“You and Belle,” he whispered, his words somber. “You mean everything to me.”
Tonight had left us both raw, but whereas I was much calmer now, much more at ease, made so by his reassurances, Cam was unsure. I could see the panic buried deep in the back of his eyes. He didn’t know if I believed him. And I had a feeling he was going to spend the next few months trying to prove his love to me. As much as that would be lovely, I didn’t want Cam feeling the way I had felt for the last few months.
“I believe you,” I whispered. “I promise that I believe you.”
He coasted his hands up and down the sides of my waist in a soothing, comforting caress. “It’s Saturday tomorrow.”
“It is.”
“You, me and Belle. This whole weekend. Just us.”
“No work?” I said, hopeful.
“I’m switching my phone off.”
I grinned. “That sounds fun.”
“Mmm.” He brushed his mouth over mine. “I think it’ll start with a sleep-in.”
“Oh?”
“You’re going to be very, very tired, Mrs. MacCabe.” He grinned cockily. “But very, very satisfied.”
I laughed and he grinned harder at the sound. “Do your worst, Mr. MacCabe. We’ve got all night.”
“Correction,” He said gruffly. “We’ve got forever.”
I bit my lip on a smile. “You’re the quite the romantic this evening.”
“Well.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “It is Valentine’s Day. I don’t mind putting in the effort.”
I playfully pushed at him and he shook with laughter, peppering me with teasing kisses and tickling fingers that I tried to avoid. My failure at both caused my squealing laughter to fill the flat, Cam’s deeper amusement joining it and making my home feel familiar and beautiful again.
Olivia and Nate
“Liv, have you seen my fisheye lens?” Nate yelled from his office at the back of the house.
I gently brushed January’s soft hair into pigtails. “Why do you need your fisheye lens?”
“Mummy, can I have some gummy bears?” Lily asked from the kitchen.
“Because I’m doing that magazine shoot this morning! We’ll be experimenting with shots and the fisheye lens might come in handy!” Nate shouted, sounding exasperated.
He was late.
He hated being late.
“Well the lens should be with your equipment.” I kissed the top of January’s head and she hopped off the arm of the sofa and hurried off into the kitchen to be with her big sister.
“Mummy? Gummy bears?”
“No, Lily.” I followed Jan into the kitchen to find Lily clutching a mini bag of chewy fruity bears. “Sweetheart, those are for recess. Eat your banana and yoghurt.”
“It’s called playtime not recess and I’ve already eaten my banana and yoghurt.” Lily pouted.
“Liv!”
I gritted my teeth at Nate’s yelling as I plucked a banana from the fruit bowl and handed it to Lily. “Have another and watch your sister while I help your dad.”