“You’re not okay,” Naomi said. “But you’re alive. And that’s what matters right now.”
Millie managed a weak smile. “Yes, I’m alive.”
“This place was never supposed to turn into this.” Naomi said. “It was supposed to be a place of refuge.”
“I’m sure when Sarah had plans of making it a bed-and-breakfast, she never guessed it had an even more powerful use,” Millie said.
Caleb paused. “Did I tell you that?”
Millie stared up at him. “Tell me what?”
“That Sarah wanted to make this place a bed-and-breakfast?”
She searched her thoughts before shaking her head. “I’m not sure. Someone mentioned it. Why?”
He shook his head as if brushing off the thought. “It’s probably nothing. I just don’t mention that to our guests. Not usually.”
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Sissy appeared in the doorway, one hand pressed to her swollen belly, her face pale with concern. “Millie . . . are you—? Is everything?—?”
“I’m fine,” Millie insisted. “You shouldn’t be up. You should be resting.”
Caleb edged closer to her, almost as if he feared her legs might give out.
She didn’t mind his concern and attention. It felt good to know someone was looking out for her.
“I couldn’t rest. Not with everything happening.” Sissy moved closer, her eyes wide and frightened.
“It’s safe now,” Caleb murmured.
Relief flooded Sissy’s face. “I was so scared for you when I realized what was happening.”
The younger woman looked genuinely distressed—her hands trembling slightly, her breathing shallow.
A pregnant woman shouldn’t be dealing with this kind of stress. It wasn’t good for her or the baby.
“You should sit down,” Millie said. “Please. I don’t want you going into early labor because of all this.”
Sissy nodded and lowered herself carefully into one of the kitchen chairs. Georgie immediately jumped into her lap, and she stroked the little dog’s fur with shaking hands.
Naomi moved to the stove. “I’ll make tea. Warm drinks always make everything better.”
As she busied herself with the kettle, Millie sank onto one of the barstools, suddenly exhausted as the adrenaline started to fade.
Caleb lingered close.
Biscuit pressed against her legs, and she reached down to touch his head.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, normal seemed within reach.
But there was still something niggling at the back of Millie’s mind. Something that didn’t fit.
She thought about the night the dogs had gotten loose. About how all the kennels had been opened, creating chaos.
About the cameras that had been vandalized.
About how Biscuit had gotten out of her room earlier today.
Too many things going wrong at convenient times.
