The One She Needed. **complete**

Chapter 1 2014

Kelsie Bruner sat across from her cousin, Sarah, trying not to look irritated.

"I never said he was a bad husband!" Kelsie said defensively as she picked at her muffin.

Saturday morning breakfast was usually the most relaxing part of her week, but today Kelsie made the mistake of mentioning her marriage concerns.

"He's a great husband and a better dad! In 20 years the guy has never let me down. Not once!" Kelsie said.

"Then why are we discussing you being afraid he'll leave?" It was clear that twice divorced Sarah was having a hard time being patient with her cousin. As far as she could tell, Kelsie was living the fairy tale. She had literally married her best friend. They married straight out of high school, had 3 great kids and seemed to be living the American dream.

Kelsie sighed, "it's hard to explain, but I feel.....well....invisible. It's like I sit next to him at night and think, 'Would he really notice if I wasn't here?' Sometimes I feel like he wouldn't be upset if I left, but he'll never leave because it's less of a hassle to stay."

"I guess that would suck" Sarah said trying to be understanding, "but you're not gonna leave right? You wouldn't leave him?"

"God no! " Kelsie almost shouted "I can barely breath just from the thought that he might leave! That's what terrifies me! I'm pushing middle age, I should be secure and settled, but really I'm still that scared 17 year old girl waiting for him to change his mind."

Sarah looked sad, "that I understand. You need to have more faith though Kels, in you and in him. Your marriage is solid. Don't get insecure when you don't even have a reason."

Kelsie smiled feeling a bit better. "That's why I'm glad I have you Sarah. You always know how to make me feel better! I have to get Kit to soccer! I'll see you next week!"

"See ya then Kid" Sarah said with a grin. "Be good to that sweet hubby of yours. He's a good guy!"

Kelsie rolled her eyes as she climbed into her car. She knew Scott was a good guy. Hell she'd married him hadn't she? She just wished that Scott would tell her she was a good girl once in a while. They had gotten married so young. Heck Kelsie wasn't even 19.

Scott never doubted that he was loved. Kelsie had been hopelessly devoted forever and he knew it. Kelsie just couldn't shake the fear that Scott thought he could do better. At 38 Kelsie knew she didn't look bad. She had managed to get her weight back to exactly where it had been when she married (no small feat for a mother of 3). Her face had held up OK and the smile that seemed to be her best feature was still as bright as ever.

Scott didn't notice though. In fact, she didn't think he'd noticed the weight loss at all. She tried to talk to him about it, but maybe she had used the wrong words. She was trying so hard to make him see that she needed a little encouragement, a little sweet talk, anything really.

What Kelsie said was, "I usually feel like I'm incredibly lucky to have you and you know that I'm incredibly lucky to have you. I would like to think that you're lucky to have me."

Scott looked genuinely confused and said, "where the hell is this coming from? I told you I would always take care of you and I do. I have for twenty years! I never used that sappy sweet talk when I was a kid. You knew going in I wasn't that guy, so why would you expect it now?"

For the most part Scott thought Kelsie was losing her mind. She had to admit,  he might be right, but as she pulled into the driveway for another Saturday of being just a mom, she couldn't help wondering how she ended up so completely hung up on a guy who could be so cold.

Scott was her best friend, she knew that, but he was right. He never had been Mr Romance. Maybe she needed to just be happy with what she had.

They had three amazing kids, Elizabeth (Lilly) was 16. She was serious and hard working. She didn't bother with boys and had no interest in the party scene. The kid every parent wished they had.

Then there was Katherine (Kit) she was 11 and a bundle of energy! The family tomboy, she'd rather climb trees than play dolls and she lived for soccer. Kit had a gift for finding the good in everyone. You couldn't help loving her.

The family surprise was Issabella. The baby. Bella was 6 and had already selected her future husband. She made Scott nervous! She was a beautiful little girl inside and out who could light up a room with her smile.

Scott was a devoted father. Even with all the hours he had to put in at work the girls knew their Daddy would walk through fire for them. He found time to spend with each girl and was very close to them all. Considering that, Kelsie wasn't even sure how she thought Scott was supposed to have the time or energy to gush over a spoiled wife.

With a promise to herself to have a better attitude Kelsie loaded her two youngest up for a day at the soccer fields. Poor Scott would be spending his day at an art competition with Lilly . Tag team parenting had become pretty common lately with all the girls having different interest. Kelsie decided she should just be glad she had a husband who helped her and pushed down that nagging part of her that missed her husband! Who had time for that anyway? She had a game to get to!