"Hi," I whisper.
"Hi." His voice is rough with sleep, and it does things to me. "I was starting to think I dreamed this."
"Not a dream."
He reaches out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "How do you feel?"
"Really good." I shift closer, resting my head on his chest. His heart beats steady under my ear. "You?"
"Like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
We lie there in comfortable silence, just breathing together. His hand traces lazy patterns on my back, and I let myself have this moment of perfect peace.
Then I hear it. Small footsteps padding down the hallway.
"Mama?"
I bolt upright. "Elena."
Lupo is already moving, grabbing his pants from the floor. I throw on my robe just as the doorknob tries to turn.
“Mama? The door is locked.”
I rush to the door and open it. Elena steps inside, clutching her rabbit. She stops short when she sees both of us.
"Lupo's here," she observes.
"Yes." I try to keep my voice calm. "He stayed over last night."
"In the house?"
"Yes, baby."
She processes this and then her face breaks into a huge smile. "Does that mean he's staying forever?"
Lupo and I exchange a look. Forever. Such a simple word. Such an impossible promise.
"We'll see," I say carefully. "But for now, yes, Lupo might stay in the house more."
"Yay!" She launches herself at the bed, jumping beside Lupo. "Can you make breakfast? You make better eggs than Mama."
"Hey," I protest, but I'm smiling. “I thought I made the best eggs.”
"It's true," Elena says matter-of-factly. "Mama burns them."
Lupo laughs, and the sound warms me from the inside. "Okay, sweetheart,” he says. “I'll make breakfast. But you have to help."
"I can crack eggs!" she squeals.
"Then you're hired."
He carries her out of the room, and I take a moment to just breathe. This is real. He's here, in my house, making breakfast with my daughter like he belongs here.
Like we're a family.
I get dressed quickly and join them in the kitchen. Elena is standing on a chair at the counter, carefully cracking eggs into a bowl while Lupo supervises. He's shirtless still, and I can see thefresh bandage I applied last night. I’m surprised we didn’t rip it off.
"Careful," he's saying. "Don't get the egg shells in there."
