“You say ‘we’ so easily. Married life agrees with you.”
Tory remembered her conversation with Slade earlier that evening in the barn. She thought it could, but how was she going to compete with a woman who was dead? She wanted her marriage to work, but she wasn’t sure how to make that happen.
“Have you told him yet?”
“No. Why do you keep bringing it up? I want to forget about that part of my life.”
“If it were that simple, you would have long ago. The very fact you haven’t said anything to Slade about being raped tells me you haven’t dealt with it.” Her sister shut the dishwasher and turned it on. “Do you trust him?”
“If I didn’t trust him, I wouldn’t have married him.”
“Then tell him.”
“I will when the time is right.” Whenever that would be. She almost said something to him earlier in the barn, but the words wouldn’t come out. Her past was as much a barrier to their marriage as his. What a pair they made!
“Do you think the men have gotten the children down yet?”
“In other words, do I think it’s safe for us to come out of the kitchen?”
“Yep. Notice how fast I jumped at the chance to let them take care of the kids tonight? It’s been a long day.”
“Tell me about it. And tomorrow will be longer with setting up for the carnival on top of everything else.” Tory headed for the living room. “Let’s join Mom and Dad. I’m sure Slade and Brad have everything under control.”
“I can tell you haven’t been a mother for long or you wouldn’t have said that.”
When Tory entered the living room, her mother was cradled against her father’s side on the couch, her eyes drifting closed. “Is she okay, Dad?”
He put his forefinger up to his lips, a plea in his eyes. “You two through with cleaning up?”
“Yep, and we got the easier of the two chores,” Judy said as she settled into a chair across from the couch.
“Tsk, tsk. Putting children down to bed isn’t a chore.” The teasing light in their father’s eyes dimmed when their mother murmured something and nestled closer to him.
“Dad?” Tory noticed the dark circles under her mother’s eyes. It looked as if she wasn’t sleeping well, but since she’d gotten here early this afternoon, that was about all she’d done.
Eleanor’s head sagged even more, her chest rising and falling slowly as she sank into sleep. Tory’s dad watched her for a few minutes before answering, “She hasn’t been feeling well for the past couple of months. Tires easily. She goes to the doctor again next week when we get back. I’m afraid it’s her heart.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Tory asked. “I knew she wasn’t feeling well at the wedding, but I didn’t know it had been going on for so long.”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Where my family is concerned, I don’t want to be kept in the dark.”
Her father’s gaze drilled into her. “The same goes for you. Both your mother and I have wondered about this sudden marriage. We get a call one day inviting us to your wedding with no warning that you were even dating someone.”
“I guess we all have our secrets.”
“That’s not what families do.”
Her father pinned her with a probing look as though he could reach into her mind and see all her doubts about a good man marrying someone who might not be able to give him what he deserved. She started to tell her father the reasons behind her marrying Slade, but taking a look at her mother firmed her determination to keep quiet. He had enough to worry about without adding to his problems. All his married life he’d had a deep love for his wife. He wouldn’t understand why she’d married Slade without that same kind of deep love.
The sound of the front door opening and closing alerted Tory to the men’s return. She focused on the entrance, hoping her father didn’t pursue the conversation, especially with Slade in the room.
When he and Brad entered, Tory laughed. “You two look like you wrestled a bear.”
While tucking in his shirt, Slade exchanged a glance with Brad. “Three children who didn’t want to go to bed are worse than a hungry bear.” He ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
“Next time we’ll let you ladies put the little darlings down while Slade and I clean up the kitchen.”
“What took you all so long?” Judy asked, trying to contain her laughter behind her hand.
“First, I had to tell a story, then Slade. Then they wanted us to act our stories out. I’m exhausted.” Brad plopped down onto the couch next to his father-in-law.
“If you think you’re exhausted now, wait until the carnival.” Tory shifted so that Slade could sit on the footrest to the chair she was using.
“So it doesn’t look like there’s any rest and relaxation with this vacation.” Brad took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow.
“Who said vacations were for resting and relaxing?” Tory’s father gently shook her mother awake.
“Obviously no one who knows the Alexander family,” Brad grumbled, assisting his mother-in-law in standing.
“We’re going to bed. It has been a long day for us.” Her father cradled her mother against him and walked toward the hall.
“That’s our cue to turn in, too.” Judy stood, offering her hand to Brad.
In under two minutes the living room was cleared except for Tory and Slade. Her gaze caught his, then dropped to her lap. The only place for him to sleep was on the living room couch or in her bedroom. Tomorrow morning she didn’t want to explain to her family why Slade had slept on the couch. And yet, could she share a bed with him—her husband?
“I guess we should go to bed, too,” she murmured, twisting her hands together.
Slade covered them. “Tory, nothing will happen
