Sophie gives Dee a pair of Tom’s flannel pajamas and the two of them climb into bed. When Sophie turns on her side to sleep, Dee spoons her. She presses her large breasts into Sophie’s back, and Sophie wonders if Dee is really honouring what they’ve agreed to. Sophie isn’t attracted to Dee but she isn’t sure how to stop anything going on without looking presumptuous and rude. She’s never developed that muscle where sex is concerned.
But Dee falls asleep right away. Sophie lies in the dark, feeling uneasy.
She hears her younger son, Sam, waking up and padding down the hall. He opens the door and comes in. Sam is twelve years old—a little chubby and still shorter than Sophie. He stands in front of his mother, gazing down at her with gentle eyes.
“Can I sleep with you?”
It’s still not that uncommon for Sam to sleep in his parents’ bed. Sophie and her husband, Tom, are a little worried about it, but they also understand. It’s hard to sleep alone. After all, they don’t.
And then Sam says, “Who’s that?”
“A friend of mine,” Sophie says, lifting the covers for him. “She’s sleeping over.”
Sam climbs into the bed in front of Sophie and lies on his side and falls back asleep. Now Sophie has Dee on one side and Sam on the other. She lies sandwiched between them in the dark, with her arms around Sam and Dee’s arms around her. Her eyes are open for most of the night, as if she’s on watch duty. As if she has the power to stop what’s already arrived.
Check out the full story in our summer issue, out in July 2025!