She tilted her head, studying him. Her heart hurt for the boy he must’ve been. “I see.”
He nodded. “I wanted to be the one in charge. So I went to college and then started working for the government. Nobody would ever move me around again.” His tone remained level, but his eyes were stark.
“What about your sister?” she asked.
He leaned back. His voice softened. “She passed away over five years ago.” Then he shook his head. “I don’t like to talk about it.”
“I’m sorry.” Her chest hitched.
He smiled, the sight a little sad. “You didn’t know.” He cleared his throat. “So. What about you? Any family?”
“No,” she said instantly. “No family.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Sounds . . . bad.”
She forced a smile. The one she’d learned so long ago. “My dad was in the army, and he died in combat. I’m pretty sure. They never told us the details.” She cleared her throat, unable to talk about her mother. The website said she had cancer. It would be a jinx to say it. “I left home at eighteen and haven’t talked to my mother since. I don’t even know where she is.” Her gaze dropped to the sleeping dog. Oh, to be so peaceful.
Angus chuckled. “The two of us are just a barrel of fun, right?”
She looked up, startled. Humor glided through her. “Geez. No kidding.” She glanced outside. It was starting to get dark. “Um, seen any good movies lately?”
Angus smiled. “Good topic. That or the weather.”
They chatted then about good topics. Movies, spring flowers, birds. He had a surprising knowledge of the local bird population. Finally, his phone buzzed. He glanced down to read the screen and then sighed.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
He nodded, an apology in his gaze. “Yeah. Malcolm and I have both been called in.” He held up a hand. “Nothing to worry about, I promise. Our job isn’t dangerous, but I’m afraid he won’t be home until late.”
Disappointment felt like a pinprick to a balloon. She’d finally decided to level with the guy, and she couldn’t get him in the room. She forced a smile. “I understand.”
Angus stood. “Thank you for the tea and biscuits. It was nice to get a chance to talk.”
Her smile felt genuine this time. “I agree. Thank you for staying.” She meant every word.
The dog gave her a smile as he left, following Angus. They were both so disarming. Chatting with Angus had been like talking to an old friend.
Why that suddenly made her uneasy, she’d never know. She shook her head at herself. This being so paranoid had to stop.
It just had to.
Yeah. She could be a normal person with a maybe boyfriend next door. So she scrawled a quick note for him, saying that he should wake her no matter how late he got home. It was time they talked.
After leaving the note taped to his front door, she hustled back to her house to clean up. She could safely leave the door unlocked. If the family found her, locks wouldn’t stop them. And it was silly to think a random burglar would find her house. So she stared at the locked door for a few minutes.
Her body wouldn’t move.
Well, okay. Mal could knock. There was no reason she couldn’t get up and unlock the door for him.
She sighed.
Maybe the locks she’d put on her life needed to be disengaged one at a time. She wasn’t ready for that yet.
Hopefully, someday she would be.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Malcolm spent all day and long into the night being groomed by the family. First there was the tour through the gardens, where community health was emphasized. All the women were braless in linen and very friendly. Even the men—the ones he met—seemed kind and welcoming. A sense of acceptance was everywhere, and the members were of all ages, races, and nationalities.
