A Price Above Rubies

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Leon doesn't say anything for a long time. Hilal's insides are cold, trembling and she pulls the blanket up higher along her shoulder. The knowledge is there. She curses her inability to lie to this beloved husband of hers. Yorgo's dream has thrown her. The bad men took you and Papa away. Her greatest fear, laid bare by her little boy. What brought on that dream? How did Yorgo know? Was it just a little boy's imaginings and nothing more? 

She can't sleep. She could tell herself it's a mother's worry for her sick little boy but it's fear. Fear for the look in her husband's eyes. That knowing look. 

He strokes her cheek and all he says is for her to try and get some sleep. Leon doesn't mention what he knows or doesn't know, doesn't confront her about his suspicion and instead of making her think that maybe she's wrong and he doesn't actually know, his silence scares her. She closes her eyes, trying to obey but she can still hear his even breath and Yorgo's uneven, weezy breath. 

She manages what feels like only a few minutes of unconsciousness thanks to her exhaustion. She wakes up, hearing water splashing and Leon and Yorgo's low voices coming from the bathroom. She knocks softly and then opens the door to find Leon sitting on the edge of the tub, half soaked and a slightly more animated Yorgo in the water. 

He gives her a weak smile. "Hi, Mommy. My nose can bweef a bit more today." 

"I might as well have just gotten in the tub with him," Leon remarks pointing at his own soaked clothes and half damp hair. 

Hilal grins and kisses him briefly before leaning over to check Yorgo's forehead. It's still warmer than she'd hoped. She dips a hand in the water and its almost ice cold. She bites her lip and shares a look with Leon. "Sweetie, is the water too cold for you?" Hilal asks Yorgo.

Again that weak smile. "Oh no, Mommy. It feels so so nice," he insists gather the water in his hands and spilling it onto his head, giggling. 

She tries to feel reassured because the doctor mentioned that the fever would be a little while before it got better but as long as the congestion eased they could be certain he was on the mend. 

"Just a few more minutes and then we have to take you out before you turn into a raisin," Leon says. 

"Papa, I not grapes!" Yorgo insists splashing him.

"You're not?" Leon teases. 

"How about Mommy makes your favorite for breakfast today, hmm?" Hilal says, grabbing a large towel. 

"Pancakes!" Yorgo exclaims, the sharp inhale of breath sending him into a coughing fit that makes him whimper from the pain it clearly causes his throat. 

Hilal feels a beat of guilt as Leon scoops him out of the water and hands him dripping into Hilal's toweled arms. "Well, one pancake." She holds him close after wrapping him in the towel. 

"One?" Yorgo protests, nearly head butting her chin. "That not breakfast. That's snack!"

"If you can hold that one down, Mommy promises she'll make you more tomorrow, deal?"

He sticks out his little hand. "Deal, Mommy." 

She watches Leon pull off his drenched shirt and feels a warm beat of lust before handing him another towel. "The last thing we need is you getting sick too."

"Promise to give me a bath if I do?" he whispers in her ear before taking the extra towel from her, making her blush. 

Yorgo pleads with them to be able to play with his trains for a little bit in the living room while Hilal makes breakfast. Hilal doesn't have the heart to deny him but insists he has to stay wrapped up in his blankets