And how could there not be? The instinct to defend is primal, fundamental. And when you’ve been burned, the instinct only getsstronger.
Britt closes the closet and doesn’t say another word aboutit.
* * *
“Got it all, Aubs?”My dad stands at the end of the driveway, armscrossed.
“Yes.” I feel Britt’s look, but I keep my gaze on mydad.
“I’m gonna get going,” Dad says. “Someone spotted that lion from last weekend.” He looks unsure of what to do next. He’s ready to go on his short trip to whatever mountain range he’s been called to, but he’s hesitating. He won’t be coming home to me and Claire, and I think we’ve both realized this is an effect of the move we hadn’tconsidered.
“Be safe.” I pull him in for a hug, blinking back tears. “Call me when you getin.”
His neck moves with his gulp. He steps back. “Will do.” He turns to Isaac. “You take care of mygirls.”
Isaac sticks out his hand. “Always,John.”
They shake, and my dad moves to my car, tapping on Claire’s partially rolled down window. He’s already said goodbye to her, so he onlywaves.
He gets in his truck and backs out, throwing up a hand to the three of us in the driveway. I see him swipe the back of his palm across his eyes before putting it indrive.
“You ready?” Isaacasks.
I move my eyes off my dad’s retreating truck,nodding.
Britt hugs me. “See you at work onMonday.”
I echo her words. She gets in her car and pulls away from the curb. I watch her go, fighting the urge to run after her. They've really left me with him. And now I'm supposed to leavehere.With him. The realness of this is finally hittingme.
“I think it’s our turn.” Isaac grabs my hand and runs his thumb across the top of it. His gentle touch soothes mynerves.
“Mommy! I’m bored.” Claire yells from her carseat.
We chuckle and head for our cars. Isaac pauses at his opendoor.
“See you at home.” The words put a smile on his face. He climbs in and shuts thedoor.
Those words… I wish they put a smile on my face. They strike fear in me. But also hope. Hope this all goes well. This thing we’re doing, in the name of giving our daughter the verybest.
“That’s all of them.”Isaac sets the final box on the floor beside my new bed. “I wasn’t sure what kind of bedding you’d like. You can get something different if you don’t likeit.”
I lean back on the bed, one hand supporting me, while my other hand trails along the stitching in the royal blue comforter. “You did a good job. It’slovely.”
“I thought it might match your eyes.” He bends, his gaze level with mine. Brown eyes penetrate me until my insides twist. “I was right,” hewhispers.
My breath feels hollow in my throat, and my chest feels like it’s fumbling forheartbeats.
He doesn’t move away, though by now I’m certain his check of my eye color versus the bedspread is complete. The seconds tick by, and I’m starting to notice things, like how Isaac’s lower lip is a tiny bit bigger than his upper, and his gradual, barely there widow’s peak. And the tiny freckle beside hisnose.
I clear my throat, leaning away at the same time. I need distance.Now.
Isaac straightens and steps back. “I’ll go make dinner.” He pauses on his way out the door and looks back at me. “You don’t care if we have ice cream for dessert, doyou?”
“No.” I shake my head slowly, a tad confused. I’m sure my face reflectsit.
He puts his hands in the pockets of his jeans and shrugs. “Just checking.” He starts to leave, then turns back quickly. “Lions don’t live inArizona.”
I stare at him, perplexed. “Huh?”
