I Swear That I Can Hear You In the Wind - A Sequel

Track Two.

"He really left on your anniversary?" Laura, my dad's new wife, questioned as she lifted Noah from his car seat, balancing him on her hip.

"He didn't really have a choice," I said with a shrug. "The touring schedule isn't up to them; its out of their hands. And believe it or not the record execs don't really care about their personal lives." I followed her up the concrete steps and into the house. "It's not the first anniversary he's missed over the last six years. And I'm sure it won't be last." I could hear my voice deflating as I spoke.

"I don't know how you do it, Lyla," Laura responded, setting Noah down on the floor in front of his toys.

"Some days I don't either."

-----—

"Hey baby. How was rehearsal?" I smiled slyly as Vic's face appeared on my phone screen. I could hear the gently hum of the bus engine and the tires rolling across the pavement. He took his hat off, running his fingers through his hair, his head resting against a pillow, his face half-cast in shadow.

"It was hectic, as always," he replied slowly, "but it went well."

I quickly glanced about the baby monitor that sat on the nightstand, thankful to see that Noah was sleeping peacefully. I turned my attention back to Vic and caught a few remnants of frown. His eyes appeared heavy, and it pained me to see him look so down.

"You look tired, Vic," I finally said. He just sighed in response, his hand rubbing at his face.

"How's Lill? Is she still upset?" For a moment I thought I thought I saw tears beginning to well within his brown eyes, but he blinked them away as if they had never been there in the first place.

"You know how she is." The words rolled off my tongue, my voice barely above a whisper. "She'll get over it, babe. She always does. She'll spend a few days being upset and then she'll be begging to call you at all hours of the day. I tried to talk to her, but she wasn't having it. What can I say? She's stubborn - just like her dad."

My comment elicited a small smile from Vic, though his eyes continued to resonate with sadness. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying being with each other - even if we weren't really together. "You know I love you and the kids more than anything, right?" I was startled as his voice broke the comfortable silence, and I cocked my head the right, my brows furrowing with confusion.

"Of course I do Vic. Why would you even question that?"

"It's just that," he paused, biting at his lower lip nervously. "It's just that I feel you and the kids deserve better. You deserve a husband that doesn't miss anniversaries and birthdays. And the kids deserve a father who is around more than three or four months out of the year." A small tear slid down his cheek, and the image caused my chest to ache.

"Vic, listen to me. Never once over these last six years have I questioned whether this was the life I wanted to live. I continue to fall more in love with you everyday. And those kids love you more than anything. Your daughter loves you more than anything." The corners of my turned up slightly, and Vic seemed to relax a little at my words. "We'll make it through, Vic. We always do."