Page 122 of Silent Ties

“What are you doing home?” she rasps.

“Last I recall, I live here.”

“You told me you were studying.”

“I got done early.”

“You were watching the baby monitors again,” she accuses.

I slowly rock Sailor back and forth. She breathes deeply, her little arms above her head as she sleeps.

“We were doing fine.” When I say nothing, she adds, “You don’t always have to save the day.”

“I merely wanted to come home and see my wife and daughter.”

“You have a hero complex,” she mumbles, shifting on the couch. She hates how easily I can calm Sailor.

I lift a brow, watching Sailor sleep. Russet drives herself mad, trying to do everything. Part of me thinks it’s guilt. She couldn’t be there for Daisy, so she tries to make up for it with Sailor. Another part of me knows it’s all the love she feels for this small, precious thing that urges her to try to do everything herself.

I love my wife. She’s terrible at asking for help, though.

She sits up on the couch and holds her hands out for Sailor.

I carefully stand up, cradling the baby.

Russet’s eyes follow me. “Where are you going?”

“To put her to bed. And then I’m going to help you wash out the puke in your hair.”

She frowns, touching the ends of her locks.

I transfer Sailor into her bassinet, double-checking the baby monitor, before I head back through the living room.

It’s empty and I find Russet in our shower, already naked despite my own plans to strip her down myself.

I grab the bottle of shampoo in her hands. “I’ll do that.”

“I’m not that tired.”

I ignore her, my fingers curling into her scalp. She tilts her head back, her shoulders softening.

“Do you think our daughter hates me?”

“Have you gone insane?”

Russ is quiet. “She’s always crying.”

“She’s a baby.”

My wife pouts. “She never cries for you.”

I move her body, making sure water washes out the soap suds. “You’re a good mother, Russet.”

She frowns automatically at my use of her full name, but a thoughtfulness lingers on her face.

Placing my finger under her chin, I lift her head, meeting her eyes. “I love you.”

“But I make our baby cry.”