Page 116 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

ChapterForty-Five

Lexie lookedup at the stars twinkling in the ice-cold night sky. She should be used to Owen’s silent moods by now, but the truth was – she wasn’t. She sneaked a sideways look at him, silently carrying the sleeping Emi in his arms.

‘You’re quiet?’ she said.

‘Thinking.’

‘You’ve been withdrawn since early in the reception.’

‘Sorry.’

‘What’s wrong?’ Lexie touched his arm.

He cleared his throat and tightened his hold on Emi. ‘Sally. She accused me of causing Henry to die in prolonged agony.’

‘No.’

‘She did.’ Owen shot a fierce-eyed look in Lexie’s direction, as if daring her to agree with Sally. Emi stirred in his arms, and he lowered his voice as he continued, ‘She said he was only hanging on through the pain in the hope I’d make my peace with him.’

‘Perhaps he is. Hanging on, I mean.’

‘Don’t you start.’ Owen scowled. ‘I thought you’d be on my side.’

They arrived at Lexie’s doorstep. ‘It’s not a case of sides, Owen.’ She pushed open the door and stood back for him to go ahead with Emi. ‘I’m just saying that maybe Henry is hanging on for that reason. Sally knows him better than any of us, so if that’s what she thinks, perhaps she’s right.’

All the way up the stairs, Owen didn’t reply. Lexie edged past him and opened the door to her apartment. He headed for the spare bedroom (now Emi’s room), and Lexie went to the kitchen, calling back to him, ‘I’m going to make hot chocolate. Do you want some?’

* * *

Owen settled Emi in bed.She looked so sweet, dark curls all out of place, cheeks pale with sleep. She’d had so much fun at the wedding, playing with Kate’s younger sisters and George’s little girls. Her cousins … step cousins. He bent over and kissed her forehead. ‘Night, night, my cariad. Sleep well.’

He found Lexie in the kitchen, her back towards him, as she prepared their drinks. The sweet smell of hot chocolate reached his nostrils as he moved behind her, slid his arms around her waist and, resting his chin on her shoulder, murmured in her ear, ‘I’m sorry, Lex.’

‘You’re forgiven.’ She turned to face him, her violet-blue eyes full of questions as they roved his face, but before she could voice them, he stooped and covered her lips. ‘I’ve wanted to do this all evening,’ he mumbled. Taking her face in his hands, he drew her closer. Too close for speech.

Too soon, she pulled away, protesting that the chocolate was getting cold. Owen stepped back, pushing away the temptation to say bugger the chocolate. He didn’t want it now, anyway.

‘Did you get Emi into bed without waking her?’ Lexie handed him a mug.

‘Yes, I left her in her dress. Just took off her shoes.’

‘But the dress will spoil.’

‘Doesn’t matter. She probably won’t wear it again. By the time she gets the chance to be a bridesmaid again, she will have grown out of it.’

‘I suppose.’ Lexie took a careful sip of her drink. ‘It was a good wedding, don’t you think?’

‘Yes,’ Owen agreed and tasted the chocolate. ‘It’s been a good two days. Having Emi here. Us being together as if we were a proper family.’

‘We are a proper family.’

‘I suppose,’ Owen said, copying one of Lexie’s stock answers she often used when uncertain about something. ‘It’s going to hurt giving Emi back tomorrow.’

‘Do you think it might be worth asking Martin if you can go for full custody soon?’

‘I’m not in a strong enough position for that yet.’

‘Stronger than you were, though.’ Lexie took another sip from her mug. ‘You’re in a solid relationship.’ She cast him a meaningful look which he did not miss, and yes, he thought, she was right. It was solid. The first relationship ever where he wasn’t looking for the exit. ‘And …,’ Lexie continued. ‘You have a nice home now, with a proper bedroom for Emi.’

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