Like her.
How must it have been for Vienna the last eight months? Hurting. Scared. Deserted by her selfish friends.
How lonely she must have felt.
It’s something I understand all too well.
And shit. I don’t want her to be alone anymore.
Pushing up from my chair, I head over to the fireplace. Crouching in front of it, I start piling fresh logs and kindling inside. Over my shoulder, I say to Vienna, “Stay there. I’m just getting the fire started. It’s too damn cold in here.”
Once the flames have taken hold, I get back up again. Then I grab a folded blanket from the chest by the window, give it a sharp shake, and bring it over to Vienna. I lay it over her legs and hold out my hand. “Give me your coat,” I tell her. “I’ll hang it up for you. And get warm beneath the blanket.”
Her features wrinkle in confusion. “Caleb?”
“Coat.”
I can tell she wants to argue. But instead, she makes a small, annoyed sound and wriggles out of her coat. As soon as she hands it to me, I hang it on the coat rack by the front door, then cross the room to the kitchenette in the corner.
Glad that I checked the pipes last night, I turn on the faucet and fill one of the pots with water. I carry the pot over to the fireplace and get it set on an iron grate above the flames. Then I turn back to look at Vienna, who’s watching me with interest.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Making hot water for coffee,” I reply. “There should be some in the cabinet. My dad used to use this cabin as kind of a… retreat. And he always had coffee grounds and filters here.”
“Your dad?”
“Yeah. This was their property. They wanted to move to Florida, and I was moving back to Vermont, so it just made sense for me to buy it.”
“Oh.” Her lips curve slightly. “Did you grow up here?”
“I did.”
There are more questions in her eyes. But she doesn’t ask them. Instead, she says, “That’s nice. Being able to come home again.”
I hadn’t thought about it that way when I came here. Bliss was just a place to escape to. But I can see Vienna’s point.
“Okay,” I say as I head back to the door. “I’m going to run home, grab some food. But I’ll be right back.”
Vienna bites her lip. “Right. It’s past dinner time.” Her chin lifts. “You don’t have to come back. I can make the coffee. And I’m sure you have other things?—”
I make a quick about-face and come back to the couch. Then I touch her arm, though I have no right to do it. “I’m not going home to eat. I’m getting food to bring here. For you. And more blankets. My mom left some quilts that are really warm. They should help. Plus some extra pillows to prop up your leg.”
“You’re coming back? Tonight?”
“Yes.” Forget snowmobiles and watchingStar Trekreruns in my empty house. I’d much rather be here, taking care of Vienna. “I’ll bring soup. A cooler with eggs and meat for sandwiches. I might even have some chocolate from Christmas left over.”
“Are you sure?” she asks. “You don’t have to do that.”
I give her arm a gentle squeeze. “I know I don’t. I want to.”
Vienna gives me a long look. Then she smiles. “As long as you eat dinner with me. Will you?”
An unfamiliar warmth fills my chest, and I find myself smiling back at her. “Absolutely.”
CHAPTER 5
VIENNA
