Dorian is already shrugging on his coat, looking weary but determined. He waves to the room. “I’m off. Mom’s having a physical today, checking on the MS progression. She says her legs are feeling stronger, so fingers crossed.”
“Give her my love,” Norah calls out.
“Will do.” Dorian opens the door, letting in a blast of cold air. “Later, everyone.”
The door clicks shut, and the house suddenly feels quiet, the echo of all that male energy fading away.
I start stacking dishes, scraping the leftover syrup off the plates. “Go rest, Norah. Seriously. I’ve got this. You heard the doctor, and you heard the Alphas. Couch time only.”
Norah sighs, leaning her head back against the cushions. “I know, I know. I’m going. I just want to finish this chapter.”
I load the dishwasher, listening to the hum of the machine as I start it up. I wipe down the counters, scrubbing away the sticky syrup, needing to impose some order on the morning.
“Maisie, shoes! We need to leave in ten minutes!”
“Coming!” Maisie yells from the bedroom.
I grab my coat and scarf, heading for the back door to start the car. It’s an older sedan, reliable but ugly, a gift from Jude when he first got me settled here.
I step out onto the porch, shivering as the cold bites at my nose. There’s a fresh dusting of snow on the windshield.
Maisie’s already standing by the car, her backpack looking enormous on her small frame. She’s bouncing on the balls of her feet, her breath puffing out in white clouds.
I’m just reaching for the door handle when the back door of the house opens again.
“Amber, wait!”
I turn to see Norah standing on the porch, wrapped in her coat, Rufus sitting obediently at her feet. She looks determined, her chin set in that stubborn way I’ve come to recognize.
“What are you doing?” I ask, walking back up the steps. “You’re supposed to be resting.”
“I am resting. I’m resting my brain by changing my scenery,” she says, zipping her coat up to her chin. “Can I catch a ride with you? I need to go to the shop.”
I frown, crossing my arms over my chest to ward off the chill. “After last night? And the hospital visit? You really should stay off your feet. The doctor was clear about stress and physical exertion.”
“I’m not going to lift anything,” she promises, holding up her hands. “I swear. I just… I can’t sit in this house another minute. I’m going stir-crazy. I need to smell the flowers. I need to see the shop. I just want to sit in the office and drink tea and look at my inventory. Please, Amber.”
She looks at me with pleading eyes. I know the feeling. The walls of a safe house can start to feel like prison bars if you stay inside too long, especially when you’re used to working.
I look at Maisie, who is waiting patiently by the car, then back at Norah.
“Fine,” I relent, though I keep my tone stern. “But if you feel even a twinge, or if you get dizzy, you tell me immediately. And I’m driving you straight back home. No arguments.”
Norah’s face breaks into a grin. “Deal. I’ll be the perfect patient. Just a quiet little flower shop trip.”
“Get in the car before I change my mind,” I say, turning to usher Maisie inside.
Norah locks the door, Rufus trotting happily at her heels. As we pile into the car, the heat blasting full force, I feel a little of the tension in my shoulders unwind.
Norah is safer here with me than she is alone in that big house, worrying. And if I’m honest, having her company on the drive isn’t so bad.
At least she won’t ask me about the digestive system of ceramic gnomes.
CHAPTER TWO
Eli
The snow clingsto the edges of the garden bed. I crouch down on the dark, wet earth, my knees soaking through the fabric of my jeans, and gently brush a layer of slush off the row cover protecting the kale.
