Page 132 of All Our Secrets

As a ghost watching my wife with someone else, I would do a lot worse.

Chapter Forty-Eight:

Theo

Silas

The droopiness in Peyton’s eyes the next morning put my soul at peace. Having her next to me was a luxury I would never take for granted. As promised, I slept in a different room and let her have mine because it was far more comfortable than the guest bed.

She rubbed her face as she fed T.J. at the table.

I frowned. “You didn’t sleep well.”

Peyton yawned. “It’s hard to sleep. I can’t get over allthe strange things that have been happening.”

“I’ll take you to get your SUV in a bit.”

“Jesus. I’ve used so many PTO days already. At this rate, I won’t have any left by the time the school year is over.”

I grabbed two bowls and spoons. “You don’t have to work if you don’t want to. If you wanted to quit tomorrow, you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing.”

“Yeah, okay,” Peyton mocked as I poured Lucky Charms into our bowls. “I don’t know what to tell Rosie. How can I explain that I’m terrified of my own house?”

“Just tell her you’re moving in with me.”

There was a lengthy silence as I pushed a bowl of cereal toward her.

“Silas.”

When I looked up, she glowered.

“I love when you get that tone with me,” I admitted.

“I’m not moving in. We’re not doing this.”

“Says who?”

“Me.”

“We’re together. If you were truly done with me, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

She clamped her mouth shut and averted her gaze.

“I’m waiting, Peyton, but you’ll stay here because it’s where you feel safest. Everything I have is yours. I’myours. I’ll always be here, taking care of you.” I sat down beside her. “I’m going to put some extra time into the other house, though. It’s bigger, and I want to have it finished by the end of your pregnancy.”

Peyton tilted her head at me, sighed, then took a bite of her cereal. “A pool would look great just off that patio.”

“Is that what you want?”

Another bite as her cheeks reddened. “I’m just saying.”

“I’ll get to it next summer.”

“Porch swing too.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “You’ll look pretty damn good swinging with two kids on your lap.”

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