“Get back,” I finished. “Me too.” I stepped away. “I am sorry, Eric.”
He gave me one short nod. Not a door slamming. Not a promise. Enough. I was sorry, but I was also young and scared.
Near noon, a man in a fleece cut across our step and muttered, just loud enough, “You belong in prison with your father.” Then he kept walking. Geez, people were all starting to sound the same around here. Didn’t they have something original to say? I didn’t respond or give him my face to enjoy. Instead, I handed a bouquet to the customer, who’d actually come for flowers, and went back to trimming stems. My hands shook for a minute after. Across the street, Eric set a baking sheet down harder than necessary and focused on his tray. Maybe that was for me. Maybe it wasn’t. By six, the light had gone soft and gold. Sandy flipped the sign to CLOSED and gave me the look that usually meant she’d already decided something.
“Dinner,” she said.
“I’ve got soup upstairs.”
“Not that kind. Dinner at Phoenix’s. Seven. Come with me.”
“That’s your boyfriend’s family,” I reminded. “I’d just be intruding.”
“You’re with me. You need a night that’s about food, not ghosts,” her smile was warm and caring.
I hesitated, but a part of me wanted to go. The last time I came home scared, and on the run again, it was Pierre Thorne who opened his house to me. The police director everyone respected, the man my father hated. He’d met me at the city line and took me to the station to get my statement about the men who were following me. Then he asked me if I had a place to stay. He knew the answer before I responded. He offered me his daughter’s room, since she was away at school. I wasn’t in a position to reject the offer, despite knowing Eric’s room was next door. The whole situation had been awkward and stressful, but Pierre, Phoenix, and Elyna did everything to make me feel at home. Even Eric was kind, but I knew not to expect much after I basically blindsided him that night. The Thornes were a kind family. They always had been.
Sandy stood watching me with her brows raised as she waited for an answer.
“Okay, thanks.”
“Good.” She grinned.
So I found myself riding across town in the passenger seat of Sandy’s car. I had only met her for that brief visit home the last time. She and Pierre had been a fairly new couple back then, but she somehow gave grace to a complete stranger, and for that I was thankful. Phoenix and Elyna’s house glowed against the dusk, the windows fogged from heat and laughter. The air smelled like roasted garlic and woodsmoke.
Elyna opened the door, smiling. “You made it!”
“She didn’t have a choice,” Sandy grinned.
“Perfect,” Elyna teased. “Come in. Watch out for Braden, he’s fast and sticky.”
A giggle answered her as a blond toddler barreled past in pajamas. “Hi, cutie,” I said automatically.
He stared at me with solemn curiosity, then shoved a cracker in my hand like it was payment.
“Thank you,” I said gravely.
Pierre stepped forward. He gave Sandy a kiss that made me blush and then focused on me. “Harmony, it’s good to have you back.”
“Thank you, Mr. Thorne.”
“Pierre, please,” he corrected. “Glad you could make it for dinner.”
Something inside me loosened. “Thank you.”
From the kitchen came the sound of Phoenix laughing. “Dinner’s ready! Sit before Cooper eats the sides.”
A man with a British accent appeared, a sharp grin and messy hair. “Baseless accusation,” he said, clearly the culprit. “I’m Cooper. Resident charm, part-time brewer, occasional menace.”
“Occasional?” Elyna called.
He winked. “Depends who you ask.”
Angela and Dominic arrived next, followed by Asher. Dominic was calm, Angela kind; Asher immediately began some half-serious story about rescuing a raccoon, complete with sound effects.
Eric came out last, sleeves rolled, carrying a loaf of bread and a plate of twisted pretzels. His hair was still damp from a shower and slicked back. He paused when he saw me, like he hadn’t prepared for that part of the evening.
“Bread?” he asked, voice low.
