“I need to get through this so I can go back to work. I really need to.” I did. I wanted to. Normality…like this. No more crap.
“You do.”
“I am going to change things. Dial things up the right way.”
“No stress. You can’t do everything all at once. A little at a time, babygirl.”
I sniffled out a resigned giggle. Him and his words.
“I’ll pay my way. I’m not going to scrounge off you.”
“I make enough to look after all of us.”
“Breadwinner.”
“No, Mary was the breadwinner. I just paid the bills.”
Here we were again. I honestly didn’t mind. This was the way things were.
“Peter. My master’s thesis was on personal investment for secure growth. It was basically my personal plan to make my income work for me so I could retire at forty. I’m well on track. I can pay for myself. I’ve never ever touched any of my bonuses, and I’ve had a lot of bonuses. They are all very securely invested and will provide for a very peaceful retirement.”
“I will have to work until I’m sixty-five,” he declared. “Pensions are fickle.”
“They are, but by then you and I will be taking two cruises a year, and we will read a lot of books.”
“Idiot,” he whispered. But he smiled.
“The boys will be retiring at forty too, then? Mary left everything to them. She invested too. Made sure they would have enough to buy somewhere to live and a backup plan. She hated the idea of them becoming some kind of nepo babies. Banned any kind of drama school and kept them in public schools.”
“Really? They would have been great at drama.”
“No. I think this is the end of our family’s involvement in the entertainment industry. Final chapter. Done.”
I had to laugh. But yes. I agreed. And now he had that look on his face again. He loved me. How I had ever doubted it was beyond me because he might as well have spelled it out on a neon banner.
“I need to go back to work too.” He grimaced.
“You’ll be fine.”
“No. And the whole thing, knowing what is out there, doesn’t make it any easier. Everyone will have watched me being silly on TV.”
“It’s a small web-based show,” I said in an overly posh voice. “Nobody will have watched it.”
He grinned, yes. Because lies. All lies.
The teacup was placed in front of me as he wrapped his arm around my neck. Kissed me gently on the cheek.
“And before the boys turn up? I just want to say that I loved sleeping with you. Like we did.”
“Naked.” I smiled.
“Yeah. It was really…comforting. Sex will come, when we’re ready for it. There is no rush. It’s…”
“Embarrassing.”
“No, it’s not. We know what we’re doing. Just let it happen when it happens. And if that takes time? Sleeping naked was perfect. I loved it.”
His scent was just everything. Comfort and confidence, once again bubbling in my veins.
