After Isla put Riley to bed, she was ready to go to sleep herself. It had been a hot day and Lucy swam after school. Then her mother, Lauren, insisted they come for dinner. She spoke to Isla like she belonged, almost like Riley and Cody were her children. After hamburgers cooked on the grill and ice cream cones, she herded the hot, tired children home.

Isla needed a cool shower, but feared it would keep her from falling asleep. Instead, she stepped under a lukewarm spray and let the water cascade over her. Closing her eyes, she almost fell asleep on her feet. She put on an old, oversized tee shirt she found in the rag pile. It had been stained but worked as a nightdress on warm nights.

Isla stopped in her kitchen to look for her phone in case Leo called later. The phone had disappeared. Closing her eyes, she retraced her steps in her mind. She had put it down when she sat to eat on the neighbor's screen porch. There was nothing she could do about it. She felt too exhausted to worry. With only a sheet over her, she fell to sleep quickly.

She woke up and opened her eyes. The room was dark. She heard a noise downstairs and froze. The rapid thumping of her heart filled her ears. Should she hide? The children! The bedside clock luminated the time, one-eighteen. She sat up after the bedroom light lit up.

"Oh, sorry!" Leo stood in the doorway. "I forgot you were here."

Confusion and relief washed over her. As the adrenaline subsided, the tears started. "I thought." Glup. "You were an intruder. Tomorrow."

He stepped towards her. "I caught an earlier flight on standby. I texted you before we took off."

"My phone. I left it at Lucy's house." Her voice sounded like she inhaled helium.

"Isla." Leo sat beside her. "Relax. Breathe." He rubbed her back which caused her pulse to race again. "It's okay." His strong voice cut through the sound of her shallow breaths.

Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her against him. As he continued rubbing her back, he whispered. "Shhh. Just relax. I'm sorry."

His scent filled her. The wonderful fragrance he greeted her with each morning had faded, and it mixed with a musky scent of sweat. Together I wasn't unpleasant, nor were the feelings coursing through her body. As her breathing steadied, he loosened his hold. Don't let go, she silently pleaded. He brushed his lips on her forehead. She pulled back and looked up at him. His soft brown eyes studied her face and stopped on her lips. She closed her eyes wishing he would kiss her. Instead, he squeezed her and let go, before completely sliding away to give her space.

Wanting him to kiss her was crazy. He would never want to, but also she worked for him. She didn't want to think about him divorcing his sick wife.

He cleared his throat. "I. Um. You need to get back to sleep. I can go sleep..."

"No, this is your bed. I'll go to my room."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "But I'm not decent."

He smirked. "That used to be my shirt. It looks better on you." His eyes caressed his old shirt.

Suddenly aware of her state of undress, she stammered as the heat drew her hands to her cheeks. "I need to. Can you?"

"I'll cover my eyes."

She had to trust him, so she threw back the sheet and scurried out of his room. Without looking backward she ran down the steps with bare feet. Once inside her room with the door shut, she stood against it waiting for her breathing to slow again. Climbing in her bed, she shut her eyes. Her mind was in full gear. Visions of Leo's arms around her kept her from feeling tired. She breathed deeply and let the breath out slowly, and imagined him kissing her. She squirmed to get comfortable and noticed a dampness between her legs. Leo made things happen inside of her the same way the improper books did.

When her alarm sounded she wanted to roll over, but then she remembered Leo. He would surprise the children. Isla climbed out of bed and dressed hastily, not bothering to put up her long brown hair. After a few strokes with the brush, she smoothed the pieces mussed up from sleeping.

The empty kitchen greeted her with a sunbeam coming through the window. Her first task was to start the coffee. Once the aroma from the pot hit her, she perked up. The memory of her late night scare came back to her. The heat in her cheeks returned to match the humming through her body. After swirling milk into her coffee, she lifted the cup for her first sip. As the caffeine entered her bloodstream, she gazed out the window. The tree branches were full of green leaves. A few weeks before they were just buds. Spring came later in Boston than Philly, but everything had bloomed. She passed beautiful gardens on her walk. If she were a flower, she would still be blooming. When she arrived in the cold weather, she was just a barren stalk. In time a bud formed but hadn't fully opened.

"Good morning."

She jumped and spilled her coffee. Turning on the faucet, she rinsed the liquid from her hand.

"I'm sorry. I scared you again. Was it hot?"

Isla felt him directly behind her. She shook her head, not trusting her own voice as her pulse raced, but not from being startled.

"Daddy!"

He stepped away to greet Cody. Isla turned to see the boy fling himself into his father's arms. Her eyes weren't drawn to the boy but the man who shut his eyes and squeezed his son too tight. Their love was visible as if it were red smoke flowing around them.

"Dad. Dad! You're home." Riley jumped up and down.

Leo reach an arm out to her and she joined her brother in an embrace. After watching the moment, Isla turned her back and began taking food out of the fridge to make the children's lunches. An emptiness filled her, as she remembered they were the family.

The children settled into bowls of cereal, and Leo poured a cup of coffee. He sat down and as the kids ate each competed to talk to him. Isla looked from the clock to Leo. He should have been showered and dressed, but he sat in his flannel pants.

After a long sip, he put his mug down. "I'll go get dressed, so I can walk you to school."

The kids responded with cheers, as they jumped up to go get dressed. With their lunch boxes pack, Isla poured another cup of coffee, but didn't dare turn her back. It was her turn to be surprised, when Leo returned wearing shorts. As her eyes scanned his attire, they traveled down to his muscular, hairy legs.

He smirked. "I'm not going into the office."

"Oh."

"Walk with us."

"I. I. Um. I have church."

"Right. No chance you would skip it?"

"Why? Why would I?"

"I don't know. We could go get breakfast together."

Her eyes widened. "I need to make you breakfast." She took a step towards the fridge.

Leo stopped her by putting his hands on her arms. "Not what I meant. I thought we could talk."

"Oh. Talk about what?"

He dropped his arms, and Isla missed them. "Anything. About your life in Philly."

She met his brown eyes. "There is nothing to tell."

He held up his hands. "Fine. I'll walk to school. You can drive to church."

Her chest felt heavy. "Are you mad at me?"

He shook his head. "No. Why would I be?"

Isla shrugged. "Lunch. Instead."

He smiled. "Good plan." He walked towards the stairs and hollered. "It's almost time to go."

Riley thundered down the stairs. "Where's your brother?"

"Dunno."

"Cody!"

"I'm here Dad."

Isla snickered. She didn't need to look to know the boy was in the living room building with his Legos.

"Come on, Bud. Put your shoes on."

The three left, and the house was quiet. Maybe she should stay home from church. Would Leo be surprised? She imagined a scenario of him coming back and holding her again. Instead of a kiss on the forehead, an actual kiss. Stop daydreaming.

She would go to church, but after Mass she'd tell her friends, she couldn't walk. It was Friday, so she needed to make a trip to the supermarket.

The house was quiet when she returned after church, so she sat down to write up a shopping list. Leo entered the kitchen with his phone to his ear. "Just work on the mark up I sent you." He rolled his eyes. "I'll see you on Monday morning."

Isla looked at him and frowned. He had a whole life she knew nothing about. Looking down at her list, she mumbled, "I'm going shopping. Should I add anything to my list?"

He smiled. "I can go with you."

"You should be tired."

His eyes lingered on her face. "You too."

Pushing back her chair, she went to gaze in the fridge. Trying to take inventory, but her ability to think evaporated as he stepped behind her. She stiffened when his arms went around her. She shut her eyes. His voice was close to her ear, and she wanted to lean back into him, but stood on her own weak legs.

"I thought we could go for a hike this weekend. I guess it has to be Saturday."

Her belly churned. He resented her views about Sunday. "I. Maybe not." To fully bloom, she needed to adapt. People in the real world keep busy on Sundays.

He stepped back. "Great. It'll be fun. When did you want to shop?"

"Now."

He picked up the car key, "I'm ready."

Isla's head swum. Everything seemed upside down.

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