When The Sky Is Too Grey

Chapter 3

The next morning Eliza wakes to find herself alone in bed. She doesn’t think much of it at first, but as she takes in a deep breath and catches his familiar scent on the bed sheets the memories of the previous night come flooding back to her. Rubbing her puffy eyes she finds herself feeling disappointed that he was no longer there, yet knew she shouldn’t be surprised. He had probably got up early and headed back to his office to work.

Stretching out Eliza decides she should probably get up and see to William as he’d surely be needing his morning feed, but as she gets out of bed she realises he is not in his crib and that the sun is higher than expected.

Covering herself with her dressing gown she makes her way to Alexander’s office. He’d probably be struggling to get his work done with the hungry child in tow. But when she opens the door she is surprised to find the room empty.

Hearing the clang of dishes in the distance she turns and head in the direction of the kitchen.

“John, I asked you to place it into the sink carefully, not throw it in!” she hears Alexander scold.

“Sorry!” The boy sing-songs, rushing past his mother as she reaches the doorway. “Hi Mama!” he chirps, not waiting for a reply as he runs upstairs.

Alexander turns around, hearing her name and smiles. “Eliza, hey.”

“Hey.” She replies, watching as he tries to juggle William in one hand and a plate of food in the other. The older children must be either at school or with their tutors she realises, as it appears to be just the two of them left.

“Sit down, I have breakfast.” He tells her, placing the plate down and pulling out a chair.

She obliges, keeping her eyes on him as she takes the seat and he suddenly becomes nervous.

“Is this not okay?” He asks, bouncing William in his arms who has just become aware of his mother’s presence, fussing for her.

“It’s quite adequate.” She tells him, lifting her arms out to take the baby from his arms.

“Are you sure?” He questions, handing the boy to her.

“Mmhmm.” She nods, before looking to her son and adjusting her nightgown so she can allow him to latch onto her.

Alexander grins, he could never bore of watching his children feed from their mother, and for once Eliza was making some sort of eye contact with William as he fed, although part of him worries that might only be so she wouldn’t have to look at him.
He stands there awkwardly watching her, not knowing if this was allowed or not, but as she kept quiet, so did he.
Eventually he pulls out the chair opposite her, and she glances up at his movement.

He worries that her face will be reproaching, that she wouldn’t want to be alone with him like this once the sun was up, but instead she’s looking at him like she wants to say something.

He shoots her a soft smile of encouragement and she looks back down to William, stroking his head gently.

“You weren’t there when I woke up.” She says.

He frowns, did she sound disappointed?

“No. The kids were up already and you were sound asleep for once. I didn’t want to wake you.” He explains.

Her eyes meet his again, “So you didn’t go back and sleep in your office?”

He shakes his head, “No, I…” God, maybe he should have gone back to his office, she never said she allowed him to stay the whole night. But she had seemed so relaxed in sleep for once and it felt so good to be in bed next to her again that he couldn’t bare move or leave her.