"It's okay. I probably napped too much during the day. My sleep's been lighter lately," Raegan replied softly.

Then, she inquired, "Did you spend time with Jarrod tonight?"

"Yes, I did spend time with him," Mitchel replied. He had informed Raegan about his plans to meet Jarrod at the bar beforehand.

Raegan's expression soured. “Is he showing any signs of calming down?"

“I attempted to reason with him. If he remains obstinate, there's little more I can do," Mitchel replied.

“He's insufferable," Raegan grumbled. “Nicole's already going through a rough patch. Why does he insist on exacerbating her troubles?"

Raegan's frustration stemmed from her deep concern for her best friend. Over the years, it had consistently been Jarrod who added complexity to Nicole's life, disrupting Nicole's peace.

"I hope he comes to his senses." Mitchel sighed. The issue was Jarrod's towering pride. Once wounded, he refused to yield even an inch. Both Jarrod and Nicole were entrenched in their stubbornness, one refusing to glance backward while the other was steadfastly unwilling to compromise. They were destined to drift apart indefinitely.

“He's your friend. They say birds of a feather flock together. If you two get along, there must be some common ground," Raegan remarked, pouting.

Mitchel was caught off guard. He hadn't anticipated the conversation about Nicole and Jarrod to shift the focus onto himself.

"Honey, please. Remember, I pleaded for you to return to me," Mitchel said, resorting to playing the sympathy card. He understood that reasoning with his wife was futile. It often resulted in either conceding the argument or inadvertently hurting her feelings. So, he opted for the quickest exit strategy by playing the role of the pitiable one and admitting fault.

Reflecting on Mitchel's words, Raegan acknowledged that he had indeed made considerable efforts for their relationship. Despite his initial shortcomings, his persistent attempts to reconcile had been genuinely heartfelt.

"Smart move," Raegan teased.

Seeing Raegan's cheerful mood, Mitchel drew her close and kissed her hair.

Raegan's cheeks turned pink. "Stop it... Our girl's right here."

Mitchel's voice, deep and soothing, reassured her, “I know. I just want to hold you."

As their daughter grew older, they made it a point to keep their affectionate displays from her.

Whenever their daughter insisted on sleeping in their bed, Mitchel put up with any discomfort. He steadfastly avoided any intimate actions while their child was in the room.

Raegan, feeling the security of his hold and knowing his intentions were pure, relaxed and rested her head on his arm. Overcome by drowsiness, she began to drift off to sleep. Mitchel kissed her forehead gently and whispered, “Raegan, I'm so happy to have you and our kids by my side."

Half asleep, Raegan softly said, "We'll always be together."