Chapter 40
She should say no. Tell him to go back to his own bed.
But instead, Summer found herself sliding to the far side of the bed, at the same time lowering the blankets to invite him in.
She heard his ragged exhale, and then, in three strides, he was across the room and climbing into the bed, his arms pulling her immediately into a fierce hug. He buried his face in her hair, and she buried hers in his shoulder, his earthy herbal scent sending a wave of peace that calmed the turbulence of her heart.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered.
She tried to nod, but his hug was too tight to allow for movement.
“You’re suffocating me a little,” she spoke into his shoulder.
“Sorry.” His grip eased a fraction, but his arms still encircled her.
She slid her head back a little so that they were face-to-face on her pillow. “I’m sorry,” she whispered into the dark.
“For what?” His hands splayed across her back like a safety net.
“For trapping you.”
Benjamin chuckled, his arms tightening again. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m the one who has you trapped at the moment.”
But Summer couldn’t laugh. “I’m serious, Benjamin. I meant what I said before about not holding you to your vows, but now—”
“Now nothing has changed,” Benjamin said firmly. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m sorry, but you’re the one who’s stuck with me.” His smile was soft but also hopeful, as if he were waiting for her to agree. But how could she?
“If something happens to me—” she started, but Benjamin cut her off with a raspy growl.
“It won’t.”
“But if it does,” she persisted. “You’re going to be stuck raising Max on your own.”
“Summer.” Benjamin lifted a hand off her back and pressed it gently to her cheek. “I love that boy. I would do anything for him. You know that.”
She nodded. She did know that. It was how they had ended up here in the first place.
“And I would do anything for you too,” he whispered.
She closed her eyes. She fully believed that. He was too noble to do anything less.
“I finally got ahold of Judah.” His fingers moved into her hair, rubbing soft circles into her scalp. “He said he’ll get us the soonest appointment he can.”
“I still don’t think that’s necessary.” She tried to open her eyes, but his hands in her hair felt too good. “The doctors here are fine.”
“It’s necessary,” Benjamin insisted. “He’s one of the foremost heart experts in the country.”
“But won’t it be awkward for you?” According to Benjamin, it had been almost ten years since Judah had cut off most contact with the family. It was hard to believe that even the perfect Calvano family had a black sheep—if one of the nation’s best heart doctors could be considered a black sheep.
“Maybe.” Benjamin’s fingers moved from her hair to her shoulders, and Summer shivered and let herself snuggle in a little closer to him. “But it’s not like I have a problem with him, and I don’t see why he should have one with me.”
“Who does he have a problem with?”
“Honestly, I’m not really sure. I was young when he left for college, and he just slowly stopped coming home. I used to think it was because he was a spy.”
Summer laughed softly, resting her face against his chest.
“I think the biggest thing was he had a lot of professors and classmates who were telling him that the faith he’d grown up with was foolish. Simeon said that the last time he came home, he and Dad had a big fight. And after that, he just stopped coming home.”
Drowsiness pulled at Summer, but she liked listening to Benjamin talk. She liked feeling the low rumble of his voice in his chest as she pressed her face into him. “Is your family going to be mad?” she murmured sleepily.
“Nope.” Benjamin kissed the top of her head. “And who knows? Maybe we can convince him to come home with us.”
“Mmm.” Summer felt herself drifting off to sleep, the word “home” echoing pleasantly in her dreams.