“Can we go to bed?” I whisper. I’m still so exhausted,

I want to stop thinking, just for one moment and forget

any of this, forget everything but what he feels like. I’m

not ready to be free of his arms around me giving me

much-needed serenity. I sniff back the last of my tears and lift my chin to him.

“Together? Same bed?” He’s wary and being gentle. He doesn’t want to presume anything, so I nod and bring my eyes to his in the dim light.

“Don’t do anything more than hold me … I can’t … I just can’t do anything more than that, I don’t even know if we can even do this.”

Even though I know I need this.

I close my eyes and rest against him, trying to calm all the inner protests and voices telling me how pathetic and weak I am.

“We’ll take it every hour at a time, adjust to what you need. Just being with you is enough, neonata, it’s always enough.” He slides up and scoops me into his arms like a child, letting the throw slide from us to the floor almost gracefully.

gently on the bed before moving

underwear and the silk camisole remain then I slide under the sheets. Being back in this room and in this bed with him, makes my heart lift a little, that empty hopelessness moving away just enough to let me breathe. When he hears me sliding into the sheets, he pulls off his clothes too, keeping only his boxers on and he slips in beside me. He waits hesitantly to see if I want his touch, until I tug his hand toward me and he relaxes

but is quietened by my emotions building inside. I can’t bear to do more than this until I can push her out of my head if I ever can. What he did with her, the

to give up the fight just yet but she needs this for herself. She needs a break from the pain and he’s the

million times before. His deep steady breathing calms me completely, the thoughts, aches, and pains,

girl. Mommy’s little

nothing

* * *

bed, my mind taking moments to come to terms with where I am. Fully rested for the first time in days and for a second, I

sound asleep. I take a minute to evaluate how I feel about waking up this way.

Check. Emotions all over the place? Check. Still not further forward

under the massaging jets of water and think of nothing. I don’t regret being here or sharing a bed with him, my heart needs it and I meant it when I said I wanted to come home. This is where I belong, and Sarah is right; the only way I can begin to forgive him is by being here,

mean a part of me has made up my mind to give

him that I wasn’t ready to end things. I wasn’t ready to live a Jake-less life, but it doesn’t mean I can’t walk away. I need to see how this goes; see if I can move on and really get back

can’t then I’ll

covers strewn messily, but the smell of coffee and food is wafting through the walls. I pull my robe

holding her breath, just waiting to see how things develop. For once I’m glad of the

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