All Chapters of The Texas Mutiny Series: Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

I race to the door when I hear the knock. Santos and I have spent a lot of time together lately, but this is the first time we're going to leave the kids behind when we do it. I'm both excited and really, really nervous. This is the beginning of the rest of our lives, and I'm feeling good about it.I open the door and he turns around slowly. Wearing khaki shorts and a red shirt with leather flip flops, he looks just like I remember… breathtaking. My heart beats a little faster and the nerves fade away, leaving me feeling giddy about this new chapter."Mari," he breathes. "You look amazing."I look down at my knee length dress. It's black with red dots and hugs me in the right places. It's a jersey dress, but the strappy black heeled sandals dress it up just enough. I feel pretty."Thank you. I'm getting better at doing my hair and make-up.""It's different?" He looks at me quizzically.My heart sinks. "Oh. Yeah. I'm trying to learn how to do my make-up. I thought that's what you were t

I drop the last of the boxes in the kitchen. At least, I think it's the last of the boxes. There may be more hidden somewhere, but at this point, I'm not asking.Putting my hands on my hips to help regulate my breathing, I look around the room. When Mari said this place was perfect for her and the kids, she wasn't kidding. Just standing here, I can imagine her chopping vegetables on the black and white granite island while looking on as the kids play in the den area. The kids race into the room and jump up and down around me. "Can we play outside, Daddy? Can we, please? Can we go swing?" "Okay, okay, you can go outside," I laugh and try to get to the back door through the gaggle and arms and legs surrounding me. "But be careful with the swings. Don't go too high and watch out that your brother doesn't stand in front of you while you're swinging."The chorus of "Yays" sound as I open the door, and just as quickly as they ran in, they all run out."You think they'll be okay out there?"

Six months later…Dishes. I swear I'm always doing dishes. Only now I'm doing them while looking out my window into our backyard. I watch Santos and the kids kick a soccer ball back and forth. For the umpteenth time, the ball goes right between Theo's legs and I find myself laughing. Looks like our boy didn't get the athletic gene. Lina, however, seems to be a natural.I quickly dry my hands and grab my camera, taking shot after shot of them in their colorful winter coats, eyes bright with excitement, cheeks red with the chill in the air. It's not cold for the rest of the world, but for my kids, February in Houston is chilly.I was worried when we moved in that I would lose my friendship with Marcus. But since we got here about six months ago, the opposite seems to be true. He's here all the time. He says it's because his new neighbors make way more noise in the bedroom than even the people who lived there before us. I don't believe him. I think he just misses us.After our conversati

The sounds of the shower water running wake me out of my sleep. Ever since Theo got his own room and I haven't had to share with him, I've slept so much better. Unfortunately, my 'mom' instincts have also kicked up a notch, which includes my ability to hear what's going on just about anywhere in the house.I guess I should get up and start the day before the kids come racing in here.Quickly brushing my teeth and adjusting my ponytail that made a mess of itself overnight, I head down the hall to the staircase, the smell of coffee guiding me. You have to appreciate a man that gets up early and makes sure coffee is brewing before waking you up.As I pass the hall bathroom, I pause, putting my hand on the door. I can hear the shower running and I know it's because Santos is bathing. I want, more than anything, to join him.Sex has come up in several of our therapy sessions over the last year. It's in integral part of any relationship, but I've been too scared to let myself go. Scared of u

"Mari?" I race into the room and drop down beside her. "Mari, are you okay? Are you hurt?" I look over her frantically, trying to see if she's injured."I can't believe this is happening again," she whispers."What? What's happening again?" She refuses to make eye contact with me, which causes me to panic even more."After everything we went through," she cries. "After everything we've tried to rebuild, it's happening again. I'm so stupid!" she yells and throw my shirt at me.I'm so confused. "What are you talking about? What happened?""This happened!" She grabs the shirt back out of my hands and shows me the bottom of it. It's crusty and stiff. I feel my face heat up."Um, yeah." I rub the back of my neck, embarrassed that this conversation is about to take place. "That's not what it looks like."Her eyes narrow as she glares. "I was married to you for a long time, Santos. I know what your fucking semen looks like." She shoots up off the floor and begins pacing. "Did you go to anoth