Jonny sniffed Charlie’s head again. “After we finish this conversation you’re getting in the shower and you’re washing your hair.”
Charlie screwed up his face.
“And you don’t need to feel bad. Your mum would want you to be happy more than anything else. She was never a selfish person who would want you to keep to yourself and not love anyone else, Charlie. That wasn’t her. And you never need to think that you’re comparing her and Rayah, they’re both different.”
“They both made you smile. I don’t remember mum loads, but you were always happy and you smiled a lot. Like you do with Rayah. Did mum and Rayah know each other?”
Jonny had a moment every day when he was stunned by his eldest; today he was having several.
“They did but not well. Rayah had just come back to teach here before Sadie was born. They would’ve gotten along if they’d known each other better.”
Charlie was cuddled into him like he hadn’t done for years.
“What else is worrying you?”
“I feel bad.”
“Why? Because I bet you don’t need to.”
Charlie shrugged. “Because I’m really happy that Rayah’s your serious girlfriend and she’ll be round more because I would like someone to be like a mum and I feel bad because you try really hard to be our mum as well as our dad…” Charlie started to wipe his eyes.
Jonny laughed quietly, giving him a squeeze. “You make me proud. I couldn’t be any prouder of you. Well, if you had more regular showers I could.”
He knew the shakes he could feel were laughter rather than tears. He shoved Charlie out of his lap, knowing that any more in the way of feelings and Charlie would end up being far too insular for the rest of the day. “Get in the bathroom.”
There was a mutter than sounded like a moan. “Dad.”
Ominous.
“What is it?”
“We’ll need to knock on your bedroom door, won’t we?”
“Yes.” And the bedroom door would have a heavy door stop behind it to slow down any entry.
“Can we not talk any more about it?”
“Absolutely.”
Charlie scarpered.
“This feels slightly wrong.”Rayah was fully dressed in a pair of silky pyjamas that Jonny had definitely developed a thing for.
They were lying in his bed, the rest of the house fast, fast asleep. He had changed the sheets, vacuumed, dusted and bought new towels which he’d even thought to wash. Rayah had managed to spend most of the evening wrapped up on the sofa watching movies with everyone, Sadie snuggled under the blanket with her, while she used his chest as a head rest. Harry had taken over the comfy chair and Charlie had sat on the floor in front of them, anxiously bringing Rayah drinks when he thought she wanted one.
“They’re fine with you being in my room.” Jonny moved over to her and slid a hand up her pyjama top. She’d already informed him that there was no reason to treat her like she was made of spun glass as long as she didn’t knock her ankle and then she’d put her request in for two orgasms before she fell asleep. Two very silent orgasms.
“I know. I just… what if they walk in?”
“They won’t. They generally do what they’ve been told and if they’ve forgotten the doorstop will slow them down. And they sleep through the night.” He cupped her breast and felt her stretch next to him, her body hinting that she’d like him to carry on.
“I feel like a proper grown up.” She started to giggle, sounding exactly like she’d done when she was seventeen.
He chuckled, removing his hand and undoing the pyjama top. “I want to see your tits, Ray. Take it off.”
“I’m bruised.” Her voice turned quiet.
“Then let me kiss it better. I promise I’ll be careful.”
