“We agreed we’d wait.” Her tone was light and neutral.

“And we agreed to really talk to each other.”

Her mouth tightened and she nodded. “Right. You’re right. Yes, I was disappointed when you said you weren’t ready, that your job was still too much. And that’s okay. I’ve realized that your company is your priority and that’s okay. I love you. I love my life with you.”

“It won’t be forever—”

“Aiden.” Sadness leaked into her small smile. “I don’t want to raise a kid who wonders why a parent is never around, like my brothers and I did. You don’t want that either, and it’s okay.” She moved closer to me and put her hands on my shoulders. “You wouldn’t forgive yourself if you made your kids feel like they weren’t enough. We have nieces and nephews and we’re only going to get more. It’s okay. I’m okay with it.”

Dreams change sometimes.

I wasn’t okay with it. She loved her dad, but she was constantly left wanting more. Then she dealt with her guilt for what paltry attention he gave her when her brothers were lucky to get a birthday card. I’d spent too many years missing Mama and wishing Dad were around more. It was why I’d wanted to wait to have kids of my own. For the reasons Kate had said.

But later had turned into years. What did I expect another “later” would do? What happened when Dad retired? If I took over as CEO, my time would be in even shorter supply.

That was my future. That was what was expected of me.

And my wife was willing to give up something as significant as kids to stay with me, and to save our hypothetical kids from experiencing what we had.

Was that what I wanted our future to be? If it wasn’t, what was I prepared to do about it?

“I need to run back to work. Just for a little bit.”

Disappointment flickered in her eyes.

“I’ll be home in an hour. I promise.”

She nodded and I rushed out the door. The next few calls I made would be some of the most important of my life.

Kate

Can you come to the office as soon as you’re done with work?

Aiden had been quiet all weekend since the tournament. He’d worked at the home office all day yesterday, and he’d been a driven man. I hadn’t thought he could level up after the last month, but there he was, growling into his phone and pacing the home office. He hadn’t even worked out.

Would I find out what was up? Pulling into a parking spot at King Oil headquarters, my gaze caught on a familiar pickup. Was Dawson here too?