She pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Forgive me if you can. But I'm here now, and I won't leave you again. Okay? Because to me, you always come first. Always."
David could only nod against her
For a long while, the only sounds were the steady drizzle against the window and David's uneven breathing as his tears dampened her hair.
Then, his voice came out, muffled against her crown. "Can I just sleep here for a little while, Mum?"
Her heart squeezed tight. "Of course."
He curled up beside her, long limbs awkward, like a St. Bernard trying to imitate a mouse. She tucked the blanket around him, her hand resting on his arm. She listened as his breathing evened out and his body relaxed.
She gingerly extracted herself and tucked the blanket around her boy. He was a restless sleeper, and she would have to wake him up after a while and send him back to his bed.
Her screen lit up with a string of unread messages. Euan.
Are you okay?
Have you reached your house yet?
Call me...
Don't forget me, Sage.
How is your boy? How did it go with your deadbeat husband... Sorry... I'm jealous...can't help it.
Are you getting back together? Sorry...I'm stressed. And missing you already... I am going to figure my shit out...then watch out. Because we are not over yet.
The corners of her mouth tugged upwards, despite everything. She typed out a long reply, giving him the outline of the night.
Almost immediately, the screen lit again.
Can you talk?
Her fingers hovered, but her body sagged with fatigue.Dead on my feet,she sent back.Raincheck?
Fine,came his answer a moment later. She could imagine him grumbling in her head, and that made her smile again.Call me tomorrow. Promise?
She stared at the word—promise—before typing back a single ‘yes’.Then she put the phone down and plugged it in before going into the ensuite for a shower.
Afterwards, she walked her sleepy son to his room and tucked him in. She could hear Ronin moving around downstairs but couldn't work up the energy for that talk. Tomorrow, she promised.
Then she drew the covers around herself, and unlike every day since this nightmare came into her life, she closed her eyes without dread.
For the first time since her life splintered apart, she felt the faintest glimmer of peace.
Chapter 26
She was walking through a Christmas market, lanterns glowing a soft gold against the winter dusk. Stalls lined either side, stacked high with candied nuts, sugared oranges, woollen mittens. A little hand was tucked into hers, small and warm. She couldn't look down, but she knew it was David.
They paused before a display of rocky road, thick slabs dusted with powdered sugar. Her mouth watered. She used to love it. But Ronin had always said chocolate should be smooth, dark, pure, not cluttered with marshmallows and cherries.
And there he was now, just ahead, striding too fast through the crowd. She tugged at David's hand to hurry, but suddenly, her palm was empty.
Her heart hammered as panic closed in. She turned, trying to call his name, but the words got stuck in her throat. She looked back for Ronin, desperate, but he too had vanished.
Terror was a living thing in her chest...
She woke with a start. The clock glowed six-fifteen.
