Harper tapped her shoulder, offering her a steaming cup of tea.Drea took it gratefully.The sweet mixture soothed her hoarse throat.Harper popped back into the kitchen and collected her own mug, returning to sit down next to Drea on the sofa.
“How are you holding up?”
“I think I called everyone.José is a sweetheart.He’s going to take care of catering and is calling Joanie to cover some shifts.I figured she could do with some experience at opening.The funeral is next Tuesday.”
She needed to go back to work tomorrow though.The day manager at the hotel had been great when she’d called.She’d considered handing in her notice.Her salary from the café would be more than enough to live off now.Maybe she’d resign this week.Or maybe she should tough it out for as long as she could to pay for the funeral, hospital expenses, and credit cards.
“Did you hear back from Cujo?”
“He called.I didn’t pick up.”Her heart hurt even more at the mention of his name.Maybe she should have answered, but she was only just holding it together.One word from him would shatter her, and right now, she needed to be strong.Lord knows she wanted him, but he’d ignored her for the last thirty-six hours and she didn’t have the energy to figure out why.
Maybe it was better this way.This was her life.A shabby leather sofa, a second-hand coffee table, and a hideous green rug to offset the walls yellowed from years of smoking.All looked down on by dollar-store pictures of random saints.Her stomach roiled at the thought of spending one more day in the ugly house.She made a mental note to call a realtor as soon as possible.There was no reason for her to stay, but she had no idea where to go.
“Don’t give up on him yet,” Harper encouraged.“I can’t imagine what having his mom back in his life is like… oh God, Drea, I’m so sorry.I didn’t mean—” Harper’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment and she smacked her forehead with her hand.“Can’t believe I just said that.I’m useless.”
Drea squeezed Harper’s hand, the irony not lost on her that Cujo had a mom who abandoned him back in his life, and she just lost hers.
Drea stood, placed her cup on the table, and began to pace.
Harper stood, putting her cup down, too, then hugged Drea.“I know, sweetie.”
They stood together for a long moment.
“I need to do something.I’m too wired.If I get some cleaning supplies, you want to help me tidy this place?”
“Drea, sweetie, far be it for me to know what’s best for you, but don’t you think having some breakfast and getting some sleep would be better?”
Drea was too keyed up to go to bed.She needed to keep busy until exhaustion pushed her into oblivion.
“I need to keep busy, at least for a while.”She walked to the kitchen and a few minutes later returned with a bag of cleaning supplies.
They worked in silence.Drea started to make a list of repairs required before the house was put up for sale.She piled the medical supplies in the kitchen.After a couple of hours, the ground floor no longer resembled a hospital room, and with Harper’s help, it didn’t smell like one either.
Someone knocked on the door.Three loud raps.“Shortcake?”
Oh God.She really didn’t want to answer.Didn’t want to deal with Cujo right now.
Harper looked at her.“Need me to get it or are we hiding behind the sofa?”
“Come on, Drea, I know you and Harper are in there.I couldn’t leave if I wanted to.Harper’s parking job takes up half the street.”
Harper scowled at the door.“For the love of—”
“Joke, Harper,” he yelled.“Please, Shortcake.”
***
Harper opened the door.“Cujo, listen,” she whispered, “if you can’t be here for her, you should leave now.I’ll make you if I have to.”
Trent’s fierce little warrior.Cujo pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head.“Thanks for the warning, Bruce Lee.”The memory of seeing Harper fight off her attacker, with police closing in from every angle, wouldn’t fade.“I’m an idiot.Just let me tell her.”
Harper hugged him.“I didn’t really want to make you leave.”
“I know.”
The living room alreadylookedmore like a living room.Much of the medical equipment was gone, and the bed was pushed up against the wall.His heart broke a little when he saw Drea elbow-deep in soapy bubbles, on her knees, cleaning the woodwork.He crouched beside her.She continued to scrub the baseboards as if her life depended on it.
“Hey, Shortcake.”She didn’t look up, and heknewwhy—he’d ignored her.He tried to take the cloth out of her hand but she yanked it back.“Drea, sweetie.Look at me.”
