MAURA

Finishing up in the bathroom, I slipped into my satin pyjamas, taking a critical look at myself in the mirror. It had been a long time since I’d been bothered enough to do this. I was fifty-five years old, but I thought I looked good, I had a few wrinkles, and my body wasn’t as firm as it used to be, but I kept toned enough doing yoga every day, my hair was long and it was dyed a soft blonde. I’d not been able to embrace my grey yet, maybe one day but today wasn’t going to be that day.

Shaking off my nervousness, I tidied up the sink and put my washbag away in the cupboard under the sink. Switching off the light, I opened the door and stopped at the sight of Theo sitting up against the headboard, shirtless and reading. He was wearing a pair of dark horn-rimmed glasses and if I’d still had ovaries, they’d have been standing up and clapping an ovation. The man was a rough sexy on a good day, but with those glasses, ‘Oh my word,’ the man was smoking hot, and I had a feeling he didn’t know it. I’d have to see if Bev could get me a picture from Gunny so I could see what the man had looked like when he was younger.

Theo looked up, smiling at me as he took off his glasses, and I sighed with disappointment.

“Everything okay, darling?”

“Yeah,” I let out a breathy sigh as I walked towards the bed, pulling back the covers. I got in and lay down, turning towards Theo with a smile.

“I liked you in glasses,” I told him.

Theo chuckled, “I only wear them for reading, so you’ll see them again.”

Settling down on my pillow, I returned his smile, “Good,” I tell him.

“You need anything else, darling?” Theo asked.

Shaking my head, I stifle a yawn. “No, I’m good.”

With a nod, he turned and switched off the bedside light, plunging the room into darkness. Theo searched for my hand in the dark and when he finds it, tugged me gently towards him.

With a happy sigh, I throw my arm and leg over him, settling my head on his shoulder. I’d never done this before even when I was married. It was a first for me—cuddling in bed. I guess it didn’t matter how old you got, there’d always be firsts somewhere along the line. Slowly, I drifted off to sleep, and for the first time in years, I slept like a baby, not waking up once.