Unravel
Page 21
“Why do you eat your cake like that?” she asks, laying the box up on the table.
“Because it’s the way I like to eat it, and I don’t enjoy the icing.”
Avarie crawls up in my lap. She leans forward to swipe up some of the pink confection, and licks it off her finger. “I like the icing the best.”
Wrapping one arm around her middle, I snuggle her close. How is it possible that my baby girl is already five years old? “That’s what makes us such a good pair.”
“Then where does that leave me?” Liam asks, wandering in to join us. “Once upon a time, I got to finish the icing off mommy’s cake.”
Avarie dabs her pointer in the frosting and proffers it to Liam.
He accepts with a smile. “If you still want me to paint your nails, you better go wash your hands.”
“I want mommy to do it. She does it perfect.”
Liam adjusts the tiara on her head. “You two really do make a pair, don’t you?”
Grinning, Avarie hops down and jets away to the bathroom to scrub up.
“It’ll be your birthday in just a few weeks.” I offer Liam the last nibble of my icingless cake.
He takes the bite begrudgingly between his lips, grumbling under his breath. “I told you I stopped counting at forty-five.”
“You’re giving me a chance to catch up.” I lean forward to kiss him, licking away a tiny crumb of chocolate cake. He’s gotten a bit cantankerous about his age, and the years between us in the last few. Liam is just as beautiful to me now as the first day I laid eyes on him, more so really. I can’t imagine my life with him and Avarie.
I stand up to put my plate in the sink. Liam grabs it from me and sets it on the counter. “The two of us make a pretty okay pair too,” he says.
“I’ve always thought so.”
Liam tsks. “Always?”
“Maybe not always,” I admit. “I suppose it did take you a bit to win me over.”
“A bit?” He laughs and takes my hand, walking me a few steps to the center of the spacious kitchen. “More than a bit, but it was well worth the effort, Mrs. Thibault.”
Liam lifts my hand, motioning for me to turn. I pirouette in bare feet, arabesque in slow motion at his prompting. I let my leg float back down, assuming third position. Liam spins me one more time before he wraps me up in his arms, molding my back against his torso. He brushes aside my hair, and his lips find that perfect spot behind my ear to make my breath catch.
“Did you and daddy ever dance together?” Avarie asks from the doorway.
“We’re dancing together right now,” I answer.
“No, I mean for real.”
“Just once. A long, long time ago.” Liam gives an embarrassed chuckle. “And aren’t I a lucky man to have her dancing with me again right now?”
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