âItâs past two.
Just stay.
â
She sighed, exasperated.
âWhy didnât you wake me up?â
He simply held her gaze, the weight of unspoken words between them.
Ceciliaâs defenses began to melt away.
Between work and lifeâs demands, their moments together had grown infrequent.
And while opportunities to rekindle their spark existed, Cecilia often held back.
It wasnât a mystery to Mark; yet, he never voiced any complaints.
His commitment shone through, especially when she wasnât around in Duefron.
And Oliviaâs adoration for him only affirmed his unwavering presence.
Resting her head against his chest, Cecilia traced her fingers gently over the contours of his neck.
âMark,â she murmured, âhave I been unfair to you?â
Cooking wasnât her strong suit, and her nurturing instincts werenât always on point.
She recalled times when sheâd been absent in his moments of need, while he was perpetually there for her.
Mark decided to deflect; his voice, deep and rich, teased, âWorried about me now?â
She replied, her voice barely a whisper, âMaybe I should do more for you.
Be better.
â
Mark chuckled, pulling a blanket over her.
Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updatesâ¦
âSo, planning to rise early and whip up breakfast? Maybe even tackle the dishes after?â
She nestled closer, her words muffled by his warmth.
âMaybe not, Uncle Mark.
â
Markâs heart swelled with affection.
Lightly tugging a strand of her hair, he inquired playfully, âTeething, are we?â
His voice softening, he added, âWhy does a grown woman Like you remind me so much of little Olivia?â
In a rare moment, Ceciliaâs laughter bubbled up, carefree and infectious.
In a hushed tone, she shared, âWe start shooting in two days.
Thankfully, a lot of the scenes are set in the city; and many are indoors.
Mark, maybe we could take the kids somewhere fun? Thereâs this spot with beautiful maple leaves now.
â