Then James buried his face sleepily into her hair and muttered—
“Mornin’, wife.”
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
“Not yet,” she murmured.
“Soon,” he promised in a raspy voice. He sounded entirely too pleased with himself.
Asha turned slightly in his arms and blinked at him.
“You stayed.”
“Course I did. Were you expecting someone else?” he asked half seriously.
Then his expression changed.
“Actually…” He rubbed his jaw awkwardly. “That’s something I needed t’tell yer.”
She frowned slightly.
James stared at the ceiling a second before speaking.
“When I was away… I wasn’t avoidin’ you.”
Asha said nothing.
“My grandfather left me some land years ago.” He shrugged. “Worth bugger all back then. Nobody wanted it.”
“And?”
“The government wants it now.” His mouth twitched faintly. “Motorway expansion.”
Asha blinked.
“Oh.”
“Aye.” He looked almost dazed himself saying it aloud. “Sold most of it. Kept a couple acres.”
Realisation slowly dawned across her face.
James looked at her then, blue eyes oddly vulnerable.
“We’ve got enough money now t’not worry.”
Asha stared at him.
“I was sorting paperwork all week,” he muttered. “I wanted it done proper before I said anything. The mines are not good for me lungs.”
James kissed her forehead abruptly and shoved himself out of bed.
“Right. I’ll get t’boy sorted for school. You will have a lie in. I'll be back soon.”
She watched in stunned silence as he strode into the other room barking cheerful orders while Tanay grumbled sleepily.
Asha eventually rose to pack lunch while Tanay, fiercely independent, packed his homework book himself and inhaled toast at the table. The three of them ate breakfast together. James and Asha could not keep their eyes off each other. So much had changed overnight.
“We’re walkin’ t’school.”
