Page 64 of Savage Seduction

But now that she had her health schedule and goals in mind, and the hope of making slow progress, she had returned to being the cheerful optimist she’d been before her accident. And this was the one thing I was most grateful to Marco for, especially when a doctor let slip he had already paid for three months of her care up front.

My budding relationship with Amara was another delight. She had taken to running to come and find me when she came home from school to show me her drawings. She painted me into the family portraits she made, with me and Marco holding hands, and once choked me up by drawing a baby into one of them too.

I had been alarmed that she’d discovered my secret, but she had innocently chattered on about her friend’s aunt getting married and having a baby, and maybe I would have one too after I married Uncle Marco.

Her vision of the future was so sweet it made me want to weep.

I loved hearing her tell me about her day. I loved that she hid sweets under my pillow to surprise me and I hid little origami animals I’d folded under hers.

Evenings were my favourite time of day, when I played with her before her bedtime, both of us waiting for Marco to come home, and Chiara rushing in to warn us whenever Vittoria was on her way up.

I would often give Amara’s nanny a break after Amara’s bath, and take over tucking Amara into her bed. She would snuggle down with me, whispering joyfully that we were two snuggle-bugs in a rug, while I read to her the same story she always chose.

“Once in a jungle, dense and green,

Lived a crocodile, fierce and mean.

With sharp teeth and a fearsome glare,

He roamed around, causing quite a scare!”

Amara squealed and clapped her hands.

“This is mine and daddy’s favourite book,” she confided. “You read it better than daddy.”

“Does daddy read it when he comes to see you?”

She looked suddenly tearful. “Daddy had to go away for work.”

I hugged her. “I hope your daddy will come home soon. I bet he’ll be so happy to see you.”

I was itching to ask about her mom, but sensed this was a forbidden topic. Nobody had ever spoken of Amara’s mother in my hearing.

I contented myself with the feel of Amara snuggling into my arms. We continued our story.

I had reached the last lines when I became aware of a quiet presence standing at the door, Marco, home just in time.

“For even the scariest creatures, it’s true,” I finished softly,

“Can be the best of friends, waiting for you.”

Amara yawned sweetly and repeated her favourite lines as she drifted off to sleep.

“Now the crocodile, once feared by all,

Had friends to play with, both big and small.”

I kissed the top of her head, and Marco tiptoed over to do the same. The way he stroked her cheek so tenderly brought a lump to my throat.

Every time I watched him being playful and tender with his niece, I dreamed of what kind of father he might be, if only I could muster the courage to tell him.

Even suffering through the awkwardness of dinners with his mother was worth it, because afterwards came the nights of passion in his bed.

And so two weeks flew by. Two weeks during which I worried about the months ahead when my pregnancy would begin to show. How would he react when I told him the news?

And yet our relationship still felt too fragile for me to confide in him. I was scared.

Plus, I knew nothing about what was happening with Jonathan, seeing as the police had not called me to notify me of any progress.

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