Tears filled my eyes because I hadn’t known any of that.
“And then we met in the Lantern and you were even more bonny up close. More than that, I just … I felt this thing between us I didn’t understand. Like I’d known you before somewhere. Like … you might be the person who knew me best. Made me whole.”
My tears slipped free because I’d felt the same way. A connection I couldn’t explain.
“But there was a sadness in your eyes and a guardedness … and my life was complicated too. And I thought to myself, I can’t believe I’ve met my fucking soul mate,” his words were gruff with emotion, “and I can’t be with her.”
“Murray …” I bussed into his hand as he tried to catch my tears. “I felt the same way. From the very start.”
With a shaky exhale, he leaned his forehead against mine and whispered, “Thank goodness fate stepped in, eh?”
I laughed softly. “No, it wasn’t fate. I just pulled my head out of my ass, and you couldn’t resist my proposition.”
At that, Murray threw his head back in laughter, even as he cuddled me close. I wrapped my arms around his back and felt his joy vibrate through me, wiping away all the terror of this morning and replacing it with this new, beautiful memory.
42.London
The next morning, I woke up in Murray’s bed alone.Ourbed. That had been decided sleepily last night when we arrived home. No more separate bedrooms. Apparently, Murray and Kelly had a conversation while I was gone in which she revealed she knew we were together. I was glad it was only because she’d caught us kissing and nothing more mortifying for all of us.
The pain in my ribs, thigh, and neck hurt worse than yesterday as I rolled over to check the time. Thankfully, my period cramps had gone away. Last night Murray had insisted I eat some French toast, then he’d procured a hot water bottle for my cramps and held me in his arms until I fell asleep.
The electric blackout blinds were down on the wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows so I had no idea what time it was by way of the light.
Murray had charged my phone for me. That sent a warm feeling through my aches and pains until I noticed the time. It was nearly eight o’clock.
Thankfully, today was my usual day off work. Kelly hadn’t returned home by the time I fell asleep, but we’d decided not to share the Nick part of the equation and just say that I’d fallen down some stairs during a chaotic fire alarm. No matter howwise or mature Kelly was for her age, she was only fourteen, and we both wanted to protect her from adult worries for as long as we felt it was right.
It was a slow journey out of bed to use the bathroom and then climb upstairs. When I walked stiffly into the kitchen, Murray’s head whipped toward me from where he was sitting at the island next to Kelly as they ate scrambled eggs on toast. He pushed off the stool, almost taking his plate out with the sudden movement. “What are you doing up?”
At his disgruntled tone, I chuckled and then winced as it jolted my ribs. “I woke up.” My gaze moved to Kelly who watched me in concern. “Morning, sweetie.”
Her expression tightened. “Are you all right?”
“Just some bumps and bruises, I promise.” I curled my hands around Murray’s searching touch and smiled up at him. “Stop. I’m fine. I just need something in my belly before I take my anti-inflammatories.”
“I’ll make more eggs.” He moved toward the cooker top.
“Handsome, no.” I shook my head. “Finish your breakfast. I’ll eat some of the toast.”
“I’ll eat while I cook,” Murray insisted, gesturing with a wooden spoon for me to sit down.
Grimacing at the height of the stools, I waved toward the dining area in the next room. “I think I’ll need to sit over there.”
Before I knew it, Kelly had everyone set at the dining table and I had a coffee cup in front me as I sat at the head of it.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Kelly inquired again as she sat with me while Murray cooked up some eggs in the kitchen.
“I’m sore,” I admitted, wincing as I turned my neck to check how stiff it was. “Everything feels a bit worse today.”
“Oh aye, that’s what happens. Once, when I used to do gymnastics, I fell off the beam, and I felt okay when it happened but the next day, I hurt really badly.”
“Did you break anything? Wait, you were a gymnast?”
“No and yes,” she answered both questions around a mouthful of food.
There was so much I still didn’t know about Murray’s daughter. About them both.
But I remembered what Murray had said last night. We had a lifetime for that.