After bath

The steam was still rising in the bathroom, but Lara held James in her arms and stepped softly out of the shower. Drops of water dripped from both of their skins, making a ticking sound on the white tiles. Lara grabbed the large, warm, woolen towel—the one hanging from the dryer—with one hand and wrapped it around them both; a soft, white towel that smelled of lavender soap and the warmth of home. James still had his legs wrapped around Lara’s waist, his head on her chest, his breathing slow and warm.

**Drying**

Lara sat on the wooden bath bench, set James across her legs, and unrolled the towel. First she dried her own hair with the corner of the towel—his blond hair was dark and heavy with water, a few strands stuck to his face. Then she wrapped the towel around James, starting at his head. With both hands, she took James’s wet hair in the towel and squeezed it; the water was absorbed into the towel, making a soft, wet sound. Then she rubbed the towel over his head, like a hat, and dried it in circular motions. James laughed, shaking his head and his hair fluffed up.

Lara lowered the towel, draped it over James’s shoulders. His skin was still warm and pink from the hot water. With the corner of the towel, she wiped the drops of water from behind his ears, from his neck, from his armpits. James was tickled, laughing. Lara put her lips on his shoulder – a soft kiss – and pulled the towel over his chest. Then she wrapped the towel around his waist, dried his small buttocks, ran her finger between his toes and caught the water. James stretched his legs, spread his toes, and Lara went between them with the warm towel, dried them, placed a kiss on his ankle.

**Combing Hair**

Lara put James down on the floor, sat behind him. She took a large wooden comb with soft teeth from the drawer next to the mirror. James sat between her legs, his back to Lara. Lara took the towel off her head, parted her messy, puffy hair with her fingers. She started combing at the ends, gently, without pulling. Each time the comb slid through her hair, it made a soft rustling sound. James closed his eyes, tilted his head back.

Lara held her hair with her left hand, combed it with her right. From behind the ear to the ends, layer by layer. Sometimes she put the comb aside, combed it with her fingers, untangled the knots. Then she picked up the comb again. When her hair was straightened, Lara placed the comb on the ledge, wrapped her arms around James's face, and pressed her lips to the back of his head—a long kiss, her warm breath curling through his hair. James smiled, tilted his head back, and kissed Lara again, this time on the crown of his head.

**Getting dressed**

Lara picked James up, carried him to the bedroom. On the bed, the clothes were ready:

• a loose T-shirt with a sleepy rabbit print,

• short gray velvet shorts,

• knee-high wool socks with a pattern of autumn leaves.

Lara sat James down on the bed, kneeling beside him. She pulled the T-shirt over his head first—the soft fabric slipped over his skin, the sleeves hung over his slender shoulders. Lara reached under the T-shirt, caressed the skin of his back, placed a kiss on his stomach. Then he took the shorts, James lifted his legs, the shorts slipped over his legs, up to his waist. Lara smoothed the waist of the shorts with her finger, placed a kiss on his knee.

He put on the socks last. He took the right sock, took his leg in his hand, pulled the sock up from the toes to the knee. He ran a finger up his calf, placed a kiss on his ankle. He repeated the same with the left sock. James was now dressed, his hair smooth, his skin warm and dry.

Lara hugged him, they lay on the bed. James laid his head on Lara’s chest, folded his legs. Lara pulled the blanket around them, ran her hand through his freshly combed hair, and placed a kiss on his forehead – a soft, long kiss, mingled with the sound of the rain. James closed his eyes, resting in Lara’s arms, clean, warm and safe, for the rest of the autumn day.