Page 148 of The Image of You

“How long have you been asleep?”

I glanced at my watch. “Only about an hour.”

She rubbed Teddy’s back in long, tender strokes. “Did he eat?”

“Some. He fell asleep pretty fast. Took me out with him too.” I grinned.

“Okay, I’ll feed him when he wakes up.”

“How was the afternoon?”

“Good. We got a lot of interest.”

“Of course you did. You and Edwina worked hard on the luncheon.” I paused but had to ask, “Was Sarah there?”

A look of pain passed through her eyes, but she simply shook her head. Anger still simmered in my chest every time I thought of that woman. She hadn’t been as blind to Ronald as we thought she was, and when the scandal broke, she distanced herself immediately, portraying herself as the victim. He ended up in jail, dying not long after of a massive heart attack. Sarah was like a phoenix and somehow rose from the ashes, marrying yet another wealthy man and carrying on with life. She never once attempted to reconcile with Ally.

Edwina more than made up as a mother figure for her, and I thanked God every day for the blessing of her in our life. She loved Ally like the daughter she never had, and it was returned fully by my wife.

Ally and Sarah did, on occasion, see each other in public. Polite nods were all that passed between them before Ally would turn and walk away, her head held high. Still, I knew it hurt her. It would always hurt her.

I cupped her cheek, stroking the silky skin. She leaned into my caress, our gazes locked as I silently showed her I understood.

She stood, lifting Teddy off my chest, snuggling him close. I missed his warmth immediately and sat up, pulling her down beside me and wrapping them in my arms. He gurgled and shifted but still didn’t wake up.

“He sleeps so hard—just like you.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, he does. He’s safe and content, and he knows it.”

She looked up at me, her eyes brilliant in the late afternoon light. “We’re both safe and content. Because of you.”

“Works both ways, Ally.”

She snuggled closer. I brushed my lips over her head. “I was thinking…”

She looked up, already smiling, ready for whatever I had to say. “Yeah?”

“The villa is open next month in Fiji. I checked yesterday. Sean wants a few new pictures. You up for a trip, my girl?”

Excitement lit up her face. She loved it in Fiji. All the stress fell away, and we existed in a world of water and sand, sunshine, and warmth.

“I talked to Peter. He and Edwina would love to go as well. If we stay long enough, maybe Emma, Alan, and Anna could come down for a visit?”

“I’d love that,” she breathed out.

“I’ll take care of it.”

She pressed her soft lips to my cheek. “Adam…”

“What?”

She drew in a deep breath. “I want something.”

“It’s yours.”

“It’s rather big.”

I grinned in delight. She never asked for anything. Ever. If there was something she wanted, I would get it for her.