Page 31

Arthur

Istoodto the side and watched Perry as he tucked Jupiter into bed. He knelt at her bedside, the warm light of the side table lamp glowing off his face. He pulled the covers up to her chin and kissed her on thecheek.

"Goodnight, sweetie,"hesaid.

"Goodnight, Daddy."She turned and smiled at me. "Goodnight,Arthur."

Icrouched next to her."Goodnight, Jupiter." She reached out and hugged me around my neck, and then kissed me on the cheek. I was stunned for a second; it was the first time she'd ever done anything likethat.

"Ilove you,"shesaid.

Ismiled,and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "I love you too, Jupiter," I said, and Perry rubbed my back. I couldn't help but be moved by Jupiter'stenderness.

"Isn't theresomething else you wanted to say, sweetie?" Perry askedher.

Jupiter pulledthe covers up to her forehead and shook herhead.

"Are you sure?I thought you told me therewas."

"It's too scary!"she said from underneath the covers, and Ilaughed.

"What! Too scary?"

"Wouldyou like me to tell Arthur for you?" Perry asked, and she shook her head again. "Well, come on. You should tell him, then. It'll make himhappy."

Slowly,she lowered the covers back down to her chin and looked at me with shy eyes. "I hope you win the race," she said hesitantly, and then with decided commitment added, "I want you to be myPapa!"

My jaw dropped,and I scooped her up into a tight hug. "Thank you, Jupiter. It means a lot to hear you say that. No matter what happens, know that I'll be here for you. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that you, your daddy, and I will be together.Okay?"

"Okay,"she said, and settled into her pillow. She looked content, and I pulled the covers back up to herchin.

"Get some sleep,"I said, and we turned the light off and left herroom.

Perry wrappedhis arms around me, hugging me from the back. He nuzzled and kissed my neck, and I placed my hand on top of where his forearms crossed my chest. It felt so comforting to feel the movement of his breathing against my back, and the warmth and weight of his body onmine.

I'll never get tiredof this feeling, I promised myself. What could be better than feeling his affection for me like that? Feeling the tight squeeze of his arms around me, holding me so close, pulling me in as tight as possible, like he was afraid to let me get away. It was intoxicating. It was everything. How could I live without this? I'd sacrifice everything to always havethis.

He kissedmy hair and rested his chin into the nape of my neck. His stubble tickled me, and Ilaughed.

"That was sweet,"he said. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of the vibrato of his voice being absorbed into myback.

"It really was,"Iagreed.

"She really loves you a lot.I think this is the first time she's felt like she has someone else she can count on. Someone in hercorner."

"Ilove her too,"I said, and I felt tears coming to my eyes. "I meant every word. I'm not going to let herdown."

Perry's arms released,and I turned around to face him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I hugged him tightly to my chest, his head on my shoulder. He sighed, and I felt the warmth of his breath through my shirt. All vivid, wonderful, precious reminders that he was here with me. That we were together. What a beautiful thing! Not only to have been brought back together, but to have been fortunate enough to even exist at the same time in the first place. Now I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. We stood in silence, just holding one another. Perry took my face into his hands, and he brought his lips to my forehead, then the tip of my nose, and finally to beneath both of my eyes, kissing away mytears.

"I'll never beable to thank you enough for what you've done—what you're doing—for me." He kissed me, and I savored the taste of his lips on mine. It felt like this was everything I needed to live. I could survive on this moment; on his kiss and histouch.

"And I'll never beable to thank you enough for what you've given me," Isaid.

"What's that?"

"Love.I'd thought I'd never feel it ever again. But being with you and Jupiter, I feel alive again. Like my life has a purpose. Realpurpose."

"Well,that's another thing I have to thank you for," he laughed. "I feel the sameway."