Page 113 of Insidious

“You’re both drooling now,” I inform him as I come closer. “Need a bib?”

“That dress … It’s perfect.”

I watch as his throat bobs. I snort despite the heat climbing my neck.

He shifts an annoyed Amelie automatically, but keeps staring at me a little like the first time we went on a date.

“You look …” He exhales sharply. “Jaysus, Luna. How about we ditch the dinner plans and book a room at The Farmhouse?”

A warm sensation unfurls low in my stomach as I take in his pale lilac dress shirt and formal pants that fit him so well. I slide closer and reach up to brush my lips against his in a featherlight touch. He takes it a step further by sliding his tongue into mine and stealing my breath away.

The doorbell rings as we teeter at the edge of forgetting our date and attacking each other in full view of our poor, beleaguered four-month-old baby.

A hesitant Manon stands at the doorstep with Kel beside her, carrying what looks like enough emergency baby supplies to survive a small apocalypse.

The atmosphere switches from sexy to awkward in the blink of an eye.

Manon looks elegant as always, though I notice the nervous tic of her left eyelid. It is her tell.

Kel smiles first, thankfully breaking the tension.

“Well,” he says brightly, looking between us, “don’t you two look disgustingly attractive? Though I don’t think that shade of lipstick suits you, Isaac.”

Isaac groans. “Please don’t say that in front of my mother.”

“Like we don’t know why we have been twiddling our fingers and toes for the last ten minutes at your doorstep, waiting for you both to break it up,” he replies.

I laugh softly, and some of the tension eases. Kel has never been much of a talker, so this is a surprise.

Manon’s eyes move over the changes in me, taking in the dress and the make-up. I don’t imagine the relief that flickers across her face. It is here as she takes in the transition from haggard to relaxed, pampered mum.

“You look beautiful, Luna,” she says, and her tone is sincere.

“Thank you.”

Another tiny awkward pause follows, broken easily when Amelie lets out a little squeak. My little girl knows all about breaking the ice and good timing.

They both move at the same time towards Amelie and awkwardly bump elbows.

Kel snorts loudly after getting there first.

“My grandbaby loves Grandpa best, don’t you, Cupcake?” he says as she babbles up at him. “You both better get going.”

That breaks the rest of the tension. I leave them with their talk about Kel’s car making funny noises and walk Manon through the bottles of expressed milk and bedtime, even though she clearly knows how to care for my baby. She, however, doesn’t object, and listens carefully. The old Manon would have brushed it aside, letting me know she knew what to do.

I think she understands that this isn’t really about instructions—it’s about trust. A first step in the long walk there.

When we finally leave, Isaac keeps glancing back at the house like he can’t quite believe this is happening.

“You okay?” I ask as we get into the car.

He looks at me for a second, then smiles slowly.

“Yeah,” he says. “I think I am. I am just feeling strange without Amelie, you know?”

I know exactly what he means.

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