“It would only be for a few years…”
“Ez, no. Just…no. Come on. There has to be another option. What about your parents?”
“They’re in Europe. They’re thinking of buying a place in Portugal, if you can believe it.”
I believed it. Her parents were always flitting from one dream to the next. So, who else could help? Her good-for-nothing brother? One of her new friends in Melbourne? What about—
“Come here,” I said. “The homestead’s bigger than a bloody hotel. Mum and Dad have moved out to the gardener’s cottage by the river, and I’m out all day, so you’d have the place to yourself. You could take two of the upstairs rooms for you and Til.”
The color drained from Erin’s face. “N-no…”
“I know you’re a city girl at heart, and you never liked living in the country growing up, but you’d have all the space you need—”
“Ican’t. N-not after Lila…”
I dragged my palm over my chin.Bloody hell. I’d stuck my foot in that one. Of course she wouldn’t want to stay in the house after she’d helped take care of Lila. Last visit, she’d still refused to go upstairs. Putting on a brave face while her best friend had faded away had taken a bigger toll on her than she’d ever admit.
“Sorry, I should’ve thought before running my mouth…” I puffed out a frustrated breath as my mind kept spinning through solutions. “What about one of the cottages we did up?”
“I can’t afford that.”
I grunted a laugh. “You wouldn’t be paying, Ez. I want to help. As if I’m going to charge you to stay here.”
“Cal…”
“Hey. You’d probably be saving me money. I wouldn’t have to pay for cleaning or to refill all the little soaps and shit that Bronte insists we stock in the bathrooms.”
A smile crept onto Erin’s face. “Little soaps and shit?”
I shrugged. “I came up with the idea of renting out the cottages to bring in some extra money. How to make people actuallywantto stay on a two-hundred-year-old farm is Bron’s domain. And she said we need nice soaps.”
Erin’s smile got a little wider. “I appreciate the offer, but…”
Her gaze dipped to the wedding ring she twisted on her finger. She wasn’t done with Jeremy. Not yet. She needed more time to think things over. But how much more would he do beforeshe broke? Her husband was supposed to lift her up, adore her, make her feel special, not leave her feeling helpless.
“Just know you’ve got this place as a backup if you need it, okay?” I said.
There was no doubt in my mind she’d need it.
The only question was how long I’d be waiting before her next call.
4
That Heart-Stopping Moment in Winter
Erin
Out of breath, Iclutched the stitch burning in my side, my other hand smacking at every button on the treadmill.
“Stop!”
Would yelling at the stupid thing work? It couldn’t hurt. Another jab, and the whirr finally slowed enough for me to snatch my phone without falling flat on my face. I’d already missed a call.
“H-hi,” I wheezed.
The playgroup teacher didn’t say hello. “Mrs. Easten, are you on your way?”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “On my way…where?” I’d dropped off the cupcakes—home-baked, frosted, and nut-free, as requested. Had I forgotten something else? Matilda’s art smock? Maybe I’d left it in the dryer.
