the love.”
Rex nodded his agreement. “We’ve lost the time we spend together. We don’t connect like we used to.”
“I want more time with you. So with the extra money we’ll save on not doing the stuff the kids hate, I will pay the babysitter on date nights. For real this time.”
“I’m going up on your schedule?” He eyed the bane of his existence hanging on the cabinet with a teasing light in his eyes and voice, but he was serious.
“I’m getting my priorities in the right order. Bake sales and school plays don’t come before you anymore. In fact, I’m putting you back where you belong. At the top of my list.”
“Listen, sweetheart, I know the kids need you.”
“You need me, too. And I need you. I’m tired of feeling like I’m doing all this on my own.” She held up her hand to stop him from unnecessarily defending himself. “I did this to myself and blamed you for not wanting to do everything I set up without asking you about it in the first place. You want to see the kids more, too. You want to make family time a priority.”
“Yes. And I want to spend time alone with my wife.”
She put her hand over his. “I want that, too. We both deserve more downtime.”
“I wouldn’t mind sleeping in on a Saturday. Especially if you’re in bed with me.” The devastatingly handsome smile she hadn’t seen in too long appeared and melted her heart.
She smiled back. “That sounds really good.” She hoped she could rein in that feeling inside her that she should be doing something. Being lazy and unoccupied with something to do made her antsy.
But doing her husband sounded like a good way to pass the time, too.
“About our sex life . . .”
Rex rolled his eyes. “What sex life?” Again that teasing tone didn’t mask the seriousness in his voice.
“I made it another item on my list.”
Rex tilted his head and another sorrowful frown took hold of his handsome face. “Pity sex is not sexy. I don’t want to be something you check off.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. I’d like to work on that, because I don’t think we can get back to where we used to be without finding our way back to each other in every way.”
“You know, if you tell me what you need, I’ll try to give it to you.”
She smiled at the innuendo, but Rex remained completely focused, which told her this was important to him. Her happiness mattered. Their marriage mattered.
“Okay. I’d like your help to free up my time and make the evenings more relaxing for me. I’d appreciate it if you’d do the dinner dishes and make the kids’ lunches for the next day each night while I get them ready for bed.”
Skepticism filled his eyes. “I’ve tried to help you with chores around the house. The only thing I seem to do right is take out the trash.”
“I know. Which is why I’m going to show you how I want the dishwasher loaded.” She waited out his eye roll. “Not because you do it wrong, but because I like it a certain way or I get anxious and feel like I have to do it myself.”
Rex caught on quick with a nod. “Okay. I get it.” A smile crept across his face. “Why don’t you make me a diagram?”
Not a bad idea. And though he was teasing her, he knew her well enough to know that was exactly how she’d be able to let go of the chore and let him do it. “I will.”
“I’ll still read them stories while you relax. I love that time with them.”
“I love that time, too. Let’s switch off, or do it together.”
“Sounds good.”
“Once I’ve got the new schedule finished with the kids, I’d like to go over it as a family. I’d like it if we could do the things that stay on it together, your work schedule permitting.”
“I’d like that.”
“Okay. I’d like your Thursday nights for our dates.”