Breathe Me Smith and Belle (Royals Saga #11) - Geneva Lee Page 0,52
today?” I asked, thinking of how they came home early with Belle already needing a nap.
“I don’t want to tell tales,” she said with hesitation. “It’s not really my place.”
“My wife and I have no secrets. If she hasn’t told me what happened, it’s only because she’s resting. You should never be concerned to tell me anything, particularly if it involves our daughter. I want to be as involved as I can be.”
“In that case,” she said slowly, “It was really silly. She forgot the nappies in the changing bag. I found a stack just now in the nursery. Not exactly a big deal.”
“But it might be if you needed one,” I said, guessing where the story went.
Nora nodded, shifting a little as Penny stirred. “Belle had every right to be frustrated, but…”
“Did something else happen?” I asked, worry beginning to take hold.
“She couldn’t stop crying. We got the nappies and she went to change her. She wouldn’t let me help. When she came back, she said we had to leave. She wouldn’t talk at all on the way home.”
I sat silently for a moment, contemplating what she said. I wasn’t surprised to hear my wife had been crying. I’d witnessed plenty of that myself. “I’ll speak with her about it.
“I don’t want her to be angry with me,” Nora said.
“I won’t tell her you told me,” I said with a reassuring smile. “I’ll let her tell me herself.”
“I just thought — it’s not really my place – but maybe she should speak to a doctor,” she said, adding quickly, “I’m sorry. That was too forward of me.”
“You have my wife’s best interest at heart,” I said gruffly. “Your honesty is always welcome when it comes to keeping my family safe.”
This seemed to appease her, and her rigid shoulders relaxed a little. I’d eased the burden she carried by adding it to my own shoulders— where it belonged.
"I’m going to take this little one into the nursery,” Nora said, “and give you a little quiet time.”
I didn’t miss the suggestion in her voice. I was being sent to check on Belle. I was grateful Nora was here so that I could have a moment alone with my wife. As much as we both loved Penny, we’d barely had a moment together since she’d been born. It was all the more reason to have Nora around. And I appreciated that she’d come to speak with me, even if it wasn’t news I wanted to hear.
It was a wake-up call—a reminder that I was too close to the situation. I’d expected things to get better, without really knowing if they would. I stood, picking up Margot’s photograph and shoved it in an empty box by my desk. I would get rid of that later. Right now, I needed to check on my wife. I strode out of the office and down the hall to her bedroom. Cracking the door carefully, I peeked inside. The silk curtains we’d closed at night were drawn open, and afternoon light seeped through the window, haloing her body. I wandered over, worried I would disturb her. As much as I wanted a moment alone with her, she hadn’t been sleeping well. Maybe she really just needed a nap. I climbed quietly into bed behind her, doing my best not to rouse her and molded by body against hers. I breathed in the light orange blossom scent perfuming her neck. She’d once told me she slept better when I was near her. So, maybe we hadn’t had sex for a while, but holding her felt damn near as good.
A soft tremble rose in her chest, and I stilled. It took a moment before I processed what I was hearing. I thought Belle’s breathing was soft snores, but, now that she was in my arms, I realized, with horror, that she was crying again.
"Beautiful?” I said gently.
A sob racked her. I nudged her carefully, urging her to roll over to face me. When she did, her eyes were rigged with the black remnants of her makeup. This had to end. I couldn’t allow her to suffer like this.
“You’re going to the doctor,” I said, making the decision for her.
“But— ”
“It’s not an option, beautiful,” I cut her off, pulling her closer to me. She didn’t protest again. I had no idea if I was doing the right thing, but I would stay by her until she found her way out of the dark.