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She shrugged. “One or two.”
I barked out a laugh. “Okay.”
I opened her door for her so she could slide back in the car, feeling the air between us had lightened.
Later, back at the house, she was quiet as she puttered around and I took care of the car alarm. Once that was done and the installer had left, I went looking for the girls and found them out in the backyard.
Olivia glanced up from one of the patio chairs where she was watching Elizabeth play with some toys in the grass. “All done?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, then indicated the chair next to hers. “Sit with me?”
I took a seat and caught a big hit of her sweet wildflower scent, which slammed me hard in the solar plexus.
Elizabeth looked up from where she was digging around with a plastic shovel and gave me the sweetest smile. “Man Jusin. You done work?”
“Yes, sweetheart. I’m done working now.”
She nodded and pounded the ground harder. “I work.”
“I see that. Good job.”
I felt Olivia’s stare on my profile so I turned to face her.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked softly.
“Sure.”
“Why did you go to church with us today if it’s clearly not your thing?”
Not what I was expecting. I anticipated more questions about Tricia and our marriage or maybe even my time in the Navy. But my faith? That was no man’s land. Had been ever since God left my prayers on unread during the darkest days of my life.
“I told you.” I ran my hands down my thighs, not meeting her gaze. “I go where you go.”
“And it not being your thing?”
“That’s two questions.”
“Sore spot.” I felt her thoughtful gaze still on me. “Got it.”
We were quiet for a while, both watching Elizabeth play. After a while, Olivia let her hand drift to the arm of her chair, near where mine rested, so our pinkies brushed. She hooked hers over mine lightly in the gentlest of connections.
I glanced down at our joined fingers, then over at her face, but she had her eyes closed, basking in the last of the sun’s rays.
“I ordered us pizza for dinner,” she said softly. “Hope that’s okay.”
“Sure, that’s great.” I didn’t pull my hand away from hers, even as something thick and emotional threatened to clog my throat. What the hell was happening here? Tickling and hand-holding on the patio and pizza and I was suddenly full of... feelings?
I glanced up at the cotton candy clouds in the sky, pondering. I’d prayed and cried out to God until I was hoarse, begging him to save my marriage.
Nothing.
Not a damn peep. Not even a go fuck yourself.
I might as well have been talking to a big fat brick wall for all the good it did me. And hit my head on it for good measure.
My opinions on the matter of faith had been complicated ever since.