Frayed Silk(69)

“What’s so good about the silly thing speaking three different languages when you can’t even understand them anyway?” Greta asks from the other side of Sophie.

Sophie and Charlie just stare down at their plates, obviously having no answer for that.

My mom laughs. “Kids. Keeping it real since the dawn of time.”





Tonight’s football game plays on the TV in our bedroom. Leo’s fingers weave through my hair as my head rests on his stomach while I read my book. To say I’m tired would be an understatement, but I’m content to stay awake a while longer. After everyone left this afternoon, Leo watched a movie with the kids in the living room while I cleaned up the last of the dishes and put the leftover food away.

Having everyone over today felt good. To have that sense of normalcy back in our lives without that sour cloud of trepidation hanging over my head. Without wondering if Leo would snub me in front of everyone, or say something—or not enough—that would send curious glances my way.

No, it felt like it used to. How it always should have been and I’m forever grateful that those days seem to be behind us.

Turning the page, I start reading the first sentence of a new chapter when Leo says something that rips me from my head.

“Will you come with me?”

“Um, where?” Surely, we’re not going anywhere now. A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand says it’s almost ten thirty at night.

“If I decide to talk to someone. Will you come with me?” he asks distractedly. As if he’s been thinking about it but doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

Closing my book, I put it on the other side of the bed and look up at him. His eyes move from the TV to me, and I see it again. That carefully veiled vulnerability he keeps hidden from the world. Shifting to move onto my hands and knees, I climb up his body and press my forehead to his. He blinks, still waiting for me to answer.

“You already know the answer to that,” I tell him. He exhales, and I inhale it, my lungs constricting as I wonder what I’d ever do without this. Without him. “I’d go with you anywhere,” I whisper.

His arm wraps around my waist, flattening my body against his as he holds me to him and uses the other hand to brush my hair out of my face. “Thank you,” he says to my mouth before crushing his lips to mine.





The next morning, I’m preparing a picnic lunch while Greta entertains us with a wonderful rendition of a Katy Perry song. Okay, I’m totally lying. It’s so fucking terrible that I feel as though my ears are about to tear themselves from my head, grow legs, and run away any second now. But I’d never tell her that.

I glance over at Leo who’s sitting at the island, trying to check his email while he finishes his coffee. He smiles at Greta, who’s standing by the fridge, waving her arms around as she dances. But it’s definitely more of a wince. Sticking a finger in his ear, he plucks it out and tries to discreetly inspect it for what I’m guessing is blood. Charlie falls into Leo’s side with a loud belly laugh. Then finally, Greta finishes with a dramatic bow. My ears are still ringing as she looks around at us, and as usual, Leo claps. She smiles brightly as Leo gets up and brings his mug over to the sink, whispering into my ear from behind. “I’m still wishing that you didn’t pass on your awful singing skills to her.”

I spin around, slapping him with the dish towel as he chuckles and grabs it, using it to pull me into his body and place a kiss on my head. He releases the towel, turning back to the kids. “All right, ready?”

It’s an unusually warm day for October, but we know it’ll probably be one of the last, so we’ve decided to spend a couple of hours down at the bay and enjoy it.

Leo rounds the kids up, grabbing some towels as I put the last of the snacks into the cooler bag and then follow them out to the garage. He opens the trunk of my car, taking the bag from me and putting it in with the towels before heading to the driver’s side. I get in, tugging my seat belt on as Leo reverses out and closes the garage.

“Can we swim?” Charlie asks when we’re almost there. We could walk really. It’s only a few streets away.

“If the water isn’t freezing,” I tell him.

They both cheer and stare eagerly out the window as we drive into the gravel parking lot. Leo parks, jumping out and staring down at the water. The kids and I get out, and I move to the trunk to grab our stuff.

“Busy?” I ask Leo when he comes around to grab the bags from me.

“Nope. Doesn’t look like many other people are here.”

“Won’t take them long with a day like this.” I close the trunk, and Leo locks the car as the kids run down to the sand.

We sit down, watching the kids toe the water before leaping back with a shriek when they realize how cold it is.

“Come here,” Leo says, grabbing my hand and patting between his spread legs. Smiling, I take a seat between them and relish in the warmth of his arms as they wrap around me.

The breeze blows some hair into my face, and I push it back behind my ear. Leo’s lips land on the now bare skin of my neck not even a second later as we watch the kids, who start digging and building things in the sand. “I’ve missed this,” he says to my skin.

“Me too.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “I’m so sorry. I was such an asshole. You guys didn’t deserve it.”