Page 40 of Shadow

“I’ll be…staying on site.”

A frown. “Okay. Then, dinner. Tonight.”

“I don’t…”

“C’mon. You have to eat.”

“I need to work.”

“Daphne.” Sierra reached across the table and covered Daphne’s hand with hers. Warm and solid. “Let’s catch up. Rowan is back—you remember him.”

“Rowan Wallace. So you did end up with him.”

“Yeah.” She smiled, glanced back at Huck. “Some things are meant to be.”

“I’m happy for you.” Daphne pulled her hand back and picked up her coffee. “I appreciate the offer. I do. But I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.”

Sierra’s expression softened. “You’re still running.”

The bluntness sideswiped her. “I’m…no, I’m not.”

Sierra’s mouth tightened.

Silence fell between them.

Huck came back with a cookie in hand and crumbs on his face. “Ready, Mom?”

“Yeah.” Sierra stood. “We’re moving Rowan’s stepmom into Aspen Ridges Estates today. It’s a fifty-five-and-up community. I’d stick around, but Rowan already brought a load of furniture over and he’s waiting.”

“I get it.”

She started to leave, then stopped and turned back. “I’ll probably start stalking you until you give in. Fair warning.”

Daphne smiled. “Consider me warned.”

And then Sierra stepped up and gave her another hug. “It’s really good to see you, Daph.”

She left with Huck. Daphne sat there with her coffee going cold.

Good for Sierra.

Family. Home. Belonging.

The life Daphne hadn’t chosen.

Or rather, the life her mother had run from. She’d just…well, what Sierra said. Kept running.

Daphne stood and grabbed her coffee. Headed for the door.

Outside, cold November air hit her face.

She got in her car and started the engine. Heat blasted from the vents. Sierra’s words echoed in her mind. Aspen Ridge Estates.

A fifty-five-and-up community. Probably gated, with security.