“That’s okay.”
A lock of hair had fallen to cover part of her face. He reached up and pushed it back, his fingers grazing over her neck. Her shiver was unmistakable.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to overstep.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay.”
They stayed standing like that, looking at each other for almost a minute, and it wasn't weird. He liked her eyes and her smile.
“Do you remember your old email address?” he asked after a moment.
Her face screwed up to the side like she was thinking, then she nodded. "I think so."
“Once I get a hold of a computer, I can help you get logged in.”
“Oh, that would be…good, I guess.”
“It might give you some insight into what happened once Brent took everything away from you.”
She nodded, then a frown turned her lips down. "I just don't want to be disappointed. I don't know if I could go through another round of losing friends."
“Have you talked to the police about what happened?”
She shook her head. “Not really. They asked their questions that one day, but they haven’t come back around to ask more.”
"When you do talk to them, one of us should be there with you. It could be me, or Danika, or one of the other women. I just don't want you to have to deal with this alone."
She picked up the pillow he would be sleeping on and picked at a loose string on the pillowcase. “Um, do you think the police will arrest me?”
He shook his head. “What for?”
“Brent always said the police would do bad things to me if I went to them. He said that I’d make them mad, and they’d lock me up.”
He placed his hand on her arm. “No way. You did nothing wrong.”
“He said he would tell them I killed our parents.”
“But you didn’t.”
Her eyes went wide as her gaze flew to his. “No. I never would have done anything like that. I couldn’t have.”
“With the things he’s done, there is no way they would believe him over you. You’ll be okay.”
She nodded. “I hope so. I don’t even know what to do with myself.”
The door was open, and he heard Elowen talking, so he wasn't surprised when she stepped into the room.
“Hey, Calla, Thario. How are you both doing?”
"Okay," he said, though it was kind of a lie.
Calla shrugged. "I don't know what to do with my life. I'm glad to be free, but I have no clue what to do now."
"Why don't you come live with me and Griz for a few months?"
Calla cocked her head to the side. “Why?”
Elowen flashed a big smile. "For one, it would be in the country, and I've found that the sunrises and sunsets in the mountains are healing. We have a garden, and you could help us keep the weeds at bay. Staying busy helps while you make decisions about your future. That way, there won't be pressure on you because you would be working, even if it was only working in the garden. You'd have time to sit and relax, too. You could take a class or do art. Something to decompress."
