Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

tries to close it.
“Thank you,” Giulia said. “I bought this today. The saleslady told me that it
helps calm babies, so I thought I’d give it a try. It allows the child to feel
connected to their mother…” She trailed off.
Simona peered up at me, her head resting against Giulia’s chest.
“Let’s get you something to eat, all right?” Giulia said softly and stroked
Simona’s head. Then she smiled at me. “You can go back to sleep. My hands are
free to prepare the bottle. See?” She raised her hands.
I nodded slowly. Giulia pressed her palm against Simona’s butt and headed
into the corridor, all the while talking quietly to my daughter whose cries became
less frequent. I kept following them downstairs. The dog trotted after us into the
kitchen and sat down beside Giulia when she began preparing the bottle. She
swayed gently from side to side, humming, which seemed to have a calming
effect on Simona, even if she still whined occasionally.
Giulia threw a glance over her shoulder at me. “You don’t trust me to handle
it yet, right?” She didn’t sound angry, only resigned.
“It’s not a matter of trust.” But it was. I’d never been very trusting, and now
my capacity for it was almost completely exploited.
Giulia’s smile was sad. “It’s okay. They are your whole world. You want to
protect them.” She tested the temperature of the milk then opened one strap of
the sling so she could give the bottle to Simona who latched onto it at once. “I’m
going to do my best to take care of them.”
I believed her.
Together, we walked back upstairs. I noticed the open door to Gaia’s old
bedroom. Giulia followed my gaze. “Simona and I are fine, really.”
I headed to the bedroom. As expected, Daniele lay curled up on the covers of
the bed in a new pajama set with Superman signs all over it. My heart felt heavy
seeing his small form. Whenever I looked at this bed, all I saw was blood, but he
sought comfort here. I picked him up. He snuggled against my warmth, and I
held him tighter. I wished he’d allow this closeness when he was awake too, like
he used to do in the past. I took him to bed before I went to Simona’s nursery
once more. Giulia sat in the rocking chair and fed Simona.
Her expression became stern when she spotted me in the doorway. “Go to
bed, Cassio. I mean it. I can handle this.”
I retreated slowly and went to bed. It didn’t take long before I fell asleep. I
only woke briefly when Giulia crept back into bed later, but I wasn’t sure what
time it was. She lay down so close to me that I could feel her warmth, but I
didn’t mind. I was already drifting off again when her fingertips lightly brushed
my hand.