Elissa braced herself, thinking he was about to make a move as he started to undress.
However, to her surprise, Raphael began to tidy up instead.
He emptied the water basins and mopped the slippery floor.
The leak would have to be addressed the next day.
Elissa watched him intently, not blinking once.
After Raphael finished cleaning and the rain had stopped, Elissa, feeling a bit better, chastised herself for being overly pampered and even fussy.
Raphael served her some soup, playfully pinched her cheek, and reassured her, âYouâve had a privileged life.
Itâs normal that youâre always pampered.â
He was just a regular guy and didnât expect his wife to endure hardships simply because he had experienced tough times.
Regardless of their future financial situation, he was determined to ensure she would always be well cared for.
Curious, Elissa asked why he had come back earlier than he usually did, but Raphael didnât reply.
Instead, he left the dishes behind and carried her to the bedroom.
This time, he made love to her.
He was tender and considerate, especially mindful of her baby bump.
Afterwards, he lingered by her side, unwilling to leave.
He lay on his side to gently stroke her belly, feeling a wave of tranquility wash over him.
The night was exceptionally peaceful.
As Elissa drifted toward sleep, she recalled her motherâs visit and murmured softly, âMy mom found out about my dadâs affair.
She came over this morning and seemed really upset.â
It had been some time since they started living together, so Raphael could easily tell what Elissa was thinking.
As soon as she mentioned it, Raphael knew what she wanted.
A N G E L A âs L I B R A R Y
Before she could even say it, he asked, âYou want your mother to come live with us here?â
She nodded softly in agreement and added, âBut she refused.
She said she wasnât sure she could adjust.â
She wrapped her arms around Raphaelâs neck.
Raphael gently stroked her hair, his touch tender and reassuring.
He knew that she was trying to shield his pride, worried about wounding his feelings.
But Raphael was no longer the proud man he once was.
Elissa continued, âMy mom must be feeling resentful.
Raphael, Iâm worried about her.â
Raphael reassured her, âYou can give her a call in the morning, okay?â
Elissa leaned against his shoulder and nodded.
She insisted on handling the dishes herself in the morning, asking him to leave them be.
In these tender exchanges, Elissa eventually drifted off to sleep.
However, she woke up twice during the night, her body drenched in sweat from nightmares she couldnât remember.
She couldnât sleep, and Raphael stayed up with her, fetching her water and talking softly to soothe her.