Page 10 of Entangled

“Three months?”

Cara hummed out her confirmation. “I’m not any man’s goomah. I don’t give a fuck who he thinks he is.”

Tommas coughed. “I’m not sure Gian ever thought that’s what you were, either.”

“You don’t know that and besides, he didn’t have to see me as his anything. What he did made everyone else see me in that way. That is bad enough.”

“Point taken,” her brother agreed quickly.

Cara was never going to allow another man to make her blind and stupid to his real life. She didn’t give a shit how good-looking and charming he was on the outside. Gian Guzzi had seriously damaged Cara emotionally and publicly. She loved him—still did, really—but that meant nothing when his lies came into play.

She hoped he was happy with his wife.

Tommas’ voice brought Cara from her thoughts. “But it was strange not to see someone from that family at the New York meeting. Do you remember what I told you three months ago?”

Cara didn’t even have to think about it. “You said if I ever found myself in over my head with anything, all I needed to do was tell you and you would fix it.”

“Good. Nothing’s changed with that, Cara.”

“I got it, Tommy.”

“And call me more, for fuck’s sake.”

The first thing Cara had learned about Carolina’s House was that it had been named after its unintentional founder. Carolina Demaske had taken in over a hundred women during the span of her ninety-four years of life. Women who were old and young, sick and helpless. She had nursed their bruised faces, cleaned their sick bodies, and helped raise their young children without ever asking for a single thing in return.

After Carolina had passed away, her daughters began the foundation that would eventually lead to the women’s shelter Cara stood in front of.

Carolina’s House was quiet when she strolled through the front doors. It wasn’t unusual for a mid-week day. The women’s shelter took in victims of domestic abuse, along with older teenage girls, and young mothers who needed help in various areas of their lives. Some needed the ability to safely get away from their abusive partners. Others needed a place to sleep, and the chance to get on their feet.

Cara had been incredibly lucky to be offered a spot at the shelter as a counselor of sorts. She worked alongside a registered therapist and counselor to help the women get their lives, business, and futures sorted out. Whatever they needed regarding legal things or even just surviving, Cara helped.

Or, she tried.

Cara wanted to be one of those people who helped.

She stopped at the drop-off room—a daycare-like space in the center where two volunteers watched over younger children while the mothers did whatever they needed to do for the day. She dropped off a bag of snacks she knew the kiddos loved. One of her favorite children noticed her presence instantly.

“Cara!”

“Hey, Mikey,” she said, letting the three-year-old boy hug her around the legs. “What are you building today?”

“A train station.”

“A train station, huh? Can I help?”

Mikey nodded enthusiastically. “Momma said she would help when she was done with Miss Jenny, but you can help, too.”

Cara didn’t hesitate to get down on the floor and help Mikey begin the building of what looked to be a huge train station. It was only once the kiddos noticed the treats that she was able to sneak out.

Carolina’s House survived because of volunteers. Amazing men and women who came in with no expectations, only the desire to make life a bit better for someone struggling. People brought food. Some brought items for the babies and kids, or things the women needed. Every little bit helped.

Cara had learned something incredibly important since beginning her co-op program with the shelter. Money could only go so far, and while it could buy a hell of a lot for those in need, sometimes care, love and support helped even more.

“I hear someone wanted to see me today,” Cara said, leaning in the doorway of her boss’s office.

Jenny smiled from behind her desk. On the other side, Tiffany flipped through documents in a folder.

“You weren’t busy, were you?” Jenny asked. “I know it’s your off day.”