She was preoccupied. Phil could tell that by the time he’d been in the house fifteen minutes. She was busy peeling potatoes for potato soup when he’d finished his shower and rejoined her. He grabbed a knife and sat down at the table next to her.
The way he once had his Becky. Echoes of his past with her would catch him unawares at times. Would sting.
He would always love that woman. And miss her with every breath. But there was a living, breathing woman in front of him with something on her mind right now.
“Care to talk it out?” he asked quietly after he’d peeled a few potatoes. “What’s on your mind?”
She looked up at him. Surprise was on her face. “Rhea Masterson is in basement with the kids.”
“I saw her car.”
“She’s offered me a part-time position. Fifteen to twenty hours a week.”
“Rhea is a good friend. I’ve talked to her some about what she’s wanting to do here in town. Gave her some ideas from what I know about W4HAV.”
Glenna nodded her head. “This charity she talked about did have a lot in common with W4HAV.”
“Twenty hours isn’t much.”
“I want to do it. I need to know I’m helping people.” Serious green eyes just watched him. As if she was almost afraid of what he’d say. “I’m just trying to figure out how to make it work, and figure out childcare for the girls.”
“We’ll figure it out together. Working for me is flexible, honey. I promise that. As for childcare—if I’m here, I’ll keep the girls for you. Or Pete might be willing. They’ll be safe here, I promise. You don’t have to worry about your girls while you’re out there helping. Not for a minute.”
She just stared at him, like she couldn’t believe what he was saying. “They’ve never stayed with a man before. Not even their father, Phil.”
“Then it’s time they started. Unless you want them growing up thinking children are just women’s work? We Tylers don’t believe that for a minute.” He was only half teasing, but he had his suspicions when her eyes got even wider and her mouth trembled. Damn, she was so sweet he wanted to gobble her up. “I’m just teasing. But I mean what I said—the girls are going to be fine here. I want you and the girls to feel like this is your home, too.”
He shocked her—it was obvious on her face—when he covered her small hand with his own much larger, much rougher, hand.
“You don’t have to be afraid here, Glenna. I will never let anything hurt you again.”