Page 135 of Thin Lives

She hugged Cross’s swaddled form closer. “Thank you.”

Unable to stop himself any longer, Calisto crossed the small space between them. His fingers found the spot under her chin, and he tipped her head up so that he could claim her mouth. The kiss started out slow and soft, gentle swipes of their lips moving soundlessly together. And then he felt more tears slide down her cheeks, he wiped them away as fast as he could, and kissed her a little harder until she was gasping for a breath.

“Do not ever thank me for protecting what I love,” he murmured.

Emma blinked, wetness coating her lashes. She let out a shaky sigh, her hand coming up to stroke his jaw. “I love you, Cal.”

That was the one and only thing that was important to Calisto.

Anything else was small.

Emma and their son were everything.

Everything that mattered.

Calisto leaned in the doorway of the nursery, watching as Emma leaned over the crib, and trailed her fingers through the dark tufts of Cross’s hair. The baby had woken up shortly after they arrived, demanding to be fed and changed.

God, Calisto swore his son smiled when he saw his mother.

Like he’d been waiting for her.

Nothing felt better than that.

Now, however, Cross was tucked into his crib, safe and sound. He was fed, changed, and Emma even gave the baby a bath. There was nothing more that needed done for him, as he was content to sleep at least until he woke up hungry again, but Emma couldn’t seem to leave his side.

“Emmy?” Calisto asked.

Emma didn’t turn around. “Yeah?”

“He’s fine, amore.”

“I know.”

“Let him sleep.”

Emma cupped the baby’s chubby cheek and swept her thumb across his skin. “He is sleeping.”

“Emma, the baby cameras are on him, the house is locked up tight, and I have people outside the door.”

She let out a heavy breath, never once turning away from the baby.

“He’s safe,” Calisto promised.

He suspected that was the majority of her issue. She was probably terrified that if she turned around, someone was going to come and take her son away from her again.

“No one is coming for him, Emmy,” Calisto said softly.

Her shoulders dropped. “I tried so hard to keep him safe from Affonso, you know? And then he just … ripped him away from me like it all meant nothing. I felt so useless—useless for Cross.”

“You are far from useless. You did what you could, sweetheart. And I am more thankful than you know for what you’ve done this last year.”

Emma nodded once, but he could tell by the expression of her profile that she wasn’t entirely convinced.

“You saved him and me, Emmy,” Calisto added after a moment. “You do realize that, don’t you? By doing what you had to do, no matter the cost, you saved us.”

“I only loved you both,” she replied quietly, and wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “That was all, Calisto. Even when it killed me inside, I loved you both.”

“I’m sorry it was so difficult, but it won’t be like that now.”