by C. Fonseca
Aruishi sounded so sad, Lili sighed heavily and nearly dropped the tea tray.
“Well,” Jess said, slowly, “you do know I have to travel sometimes to race. But don’t forget there will be times when you and your mama can come and watch me.”
Lili decided now was a good time to rescue Jess and pushed the bedroom door open with her foot. “Well, what have we here?” She set the tray down on the dresser. “Good morning, munchkin.” She leaned over and kissed her daughter, who sat next to Jess on top of the blanket. Jess had her nightshirt on and had straightened up the bedclothes.
“There’s room for you here,” Aruishi said, patting the empty space on the bed beside her.
Lili moved the tray to the bedside table and handed Jess a cup of tea. She sat down beside Aruishi and held out the plate of toasted honeyed-almond brioche. Jess lifted a golden slice and took a bite.
“Hmm….”
Lili’s gaze was focused on Jess’s mouth, and the way her tongue darted out, collecting the sliver of butter at the corner of her lips.
“This is so delicious. Crispy, chewy. Yum.” Jess took another bite.
Lili rapidly closed and opened her eyes. She wanted to kiss her, and it didn’t help that Jess sent her inviting, sexy grins.
“Mummy, can I please have some of that?” Aruishi tugged her arm.
Lili bit her lip, dragging her gaze away from Jess. “Sure,” she said, holding a piece of brioche to Aruishi’s mouth.
She took a tentative bite. “Hmm…” she said, imitating Jess. “It is yummy. Can I have a whole slice?”
Lili grabbed a tissue from the box on the bedside table. “Only if you hold this under it.” She handed her a slice of the brioche. “I don’t want crumbs in my bed.”
Aruishi nodded, nibbling carefully whilst holding the tissue under her chin.
Lili sat back and rested against the headboard.
Jess helped herself to another slice, chewed happily, and finally washed it down with the last of her tea.
“No crumbs,” Aruishi told Jess seriously.
Jess just rolled her eyes at Aruishi’s comment but quickly checked the sheets.
“Mama?” Aruishi stared at Lili intently, her head slightly tilted.
“Yes, Ru?”
“This is your bed. Is this Jess’s bed too? I mean, does Jess have two beds? Can I have two beds?”
Lili almost choked and glanced up to meet Jess’s look of surprise. Jess edged closer to Lili and rubbed her back soothingly.
“Well,” Lili said. She put down her cup and lifted Aruishi onto her lap. “Do you mind Jess sleeping in here with me?”
Aruishi shook her head. “No. Jess loves you.” She patted Jess’s hand and pulled it onto her leg. “You do still love my Mama, don’t you?”
“Yes. I love you both very much, sweet pea.”
“Good. Gran already told me that Jess is going to live with us from now on. Properly. She doesn’t have to sleep in the guest room.”
“And what do you think of that?” asked Lili.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Aruishi said matter-of-factly. “If Jess is living with us, she can sleep in here with you. She’d be too lonely on the other side of the house all by herself.”
Lili breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, yes, she would.”
“The guest room can be for guests again, can’t it?” Aruishi turned to Jess. “It will be ready for your friends from England when they visit us.”
“Yes.” Jess’s eyes widened. “I am looking forward to Jonathan, Maxine, and Rupert’s visit in May, and they can’t wait to meet you.”
“You can play with Rupert. Maybe share some of your toys?” Lili ran her fingers through Aruishi’s curls. “That will be fun, won’t it?”
“Oh, Mama. He is just a baby,” Aruishi said, then crawled from Lili’s lap and snuggled in with Jess. “Jess, I will start school this year.”
Jess clearly wasn’t used to a near five-year-old’s split-second ability to change the topic of conversation. She looked startled. “So I heard,” she said finally. “Are you looking forward to it?”
She nodded. “I met my kinder teacher for this year already. Ms Sprout. Like brussel sprout.” Aruishi jiggled up and down on Jess’s lap.
Lili grabbed Aruishi’s hand. “Jess’s legs are tired. Why don’t you collect your clothes and meet me in the bathroom? After breakfast, we’re going to pack the car and head for the beach.”
“Really?” Aruishi’s eyes lit up. “Are you coming too, Jess?”
“Yes, definitely. Just try and stop me.”
“Yeah,” Aruishi yelled, jumping off the bed and racing out of the room.
“Oh, me.” Jess fell back against the headboard. “She’s a whirlwind.”
Lili put her arm around Jess. “Yep. She can be exhausting.” With her other hand, she turned Jess’s chin towards her. “It’s not all too much, is it?” Lili asked, unable to keep the hint of insecurity out of her voice.
Jess leaned into her. “No. I’m a little sore after the ride, but a swim in the ocean will be perfect for my tired muscles.”
Lili rolled over, straddled Jess’s thighs, and gripped her shoulders lightly. “Yes, I’m looking forward to a swim too,” she said. “But that’s not what I mean.” She searched Jess’s face.
What she saw completely dispelled her fears. Jess’s eyes were truly the window to her soul. Warmth and desire shimmered there, giving Lili all the strength and assurance she needed.
“I love you, Lili McAllister,” Jess said, holding her gaze. “And I’m ready for everything that it means. Everything.”
Lili kissed her purposefully. Longingly. A sense of calm flowed through her. She pressed her hand against Jess’s chest, just inside the top of her nightshirt, over her heart. Jess’s pulse was steady, strong, and pure.
About C. Fonseca
As a small child, C. Fonseca had imaginary friends. She told these friends stories and her family set them places at the dinner table. When she grew up, she lost the imaginary friends but she continued writing stories and poetry.
She was an executive chef for many years until a car accident stopped her in her tracks and forced her to change direction.
She lives by the sea, with her Kiwi partner and their beloved Burmese cats. She is an expressionist landscape painter and can often be found at a cliff-top platform overlooking the Southern Ocean, daydreaming, plotting and planning her creative adventures.
CONNECT WITH C. FONSECA
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cfonseca1au
E-Mail: [email protected]
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© 2018 by C. Fonseca
ISBN (mobi): 978-3-96324-083-6
ISBN (epub): 978-3-96324-084-3
Also available as paperback.
Published by Ylva Publishing, legal entity of Ylva Verlag, e.Kfr.
Ylva Verlag, e.Kfr.
Owner: Astrid Ohletz
Am Kirschgarten 2
65830 Kriftel
Germany
www.ylva-publishing.com
First edition: 2018
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.
Credits
Edited by Michelle Aguilar and Amanda Jean
Cover Design and Print Layout by Streetlight Graphics
