Page 116 of Vow

“Overwhelming.”

Yeah, that was as good of a word as any.

Why not?

Her father chuckled. “Yeah, love usually is.”

“So, you’ll tell Mom that—”

“You will be down to visit as soon as you can,” her father interjected. “And that you made the right choice. Yes, I will.”

Haven shook her head. “All right, thank you. I love you. Tell her that for me, too.”

“Will do, sweetheart. Love you, too.”

Once she’d said goodbye to her father and dropped her phone into her bag, she finally noticed the form standing in the doorway. The woman hadn’t made a single noise to alert Haven to her presence.

Kim.

“Are you busy?” Andino’s mother asked.

Haven shook her head. “No, just filling my dad in on where I was.”

Kim nodded, and stepped into the room. “You must be bored in here by yourself. The whole family is just down the hall in the dining room, if you—”

“Maybe not? I … don’t really know anyone, that’s all.”

And to be honest, Haven wasn’t even sure why she was still there. Or rather, what she was waiting for. Kim had been the one to approach her at the church, and then practically demanded Haven leave with their family. At the time, she didn’t have a reason to refuse, and she really didn’t like the way Kev had looked at her like he wished she was dead right where she stood.

Now that she was here … well, she didn’t have the first clue where Andino was, or if she was ready to talk to him. If they did talk, what would he say?

The thought made her heart race.

And ache.

“Well, what about me, then?” Kim asked softly.

Haven didn’t understand what the woman was asking, but just the way Kim looked at her—so expectant and hopeful—she didn’t think she was going to be able to refuse whatever she asked for. Kim seemed sweet, truly. Soft-spoken, and kind. It was hard not to be comfortable when the woman was near.

“What about you?” Haven asked.

“Would you be willing to talk to me for a bit, maybe? I could keep you company.”

Haven blinked. “Talk about what?”

“You.”

She was feeling really slow on the uptake today.

Kim laughed at Haven’s obviously confused expression. “I just feel like … you and me, well we have a lot of catching up to do, Haven. All this time that I could have got to know you, I missed out on. And I would rather not waste more time doing that when you’re standing right here.”

“Why would you want to get to know me? “

“Because Andino loves you,” Kim said simply. “And so, I love you, too. That’s how it works.”

Huh.

“You seem confused still,” the woman pointed out.