Chapter 13

It was early hours when I awoke. Rain was falling softly against the window. Yawning, I glanced at the clock: five a.m. I wouldn’t need to be awake for another two hours. 

I considered going back to sleep, but then Niamh opened her eyes. She stared up at me, her gaze hazy, like she wasn’t sure who I was.

“Bonjour,” I said, brushing a few strands of hair from her forehead.

She yawned widely. “What time is it? Oh God, it’s way too early to be awake.” She turned over and hugged a pillow closely. “Wake me up at a reasonable hour.”

“So, noon?”

“I don’t sleep in that late.”

“Oh, then eleven a.m.”

I could hear her rolling her eyes. I slung an arm over her waist, capturing her hand in mine. I kissed her ear then blew a raspberry against her shoulder.

“Go away! You’re annoying.” She pushed me away, albeit half-heartedly. Our struggle soon devolved into a wrestle match that I won within ten seconds. 

My wife now pinned beneath me, I had both of her wrists in my grip. “You were