“Big enough,” Christos said. “Would you like to join us, Ava?”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
“Good. We’ll get out of your hair and wait for you downstairs.”
Theo gave her a sloppy kiss and a hug and ran out the door. Christos paused in the doorway.
“Are you sure about this? Taking a day off work?”
“You said something last night that made sense.”
“Only one thing?” she asked. Actually she was surprised anything she’d said made sense. She’d been flying blind, driven by emotion, and that never boded well for making sense.
“Well, the not-sleeping-together thing is insane.”
She flushed. “Depends on your point of view.”
“I’m going to change yours on that topic. But I was referring to when you said that you couldn’t build a relationship by yourself.”
“I’m glad you were listening,” she said.
He put his coffee mug down on the dresser and walked back to the bed. He sat down next to her, his lean hip pressing against her body.
“I always listen,” he said.
“I hope so,” she said. She’d pinned her hopes for a happy future on the fact that one day he’d really hear her say that she hadn’t betrayed him and believe her.
He traced his finger along the line of the sheet where she had it clutched to her chest. “What are you sleeping in?”
She shook her head. “I think we’ll leave that to your imagination.”
He fingered the cap sleeve of her shirt. “I think we shouldn’t. I’m picturing you naked.”
“Clearly I’m not.”
“Pity.”
“Sometimes Theo gets scared at night and sleeps with me.”
He ran his finger down the edge of the scoop neck of her pajama top. “What scares him?”
She struggled to keep focused on the conversation and not the feel of his finger moving over her skin. “Different things. He can’t always recall.”
“Do you always soothe him?”
“Yes. We pray and I sing to him.”
“That’s one of the things I admire about you,” he said.
“What?”
“The way you mother Theo. You’re very good with him.”
When he’d first been born, she’d been surprised at how much she loved her son. Having him had added a dimension to her life that she’d never realized was missing. He gave her someone to love and on whom to pour all the caring she’d hidden away for years.
“He’s easy to love.”
“Yes, he is,” Christos said. He leaned toward her and she lifted herself up to him. “Are you sure about this no-sex rule?”
