The gentle movement and emotion in his voice was almost her undoing and when he wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his cheek against her belly, of their own volition her arms wrapped around his head and held him there to her, aware tears were forming behind her closed eyelids. His grip tightened when she sobbed and tried to muffle the noise. She wasn’t sure how long they stayed in the position, but eventually when he moved to get to his feet, she looked up at his face to note his eyes were as red as hers likely were. He gently kissed her forehead and then spent the next several minutes silently using the various products he had in the shower to wash her hair and gently scrub her down. He was taking care of her in a way she had forgotten he used to swear he loved. He made quick w
