“What you wanted was an independent life without a man dragging you down. But a devil took your boy, and you made a deal with another devil to get him back. And although this devil really wants you to be happy, he can’t let go. He did that once and it nearly killed him. But he’s trying hard to give you some independence. It’s not what he wants, but he’s trying.”

I stroked his face. “We’ve both been through so much, baby. Let’s try to make this second act a fresh start, okay? We both deserve that.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his lips. “Are you sure you don’t want me to pack your clothes?”

“No, I’ll do it. You never did it as well as I did anyway.”

I picked up a pair of his black pants and swatted him with it.

He said, “How’re your cuts?”

I looked down at the bandages on my knees. I scratched them while kneeling on the balcony floor, doing … I said, “They’re fine.”

“Good.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll push the house through escrow. I know you’re going to want to move in as soon as you get Sanjay. I’m going to Mumbai in two weeks, so there may be a week or so that you and the kids will have to stay with me before escrow closes. I take it that’ll be okay.”

Again, my eyes became pools. “Do whatever you think is best.” I stroked his cheek again. “Christopher, please be careful.”

“I’m not worried.”

“I am.”

“You have more at stake.”

I looked down. “I’m petrified that something will go terribly wrong. With Sanjay, of course, but also with you. I don’t want you to get hurt either.”

“That could happen. And that’s what makes it so exciting. If it was a gimme, you wouldn’t need my help.” He drew me close, picked up my chin, and kissed me hard. “How did I get so lucky? To get a second chance with the only woman I have ever loved.” Another kiss. “What angel was looking after me?” Another kiss. “Teresa, I’ll do everything in my power to get your boy back. These last months have been worth all the pain of the last eleven years.” He kissed my wedding band. “If I died tomorrow, I’d die happy.”

I started to cry. How could such beauty and such cruelty occupy one body? I hugged him tightly. “Don’t die tomorrow.”

“I’ll try my best.” He looked into my eyes. “I want you very badly. Do you want me?”

I nodded. My eyes swept across the bed covered with clothing and then to his three pairs of exotic-hide boots resting on the floor. The heels added two inches to his barefoot six-four-plus height. A slow smile spread across my lips.

He said, “What?”

“Nothing.”