“Paul,” Alix muttered to herself. Her parents had never let barn cats in before. What alien had abducted her mother in the last ten years?
At the kitchen table, bowls steamed under the warm light. Grace took a seat and glanced around with what seemed like quiet delight — the copper pots hanging from hooks, the checked curtains, the big window overlooking the snow-covered paddock. “This is so cozy,” she said.
Alix expected her mom to make a quip about “finally appreciating the simple life,” but Helen only smiled. “It’s nice having someone to feed again.”
Something in Alix’s chest twisted. “You feed Dad and Matt.”
“Matt mostly eats cereal and frozen pizza when I let him,” Helen said, ladling chili into their bowls. “So. Tell me everything.”
Dinner passed in a blur of conversation and laughter. Grace complimented the food, and Helen insisted she take seconds. Alix tried to remember when the sound of her mom’s voice had last felt so soft. Every now and then, Helen would reach over and touch Alix’s hand as if checking she was really there.
When they’d finished, Grace started stacking dishes automatically. “Can I help clean up, Mrs. Wolf?”
“You absolutely cannot,” Helen said, waving her off. “Guests don’t wash dishes in this house.”
Alix rose to her feet. “I’ll do them. You should sleep, Mom. You’ve been up waiting.”
“I wanted to see you walk through that door.” Helen touched her cheek with the kind of affection that made Alix’s throat ache. “You look good, baby.”
“Thanks.” Alix managed a smile.
Helen launched into an explanation that Alix’s bedroom was now a home gym, but they still had the guest room. Something pinged inside of Alix’s mind about the guest bedroom… one bed? For both of them? When her mom finally retreated down the hall, humming to herself, the house went quiet except for the clink of plates and the hum of the refrigerator. Grace waited until Helen was out of sight and then stood beside Alix at the sink, drying dishes with a towel patterned with little horses.
“You okay?” Grace asked in a whisper.
“Yeah.” Alix handed her a rinsed bowl. “That went, like, way better than expected. I’m… not sure if it’s real.”
Grace bumped her with her hip. “It’s my charm. Moms love me.”
Alix laughed, shoulders finally loosening. Grace was close enough that the warmth of her body was unmistakable. The scent of her floral shampoo cut through the smell of dish soap and chili. When their hands brushed reaching for the same plate, a tiny spark shot through her. Not dramatic, just enough to make something inside of her sigh in response.
Grace froze, eyes flicking up to hers. For one dizzy second, neither of them moved.
Then Alix cleared her throat and looked away. “Careful. If we don’t hurry, I’m gonna look domestic in front of my parents and then the ruse of me being a teen rebel will really be up.”
Grace’s voice was teasing, but low. “I think it suits you.”
“Please don’t ruin my street cred.”
“I’ll keep it between us.”
When the last dish was done, Alix leaned against the counter, drying her hands on a towel.
“So,” she said, watching Grace take in the kitchen with those steady brown eyes. “Welcome to Bellvue.”
Grace smiled. “Thanks for bringing me home.”
The words were simple, but they hit hard. Alix swallowed around the sudden lump in her throat. She wanted to say something back — to admit that this didn’t feel like coming home until Grace was standing in it — but she couldn’t quite find the words.
Instead, she reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Grace’s ear. Her hand lingered for just a second too long.
Grace’s breath caught. “Alix…”
“Yeah?”
Her lips curved. “You’ve got soap on your cheek.”
“Oh.” Alix rubbed at it quickly, face burning. “Cool. Love that for me.” She yawned. “All right, Cowgirl. I’ll show you where the guest room is.”
