had taken place in her bed last night and hot was just one adjective she could use. Other descriptions definitely came to mind but since Dionne had said hot... “Um, you can’t imagine just how hot.”
“Oui! Tell me!”
Bristol laughed. “No details for now. I need to prepare Laramie’s lunch.”
“Okay, but you will tell me later.”
“Yes, later.”
“You sound happy, Bristol.”
Did she? “It’s the holidays. Of course I sound happy.”
“Usually you’re not cheerful this time of year. Those memories of your aunt...”
Yes, there would always be memories of her aunt, who’d died over the holidays. “I know. At least I was here when it happened.”
“Yes, I was there, too. I got to meet her. She was so nice.”
“She was super.”
They talked about other things while Dionne brought Bristol up to date on her family and the other friends Bristol had left behind in Paris. “Bristol?”
“Yes?”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
Bristol frowned. “About what?”
“Your fake marriage. We went to a lot of trouble to make it seem real.”
Bristol didn’t say anything at first. She and Coop still hadn’t decided how to proceed. “A fake divorce makes sense then, doesn’t it? But then why waste money undoing something that wasn’t real anyway?”
“Is that what he wants? To undo it?”
“I don’t know what he wants. It only came up once. We need to talk about it again and make a decision,” she said. “Everyone here thinks I was a widow and then out of the clear blue sky my husband reappears. It placed him in an awkward situation since he had no idea everyone thought we were married until I told him.”
“Why not make it a real marriage under the pretense of renewing your vows?”
“Because there is no love between us.”
Bristol knew what Dionne was going to say before she’d even said it. “There is love, Bristol, at least on your part. You loved him after Paris. Remember, I’m the one who told you he had died. I saw what that did to you and the grief you endured. You loved him too much. That much love doesn’t just go away. There’s no way you don’t still love him.”
Bristol opened her mouth to say that wasn’t true, that she didn’t still love Coop, but she couldn’t lie to Dionne. “It doesn’t matter. I intend to fall out of love with him.”
“Why?”
Bristol drew in a deep breath. “You just said the reason. You saw the way I handled the news of his death and the grief I suffered as a result. I couldn’t risk going through something like that a second time. I can’t and I won’t.”
For the second night in a row Coop stood aside while Bristol tucked their son into bed. Today had been a full day of activities. After breakfast he’d stretched out on the floor and helped Laramie put Lego blocks together. Then after lunch he had bundled his son up in his boots and coat and they’d walked to the park.
Bristol had invited Coop to stay for dinner and now he couldn’t help wondering if she would invite him to stay the night. She really hadn’t invited him last night, but their need for each other had pretty much made the decision for them.
There was a strong possibility she might send him packing after they had the little talk he intended for them to have. It was time he forced her hand on a few things.
“Laramie wants to tell you good-night.”
Bristol’s words broke into Coop’s thoughts and he moved from leaning in the doorway to where his son lay, barely able to keep his eyes open. His son, who had captured his heart the moment he’d heard he existed.
“Daddy, you stay. Sleep in Mommy’s bed, okay?”
He couldn’t help but smile. His son was giving him permission even though Bristol hadn’t done so. Instead of agreeing with Laramie, Coop said, “Good night, Laramie.”
“Stay, Daddy. Sleep in Mommy’s bed. Okay?”
Evidently Laramie wasn’t going to let him off that easy. Was this the same kid who’d pushed his nose in this morning when he discovered Coop was in Bristol’s bed? The same little fellow who’d crawled over him to claim his spot beside his mother?
“He will stay, Laramie. Now you need to go to sleep.”
He glanced over at Bristol. Was that her way of giving him an invitation? But then all she’d assured their son was that he would stay, not necessarily that he would stay in her bed. Did that mean she planned to make him sleep on the sofa?
He’d tried deciphering her mood today. Although she’d been friendly enough, it had seemed as if she had a lot on her mind. That was fine. He had a lot on his, too. But still, he couldn’t help wondering if she regretted the intimacy they’d shared last night. She hadn’t mentioned it and neither had he.
“Love you, Mommy.”
“Love you back, Laramie. See you in the morning.” And just like the night before, Bristol leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. However, unlike last night, before drifting off to sleep Laramie said, “Love you, Daddy.”
Coop felt a tug at his heart and a tightness in his throat. It boggled his mind how a child could love so easily. “I love you back, Laramie.”
He and Bristol watched as their son drifted off to sleep.
* * *
When they left Laramie’s room, Coop told her they needed to talk.
Did he regret sleeping with her last night? The morning had started off well...at least she’d thought so, when he’d returned and surprised her with that beautiful plant. However, since then he’d seemed quiet. More than once she’d noticed him studying her like she was a puzzle he was trying to put together. Why?
She looked across the room at him. He was staring at the Christmas tree. What was he thinking? She’d invited him to spend Christmas with her and Laramie. Then what? When would he be leaving New York for his next mission?
“Ready to talk?”
She wondered why he was asking her when he was the one who initiated the meeting. “I’m ready if you are.”
He nodded and sat in the chair across from her. He looked at her for a few moments then he said, “I spoke with my attorney today.”
“Oh? Why did you feel
