Page 112 of Insidious

An attendant gently takes Amelie for a few minutes while we “relax”.

Our daughter immediately decides she has been abandoned by her father. Her outraged screech echoes throughout the entire relaxation room. Isaac jerks upright instantly, cucumber slices flying onto the floor.

“She wants Daddy,” he says, already reaching for her after washing away the damp green clay cracking across his face. The second Amelie lands back on his chest, she quiets.

Isaac settles back down grumpily, explaining what Mum is doing to our daughter while Amelie enthusiastically grabs at the cucumber slices over my eyes.

“Tiny gremlin,” he mutters fondly.

By the time we leave, I feel loose-limbed and floaty in a way I haven’t for months. I needed this.

***

At home, Isaac takes Amelie downstairs while I head upstairs to get ready.

The bedroom is soft with evening light.

I stand in front of the mirror for a long moment after my shower, towel wrapped around me, fingertips brushing over my freshly cut hair.

The stylist took an inch off. Now, it falls sleek and shining down my back like dark silk, pinned partially up with delicate jewelled combs that catch the light every time I move. I love the look.

I take my time getting dressed, actually enjoying my little rituals. The make-up goes on slowly. Soft gold shimmer at the corners of my eyes. Mascara darkening my lashes.

And finally, deep plum lipstick. I am feeling dangerous today.

When I finish, I look at myself in the mirror. The woman staring back at me looks different from the one who, just weeks ago, was barely keeping it together.

A little wiser, maybe, but stronger, too.

Downstairs, I hear Amelie shriek happily, followed immediately by Isaac saying, “No. That is not for babies with no teeth,” in the tone of a man losing a battle against a four-month-old.

I can’t help but smile.

Chapter 30

Luna

I hear Isaac making exaggerated monster noises at Amelie while she shrieks with laughter. He is coaxing her to say Dada as if she is a baby genius with, as he puts it, ‘your brains and my looks’.

He physically took her from me an hour ago.

“Go,” he’d ordered, steering me towards the stairs. “The anticipation is killing me.”

“Isaac, we have two hours to go. I barely take fifteen minutes to dress up.”

“That’s fifteen minutes too long, love.” He groaned like a drama queen. “Cruel and unusual punishment has become your speciality.”

So, I took a little longer than necessary with my make-up. The mirror tells me it was worth it, and I believe it.

By the time I come downstairs, Isaac is standing in the hallway bouncing Amelie lightly against his shoulder.

He looks up when he hears my heels on the wooden stairs, and suddenly, it's just the two of us. As I come closer, I notice there is only a rim of blue left, his pupils blown wide.

His mouth has actually fallen open a little. I stop halfway down the stairs and strike a goofy pose.

“What?”

Amelie starts getting restless when her dad stops entertaining her.