Karlye sighed as he looked down at the sleeping woman in the livingroom.
Crawled up in a ball in deep sleep with the script papers scattered everywhere.
She had been rehearsing her lines every day, any chance she got. With Myra keeping her busy during the day, Andria had decided to do her lines during the night.
This was the third day already, and she looked exhausted.
His eyes lingered on her sleeping face, her long dark lashes fluttered and he smiled.
"You look like her even when you sleep" he commented.
Andria moved, stirring to the edge of the couch, still in slumber. She didn't know that a fall was next.
He moved swiftly, grabbing her mid-air. He sighed gently, holding her in his arms.
Andria breathed cozing up into his warmth, her eyes opened.
He looked down at her as she stared back.
"Karlye ... you're back ", she muttered.
"Mmm", he sounded.
"Welcome home ", Andria smiled, then closed her eyes again, falling back to sleep.
Karlye chuckled.
"Let's get you to bed ", he murmured, carefully getting up with her. Quietly he headed upstairs to the bedroom.
....
"Mommy ....mommy" Andria's eyes flung open. That was Myra's voice, she was crying.
She moved sitting up, but then stopped; these weren't her covers. Her eyes moved around, and she frowned; it wasn't her room either.
She felt something move behind her, slowly. Andria peeled back to see Karlye sleeping next to her.
She froze ...how did she get in his room, or worse, his bed? Since she came to stay with them, Andria slept in another room.
Quietly she pulled the covers off and stepped out of bed.
She ran off, without looking back she didn't notice Karlye watching her.
He chuckled laying back in bed.
"Why did I do that?!" he muttered, wondering why he had bought her in his room instead of hers.
But the peaceful look on her face while she slept was so captivating he wanted to stare at her more.
After getting her into bed, he had changed and quietly lain next to her.
He knew in his heart she wasn't her...his wife was gone, but even if it was for a few minutes, he wanted to dwell in this lie that she was alive and next to him right there.
He could hear Andria's voice soothing the little girl who had woken up and had not seen her in her room.
He had met her by accident and was surprised at how much she looked like his wife.
After they had signed the contract that night, he had passed her videos and pictures of his wife so she could practice overnight to meet Myra. He could have given her more time, but Myra was getting worse, so he had put all his faith in her.
And he wasn't disappointed, Andria had handled Myra with care and warmth only her mother would give. Even if she still lacked in behaving like her, Andria kept improving every day with Trevor "'s help.
A knock came at the door. It was Trevor requesting to come in.
"What is it, Trevor?" he muttered.
Trevor walked in, "I was worried you were down with something serious.
Karlye frowned, stepping out of bed "What nonsense are you saying?"
Trevor raised his eyebrow, " Well, you missed two meetings already ".
"Huh?!" he looked back at Trevor.
"I mean, you slept in ", he let out.
Karlye walked back to bed, grabbing his phone, and checked the time.
"What ....but?"
Trevor smiled, "I am glad your insomnia is getting better ".
Karlye placed his phone down and walked to the bathroom.
"Give me ten minutes, and I will be ready, he said.
"Oh, you don't need to go to the office today. Trevor stopped him.
"What ?" Karlye looked back again.
"I brought your work here and postponed the meeting to tomorrow " he said.
Karlye breathed.
"It was the first time you were late for work, so I handled everything urgent and rushed here to check on you. And since you seem okay, you can handle the rest here at home" Trevor added.
Karlye was quiet for sometime then looked up at him.
"Alright, I will be down soon", I said as I entered the bathroom.
Trevor smiled and left. He had bumped into Andria rushing out of his room when he came upstairs.
Was she the reason he had slept in ?.