Page 59 of Handsome
35
Cyrus
Joshua was crying. I jumped up and rubbed the back of my neck. Sarah wasn’t here, and her side of the bed was cold, which meant she’d been up for a while.
I tugged on my boxers and scrambled into his room, but she was already there, holding him while he drained his bottle.
In the moonlight she was hypnotic and beautiful. And I needed to stop pushing her.
My heart twisted. Earlier, I shouldn’t have told her again that I love her. I stiffened my spine as I met her gaze and asked, “Why were you up?”
She rocked Joshua, adjusting his bottle and blanket, and whispered, sounding like it didn't really matter, said, “I was trying to figure out what I could do to thank you, and feeling like I've failed at that too.”
I walked closer and squatted down to cup my son’s head and gaze up at her while I said, “You swooped in and helped Joshua faster than I did.”
“He’s all I've got,” she said, and gave him a small squeeze of a hug.
I put my hand on my heart. “That’s not entirely true.”
Her face turned pink, and she lowered her lashes.
I cringed inwardly. It really was time to back off.
Then she said, “I never said thank you for cutting Darren out of your life… for me. I should have.”
My heart thudded as I whispered, “I’m trying to give you space, but I don’t want you ever to be afraid.”
I stood, because I wasn’t sure how to let go, but then Joshua still seemed hungry. We’d both be up, so I said, “Thank you. Are you in the mood for some ice cream while you feed Joshua?”
“Sounds fun,” she said, with a hint of a smile.
Perfect. I’d have to learn to wait. I called downstairs, and the staff confirmed my order right away. Then I returned to her side and said, “Sundaes will be delivered shortly.”
From now on I needed to be more fun, though I'd never perfected the art of being relaxed. It was time for me to give it my best shot.
36
Cyrus
Sarah took a shower while I went downstairs to make sure breakfast on the patio was set. She wanted hot water with lemon today, so we’d have to boil her a pot. Joshua was in my arms, gurgling and waving his little hands as I jogged downstairs in the morning sunlight.
Just as I made it to the bottom, the front door opened and Maman and Pedar walked in.
Maman threw her arms open and ignored me while she cooed at Joshua and took him from me as she asked, “Is this my grandson?”
I hugged my father and then said to both of them, “You’re back early.”
We walked to the grand room, where I quickly stopped staff who were setting more places on the patio per my presence as we all knew they’d want to eat despite what she’d said as my mother replied, “We wanted to hold Joshua. How was the island?”
I returned to my parents’ side, but I glanced up at the stairs when I heard footsteps, though I replied to Maman, “Relaxing. If it wasn’t for Warren’s birthday and a storm, we’d have stayed longer.”
Sarah appeared at the top of the stairs, walking toward us, though she took small steps. My mother beckoned for Sarah to join us, but her nearness made my heart skip as my mother said, “I’m sure the house will be fine from any storm, but I’m glad you’re here.”
As Sarah approached, Maman went to stand beside her while she continued talking to me. “You and Warren were always so close, and he’d want you here.” Then she looked right at Sarah, ignoring my father and I as she said, “Sarah, thank you for keeping this precious baby so happy.”
Sarah rocked on her feet and tilted her as she said, “That’s the easy part, Mrs. Norouzi.”
My mother had a bright smile on her face as she said, “Roxanne. Now you two go and enjoy your breakfast, alone.”
