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As she let the curtain drop back into place, a car turned onto her street.
She snatched up the fabric again.
It was Marc.
After a quick dash to the bathroom to run a brush through her hair, she zoomed back to the door and was waiting as he came up her walkway.
He called up a weary smile as he approached the door. “You were watching for me?”
“Yes.” She stepped back and waved him in. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“I would. Thanks. I had an early start, and it’s been a long day already.”
The brackets beside his mouth and the fan of lines at the corners of his eyes were evidence of that.
“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable and I’ll bring the coffee into the living room?”
“Okay.”
But he trailed along behind her as she headed for the kitchen.
The man was seriously distracted.
She brewed two mugs of coffee, handed one to him, and led the way to the living room, where she sat on the couch and patted the cushion beside her.
He didn’t need a second invitation.
Once he settled in, she shifted toward him. “Was the trip worth taking?”
“Yeah.” He took a slow sip of the coffee. “Get ready for a bombshell. Joseph Butler set the fire that killed my parents.”
Her breathing hitched.
Sweet heaven.
Marc had come face-to-face with the man who’d taken the lives of his mother and father and forever changed his future.
Heart pounding, Bri set her mug on the coffee table and twined her fingers with his. “Tell me what happened.”
He recounted his visit, ending with the man’s request for forgiveness and his brief encounter with the priest.
As he finished, Bri exhaled. “Wow.”
“That about sums up my feelings. The term emotional roller coaster doesn’t come close to describing the past five hours.”
There were probably a dozen things she could say—should say—but instead she followed her heart. “Could you use a hug?”
In reply, he pulled her close, wrapped his strong arms around her, and held on tight.
For a long time.
When he at last drew back, he let his hands slide to her waist, keeping her close. “Thanks for that.”
“Hugs can be the best medicine.” Even if they elevated your pulse and jacked up your adrenaline.
But this was about dispensing comfort, not creating a prelude to romance.
She needed to focus.
