My heart clenched in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
Elyna knelt in front of me, the firelight catching in her hair. “We brought dinner,” she said softly. “Comfort food.”
“You didn’t have to?—”
“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmured, pulling me into a hug that smelled like vanilla lotion and winter air. “We wanted to.”
Phoenix unpacked containers. “Chicken, potatoes, and lemon tarts. The good ones. The one Harmony always eats first,” he said winking at Eric.
Elyna shot him a look. “She eats it first because it’s dessert-first-worthy, not because she’s stress eating.”
Phoenix shrugged. “Both can be true.”
Before I could respond, the front door opened again. Sandy stepped in, wearing a beanie, her cheeks pink, a tote bag resting on her hip. She took one look at me and her whole face softened.
“Oh, my sweet girl…”
I barely had time to inhale before she wrapped me in a hug that smelled like her flower shop, roses and greenery and some soft scent I couldn’t name.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I should’ve been at work today. I just… I shouldn’t leave you shorthanded.”
“No,” Sandy said firmly, pulling back enough to cup my cheek. “Petals and Pines is managing just fine. When the time is right, you can come back, but for now you take care of you.”
She reached into her tote and pulled out a small bundle of eucalyptus. “Put this in your room. Helps with nerves and breathing. Trust me.”
“Thank you,” I said. I had to blink away tears because my emotions were getting the best of me.
Braden climbed into my lap without hesitation, warm and wiggly, holding up his stuffed moose. “Mawrss!” he announced proudly.
“Maurice?” I guessed.
He nodded enthusiastically, bouncing the moose against my knee.
The laughter warming the room didn’t erase the fear, but it made the edges less sharp.
Heavy footsteps thudded on the stairs.
Asher appeared with his hair rumpled, mismatched socks, eyes still heavy with sleep until he saw me.
“What happened?” he asked quietly.
Eric shifted slightly, but Asher wasn’t challenging him. He was scanning me like he could piece together every bruise and tremble.
“Long night,” Eric said on an exhale.
Asher crouched beside the couch, leveling his gaze with mine. “Harmony… whoever came after you, he won’t get close again. Not while we’re here.”
It wasn’t bravado or a performance. It was a vow.
“That’s right,” Phoenix added. “The Thornes take care of their own.”
Elyna gave him a loving look then she clapped her hands suddenly, wiping tears from her eyes. “Okay. Enough gloom. We brought the one thing guaranteed to distract everyone.”
Phoenix groaned. “Elyna, no?—”
“Our honeymoon stories,” Elyna said conspiratorially.
Asher perked up instantly, leaning back in his chair with a wicked grin. “Oh, this is going to be good.”
