Page 35 of A Lie Once Told

“Better now you’re home,” he breathed, starting to pull away. She pulled him back and kissed him again, alittle more deeply, before gently pushing him away and settling back down in his arms.

“You know, I’ve never felt so lucky,” he murmured, resting his head on hers. “You, Sofia … my family … I’m so blessed, and I’m so sorry I nearly threw it all away.”

“You were beyond stupid,” Alyssia acknowledged, a half smile playing on her lips. “But you know you were stupid, and I trust you not to screw up again.”

“I won’t, I promise,” he said, pulling her as close as he could. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“I know I haven’t said it yet, but I wanted you to know that I forgive you,” Alyssia whispered, her voice now sleepy. “You can throw away the divorce papers, too. We’re in this together, forever.”

Antonio couldn’t quite believe what he’d heard, and part of him wanted to check if she’d meant it, but he didn’t dare jinx himself. He sat in silence for a while, until he looked down and realised that Alyssia had fallen asleep. He laughed to himself and swept her up in his arms before softly carrying her to their bed, laying her down, and covering her with a blanket.

Sofia snuffled a little, and then settled back down to sleep, her tiny fingers curling into little fists. Antoniolaughed to himself again, thinking that his daughter looked like the tiniest boxer in the world, and then gently snuck out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.

As soon as he was safely out of earshot, he made his way downstairs and started tidying everything away. He made up a bottle of formula and put it in the fridge for later, did the washing up, and made sure that the house looked perfect before heading upstairs.

Ever since they’d come home from the hospital, he’d made it his mission to take on more of the domestic chores, refusing to let his wife do anything more than look after Sofia – although even then, he did his best to do the lion’s share. Alyssia sometimes complained, saying that she didn’t need to be treated like an invalid, but he mostly ignored her, knowing that she’d be back at work the second she was signed off by the doctor’s.

As he climbed into bed beside his wife, a smile made its way across his lips, and his heart lightened. Whatever Maria had tried to achieve with her deluded obsessions, she was safely buried, and could never hurt anyone ever again.