She opened the bathroom door and took two steps into the bedroom and then stopped short when she heard the soft snore coming from Michael. Lily’s eyes fixed on her husband in bed, and her heart sank. He’d fallen asleep.
Before her tears could fall she quickly made her way into the bathroom, closed the door and sat on the toilet seat. As her tears fell she tried to hold back her disappointment, but she felt so alone. It wasn’t Michael’s fault, and he constantly told her he loved her, and that he could wait. She’d just discovered that she couldn’t—she wanted to be with her husband, and not just a quick coupling to slack their lust like it had been lately.
They needed a night together without any interruptions.
Washing her face and changing into a button down shirt for bed, she thought about everything before she finally came up with a solution.
Michael headed downstairs and wondered why Lily hadn’t woken him up so he could help get the children dressed and breakfast made. Instead, she’d let him sleep in until ten, which had been unheard of since before the twins had been born. He’d obviously needed the sleep, but still…
Downstairs was quiet, although he heard voices coming from the living room, so he changed direction and headed that way.
He felt in his gut that something was wrong between him and Lily. He hadn’t pressured her at all over their lack of time together, whether that was talking or along the more intimate lines. But something wasn’t right and he decided there and then that he would get to the bottom of what was going on. The way to do that was to actually talk to his wife about something that didn’t involve their children, well, not directly involved at any rate.
“Michael, you sleepy head.” His mom shot up from her seat and rushed into his arms for a hug. She patted him on the back. “I can’t wait for Christmas this year with more grandchildren added into the mix.”
Michael smiled at his mom’s enthusiasm, and met Lily’s gaze over the top of her head.
“I’m looking forward to it as well.”
His mom pulled back and smiled. “Go and have breakfast with Lily in the kitchen while I watch these three.”
He didn’t move.
“Go on,” she insisted, and smiled.
Lily took his hand. “Come on. I have your favorite ready to be reheated.”
He could never refuse Lily anything.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” A shadow passed over Lily’s face as she led him into the kitchen, but he wondered whether or not he’d imagined it.
“You went out like a light last night so I thought I’d let you sleep.” She turned and smiled once the microwave started to countdown on the clock. “I knew that your mom would be here soon so I managed.” Lily walked straight into Michael’s arms and held him tight.
His hands caressed her curves, before they settled with stroking her dark curls down her back.
*
Lily breathed him into her lungs and didn’t want to release him when the microwave pinged that their pancakes were ready. So she didn’t. She continued to hold him as he held her, both happy to stand in the kitchen offering comfort to the other.
Unfortunately, Lily’s stomach rumbled and broke the silence.
She chuckled and stepped back. “I didn’t eat with the children. I wanted to wait for you.”
Lily placed the plate of pancakes onto the table and sat beside Michael to eat. They normally sat at opposite ends so that it was easier to supervise the twins, but she wanted to be close to her husband.
She’d already spoken to Pippa about maybe leaving the children overnight sometime soon. Pippa had been giddy with excitement at the thought, but Lily wasn’t too sure that she was ready to part with Sirena. She wasn’t far off three months old, but like with the twins, she felt attached to her and didn’t want her or the twins out of her sight. Pippa had suggested that they all go somewhere together, but that she’d keep the children in the room with her. That idea had sounded good, except it defeated the idea of Mommy and Daddy having some alone time. What she needed to do was go for it, and in her mind she knew that she’d already made that decision because Sirena’s breakfast had been a bottle.
“I’ve been thinking,” she started to broach the subject, “that maybe we could have a night away somewhere.”
Michael stopped eating, and looked so damn hopeful that it was all she could do not to laugh.
“Maybe close by, though, in case we need to get back to the children, but I think I can do one night.” Lily met her husband’s gaze.
“Are you sure that you’re ready to leave Sirena?” He frowned. “I remember how it took months for you to let the twins out of your sight.”
“I don’t think I’m as bad this time. I mean, I go shopping without her and the twins, even though I’m only usually gone a couple of hours.”
“This is different.”
“I know it is.” She smiled. “I gave Sirena a bottle while the twins ate their breakfast.”
Michael put his cutlery down. “You did?”