She hesitated. “I can be.”
“Why are you still hesitating? Isn’t it better than the sofa at June’s?” I had no idea where her sister lived or what her place looked like, but January had mentioned that it couldn’t accommodate her kids. Knowing her, I figured she had been understating it and that, in truth, it could hardly accommodateher.
“How did you know?” She patted her palm on my bare chest.
“Lucky guess.”
“She doesn’t have any normal food in the house. But … I don’t belong in Wayford, in all these big houses.”
“I’ve never belonged anywhere, January. So, I’ll belong where you are.”
“Show me,” she whispered against my lips.
I did. Right there on the counter. Hearing my name rippling out of her mouth when I was inside her was the closest I knew to belonging, to being home.
Chapter 29
January
The next morning, I had a shift, but leaving Oliver’s bed felt impossible.
I wanted to hold on to him and never let go. A part of me was still afraid that if I did, he’d disappear, though he showed no sign of wanting to let go of me either.
It was easy to forget the world in here, but it was there, waiting. Waiting for me to get back to work and face the fact that Vi’s absence was for good.
“Will you let me drive you or at least take my car?” Oliver mumbled into my neck. We were tangled in each other and in the sheets, neither one of us willing to abandon the cocoon we had in each other. The morning sun filled the room, and even from my spot on the bed, I could see the ocean blue and glimmering outside.
“Nah, I’m good with Pretty.”
“Pretty needs a day at the spa, and I know the mechanic for that,” he mumbled, still inhaling my skin.
I chuckled and ran my hands over his back, from his nape down to his waist and beyond. He was still inside me. “I have to get my things from June’s. I don’t have more than the few garments I brought with me for the boys’ visit.”
“You don’t need any,” he teased, rolling to lie beside me, raking a hand over my bare thighs. He turned his head to look at me. We smiled at each other, and he took my hand in his. “Come back here after work.”
“I will.”
When I got to work, Sylvie called me into her office. When she told me what my task was for the day, I knew why she had chosen me. She was right; the best way to accept something was to face it.
I welcomed Mrs. Mildred Dane to her new room that still smelled of fresh paint. I chatted with her and her son, who had brought her and helped put her things in the closet and bedside table. She was a sweet woman. We organized the pictures of her nine grandchildren on top of the dresser. On its side that was closer to the wall, there was still the Hot Lips sticker of the Rolling Stones fan who had lived in this room for twelve years.
“You’re going to love this room. It’s the best in the house.” I smiled at her.
After work, stopping by June’s, I took my suitcase that was mostly packed. She had taken a day off and was away for the entire day, so I texted to let her know that I was staying in Wayford, thanked her for everything, and promised I’d drop the key off at her shop.
“Drop it when I’m back,” she wrote. “Wayford, huh?”
“It’s roomier there,” I replied.
“This family has secrets. Tell me when you feel you can.”
I didn’t respond. My sister knew me enough not to push.
My heart throbbed in a whole new way when I reached Oliver’s house. I entered through the back, passing by the full pool and through the French doors. It felt entirely different than before. I was now free to walk up to Oliver, who stood on the balcony with his back to me, and slither my arms around him, lean my head on his broad back, and breathe him in, feel his strength and warmth seeping into me.
He placed his palms over my forearms, pivoting his head to try to look at me behind him. “How was it?”
I hadn’t even told him about my apprehension going to work for my first regular shift since Vi had died. But he guessed.
