BOUNDARIES BLURRED.

“Emilia? Are you in there?” Clara’s little voice carried through the door as she knocked softly.

A sharp knock rattled the door.We both froze, breaking the kiss. Alexander’s hands stilled on my waist. He leaned his forehead against mine. “We'll continue this later.”

I shoved gently at his chest. “Go, hide.”

He stepped back but he had a flushed look on his face, like it was torture to pull away. I scrambled out of the bed and adjusted my dress. Then I opened the door a crack, crouching down to her level so Clara wouldn't see inside.

“Clara, it's late. Go back to bed, you have school tomorrow.”

“But I wanted to say goodnight again”, she rubbed her eyes.

I smiled at her. “You already did sweetie. I want you to rest enough for school tomorrow. I'll be waking you up very early.”

She hugged me, then huffed. “Fine. Good night Emilia.” She padded down the hall, and I watched her go, fascinated by her small frame.

When I was certain she was gone, I shut the door and leaned against it. I refused to meet his eyes. “That can’t happen again.”

Alexander bit his lower lip as his eyes dragged through my body. “We'll see, Emilia. I know you want me too.”

I opened the door for him and turned away as he left, my whole body trembling.

******

The next morning I handed Clara a cereal bowl and grabbed a cup of coffee myself. She smiled when I did. “Emilia, did you sleep in Papa’s room?”

My coffee went down the wrong way and I sputtered. Alexander was joining us as well, and he burst out laughing.

“No!” I blurted, still coughing and throwing him dirty looks. “I was in my room.”

Clara cocked her head to the side. “Why are you laughing?”

Alexander cleared his throat. “Clara. Eat your breakfast.”

I muttered, “You could have denied it a little faster.” His mouth almost curved, but he hid it by grabbing my cup and taking a slow sip from it as if it was his right. My chest suddenly became hot, and my cheeks flamed because of the casual intimacy.

Clara shoveled another spoonful of cereal into her mouth while swinging her little legs under her chair. “Mrs. Green says that I have to bring something for show and tell tomorrow.” She said around the spoon. “I think I’ll bring my seashell. The one daddy gave me for my birthday. He said a mermaid gave it to him.”

“That’s a good choice,” I said, smiling as I stirred sugar into my coffee and refused to look at Alexander.

Clara grinned at me, pleased, before launching into another story about her art project. I nodded along, letting her voice wash over me, until I realized Alexander wasn’t listening to Clara at all.

He was now standing at the opposite end of the kitchen, making his own coffee, and he was staring at me. I shifted nervously, suddenly getting the urge to tuck my hair behind my ear.

Clara, oblivious to what was going on between us, scraped the last of her cereal and hopped down from the chair. “I’m going to get dressed!” she announced and then bolted toward the stairs.

The kitchen fell quiet again and Alexander came closer. “You really shouldn’t wake up looking like this, Emilia.”

I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my mouth tugged upward despite myself as I wrapped my robe around me. He was a whisper away from kissing me when footsteps pattered down the stairs.

“Ready!” Clara announced brightly, spinning in her little dress.

We both jerked back. I busied myself with her coat while Alexander coughed into his hand, all composure again. Outside, I walked Clara to the waiting car and she hugged me tightly. “You’ll be here when I get back?”

“Of course,” I whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.” She smiled at me as I closed the door. I watched the car drive away and I waved until the car disappeared down the street.

“Emilia.”

I turned. A woman stood near the gate with her arms folded, I had not noticed her earlier. I swallowed hard and frowned.

“Maman?”

It was my mother in a Chanel dress, looking as intimidating as always. She straightened and patted down her dress, but her voice was clipped. “We need to talk.”