Chapter 43
"I've been thinking about something," Paul announced when they were in bed that night.
"Oh, boy," Sandy replied. "Do I really want to know what this is about?"
"Come on; I'm trying to be serious here," he whined a little. "Hear me out."
"All right. What's on your mind?"
"Well, now that we're married, I was thinking I'm earning enough to take care of all of us, especially now that you're having a baby."
Sandy gave him an incredulous look. "Are you saying I should quit my job? Paul, I can't leech off of you like that."
"It's not 'leeching', San. What's mine is yours. You don't need to work as hard as you have been anymore. Ty should have his mom here when he comes home from school, especially when I'm on the road. And you're going to have to take some kind of leave anyway after the baby is born."
"I worked when I was having Tyler. I'm used to earning my own way; I'm not sure if I can adjust to the stay at home mom thing. And who's to say something won't happen to you in the meantime? You're in a risky business, as you already know."
"I know. But I still get downsides and a chunk from the merchandise sales."
"And there's your travel expenses. Paul, you're earning a respectable living, yes, but we aren't millionaires."
He sighed. "I don't want the baby being raised by strangers."
"Is that what you're concerned about?" Sandy wondered. "Look, why don't we have a little compromise? I will talk to Mary Ellen when I go back next week and see if she can put me on part time status. Maybe two, three days a week. Not only will I be home with the kids more when the baby comes, but also have some sort of income coming in for the 'just in case' moments. Even with that and your downsides, we should be all right."
He brightened. "You'd do that?"
"Of course. I think it will make a nice compromise and everyone wins."
"I guess two or three days a week won't hurt."
Sandy smiled. "Thanks for seeing it my way. It's just that I'm not exactly used to being a housewife or one of those 'ladies who lunch' or whatever they're called these days."
"Okay," he nodded. "I do want to see you happy, but at the same time, don't overextend yourself."
"Oh, you're a fine one to tell me not to do that!" she laughed. "You're the epitome of overextending yourself! That's how you messed up your foot a second time!"
"Hey, you promised you wouldn't nag about that," he pouted.
"I'm not," she shook her head. "But I'm still worried you'll do permanent damage if you don't stay off of that thing once in awhile."
"I'm not wrestling," he grinned. "How's that for a compromise?"
"Smartypants," she laughed, giving him a playful smack. It was good to be home and to have someone to share her life with again. Sandy hadn't realized until this moment that she had missed such things the last seven years.