Page 112 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

ChapterForty-Two

What was leftof November was taken up with healing the sick. Emi went home to the house in Antrim Road and spent her fifth birthday in bed with only the nanny for company. Owen went to the flat in Brighton. George promoted Victor’s assistant, hired two new journalists to cover Owen’s work, and told Lexie to keep Owen at home until he fully recovered.

‘Should you be up?’ Lexie said, appearing in the flat for the umpteenth time that morning. She’d left Owen in bed, but bit by bit, he’d gradually moved out of the bedroom and into the sitting room. Each trip up from her studio found him in the various stages of transition from bedridden to frail but recovering invalid. Now she’d found him fully clothed and sitting at her desk with his laptop open.

‘I’m sick of being sick,’ he said with a guilty look on his face, like a kid caught stealing sweets.

‘As long as you don’t overdo things, you’ve been very ill.’

‘I was going to bring you down a coffee when I finished this.’

‘That’s all right, I’ll make it.’ Lexie headed for the kitchen, calling back, ‘What is it you’re finishing?’

‘Sending the manuscript.’

She skidded to a halt. ‘You’re sending your book out?’

‘I am. I have.’ Owen stood, and Lexie noted how cautiously he moved. He’d never admit it, but Owen was still not fully recovered. That virus had taken a toll. No wonder it had almost killed his daughter. ‘And,’ Owen continued as he reached Lexie and wrapped his arms around her. ‘I’ve spoken to Martin. He says it’s been agreed. We can start having Emi for one long weekend a month. Is that all right with you?’

‘All right?’ Lexie squeaked, her face splitting into a wide grin. ‘It’s more than all right. It’s wonderful. I must finish the decorating in the spare room.’

‘I’ll help.’

‘No, you won’t. You’re still recovering.’

‘I’m strong enough to wield a paintbrush.’ As if his body wanted to prove him a liar, he leaned against Lexie for a moment before adding, ‘I love the pelican wallpaper, by the way. Where did you find it?’

‘Online, Etsy.’ Lexie unwound herself from Owen’s arms and headed into the kitchen, with him following. ‘If we can have Emi for a weekend, do you think she would like to be a bridesmaid at Xander’s wedding?’

‘She’d love it.’

‘Only Xander and Kate were asking the other day. Xander wanted to have me as a maid of honour, but I said I was too old for that sort of thing and anyway I’d be busy with the photography, and then Kate asked if you would let Emi be a bridesmaid, and I said I didn’t know. It might be difficult with Margaret the way she was and the wedding being in Brighton. But ….’

‘But now we can have Emi stay with us.’ Owen slipped his arms around Lexie’s waist again and drew her close. ‘Everything’s changed.’

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