@thinkitsforever | Declan & Jenna: Things We Shouldn't Say
Declan had never felt this tired. It wasn't the kind of tired that disappeared after a good night's sleep. It was the kind that settled into every muscle in his body, leaving him feeling heavy before the day had even begun. The kind that seeped into his bones... into his soul.
He loved this life. He loved his wife. He loved their newborn daughter with every part of himself. But loving them didn't make him any less exhausted.
Between running a business full time and spending most nights pacing the nursery with Merritt asleep against his shoulder, there wasn't much left of him by morning. Jenna was just as exhausted. They both were.
Somewhere between diaper changes, late-night feedings, and trying to remember the last time either of them had eaten a meal while it was still hot, they'd stopped being husband and wife for a little while.
It seemed like lately all they did was snap at each other. Because they were tired. Declan knew something needed to give. So he'd made a plan.
He'd called his mother, who had happily agreed to spend the evening with her granddaughter. Then he'd made reservations at Delmonico's. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere neither of them would have to think about bottles, laundry, or whose turn it was to get up if Merritt started crying.
He hadn't asked Jenna first. Not because he wanted to make the decision for her. But because he honestly believed he was helping. He wanted to surprise her. Maybe, for a few hours, they could simply be Declan and Jenna again.
Making his way upstairs, he paused in the bedroom doorway before offering Jenna a tired smile. "Hey."
"I called my mom. She's gonna watch Merritt tonight." He slipped swipe his hands into his pockets. "I made us reservations at Delmonico's. Figured we could use a night to ourselves."