Joy was surprised when Lawrence wrapped his arms around her, around all the blankets, holding her close to him.
"Kitten, why did you leave me?"
Joy thought back to that day, after she'd showered and stepped out into the living area. How she'd decided he was mad at her. But he hadn't been angry when he left, had he?
Had she invented this whole problem?
"I'm so sorry, Daddy. Forgive me, please."
His lips parted, and his eyes bore into her the same way they had when he'd grabbed her by her shirt in the hallway.
"Daddy, take me again."
Her body was tired and weak, but she needed him to forgive her. She needed to know she could have him inside of her again. That pressure and warmth in her belly would be so welcome.
He stared at her.
"No."
Joy's heart dropped, tugging a cry from her throat.
"Please!"
"You need to rest."
He was so abrupt. But he put the cup back to her lips a moment later.
The soup was good. She drank all of it, and felt better when he nodded his approval.
Then her body pulled her into a long and dreamless sleep.
~~~
She could hear his breathing when she woke. He was asleep at the farthest edge of the bed, with a pillow behind his back, between them.
She stretched a hand out to touch his shoulder, but couldn't quite reach. So she shifted closer, carefully extracting the pillow from behind him and taking its place. Then pressed her cheek to his shoulder, rubbing her face in. Happy to be close again.
The cold had left her bones, but his body was still a welcome source of warmth. She stretched her whole length along his, and felt him tense in front of her, then relax again.
She realised, in this moment, warming against him, that Lawrence had saved her life.
She'd been out in the cold so long, first walking for hours and then sitting on that cold cement, shivering hard as her own sweat chilled on her skin. But by the time he found her, the chill had disappeared. False warmth and drowsiness had set in.
She'd thought it would be okay to sleep out there by the front door, waiting for him. Or for the buses to start running again, if he never showed up. She was lucky he'd gotten home when he did.