Sometime after midnight, I lay across my husband’s chest listening to his heart beat and just when I thought the numbness had consumed me whole, he breathed life back into me.

“I would have chosen you,” he whispered against my hair, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of my head. “Again, and again.”

My arms tightened around him and he held me until I fell asleep.

I guess I had to thank my sister for one thing and one thing only.

She gave me Tor.

19. ‘Til death and beyond

Chapter 19

‘Til death and beyond

Vittoria

It was around midday when I strolled up to Tor’s office under the guise of bringing him lunch, when really, I just wanted to be close to him. I sat perched on the edge of his desk and watched as he lifted the macchiato to his lips. That’s when I pounced. “You don’t talk about your previous wife.”

I wasn’t an amazing cook, but I had no complaints about my coffee. He placed the small cup back down onto its saucer. “No, I suppose I don’t.”

“Will you tell me about her?”

For a moment, I thought he was going to decline, but then he reached out and took my calf in his hands, massaging gently. “Her name was Amara and, the short answer is, one day she was here and the next, she wasn’t.”

Oh. “Was she ill?”

“Yes.”

His hands felt amazing. “I’m sorry. That must have been hard.”

“She was never a part of my plans. Like you and I, we both went into the marriage knowing what it was, but she had this way of making things work. She was tough. Resilient. Not afraid of a goddamn thing.” A small smile tilted at his lips. “And God forbid you came for one of our kids.” He whistled long and low. “When she came marching, even I moved out of her way.”

I found myself smiling too. “She was a good mother.”

“The best.”

Girl, why are you torturing yourself? “And you loved her.”

“Very much.”

Ouch.

It was then that I realized I was jealous. Over a ghost.

Maybe it was the fact that there was an abundance of photos of this particular ghost around the house, or maybe it was that she was gorgeous in gleaming light way, but if I were being completely honest, it was that while their wedding photo sat up on the mantle, our wedding frame remained empty and every time I passed it, a bitter taste filled my mouth.

I always knew I wouldn’t be anybody’s first choice, but right then, I couldn’t help but feel second best.