Page 219 of In at the Deep End

They always stayed at the Sleepy Dormouse. The staff had begun to recognise them. The first time someone greeted them by name, Matt had stared at Owen in surprise.

The second time, he’d smiled.

By the third, it had felt like coming home.

They rode until their backsides hurt, they ate too much, drank wine they didn’t need and fell into bed exhausted. Sometimes they talked until two in the morning.

Sometimes they didn’t talk at all.

The island had changed for both of them.

It was no longer the place where Owen had finally trusted Matt with the parts of himself he’d spent years protecting.

It was where they went when they wanted to remember that they’d chosen each other.

They were still choosing, again and again, every day.

Matt gazed down at Rosie, who had fallen asleep against his chest. “She’s out.”

Owen smiled. “Good.”

“You want to hold her?”

He hesitated. “She looks comfortable where she is.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Owen carefully took Rosie from him. She stirred, then settled against his chest.

Matt watched him. “You’re good at that.”

“At holding babies?”

“At this.” Owen glanced up and Matt smiled. “Life.”

Owen’s expression grew warm. “I’ve had a lot of practice.”

Matt stepped closer and rested his head against Owen’s shoulder.

“I love you.”

Owen kissed his temple. “I love you too.”

It still did something to Matt every time.

He gazed around the kitchen, taking in the photos on the fridge, the garden waiting for them beyond the hatch…

The man holding a four-month-old baby as though he’d been doing it all his life.

This was home, because this was where Owen was.

Owen stared at Rosie. “Think we’ll ever have one of these?”

Matt went still.

Owen glanced at him. “I’m not asking for an answer now.”

Matt smiled. “Good.”