Kayla was once again dragging her bags up a set of stairs. Rowan had insisted on following her to his aunt’s house and carried their heavy bags upstairs.

This time, the stairs were wide and clear of debris. The house smelled like… was that sandalwood? Whatever it was, it smelled great.

The house was gloriously spotless. Spotless and huge. The house had been built by Crystal’s great-grandfather back in the seventeen hundreds. She’d never really been inside it before. Actually, few people she knew had been inside.

The stairs were a dark cherry and they shined as if they were brand new, as did the floors in the main entryway. The staircase twisted at an angle towards a massive window on the second floor. As they passed it, she noticed that there was a wide window seat that ran the entire length of the wall. She could just imagine sinking into the spot and reading a book. She shook her mind clear and wondered when she’d have time to read a book in the near future.

She tried to take everything in as she followed Crystal to their rooms. She shifted Connor’s large bag in her hands, her small bag tossed over her shoulder.

Crystal, Sarah’s mother, carried Connor in her arms as he chatted about his new blue cast and stitches and scar.

She was still a little shocked that her son had taken to Rowan’s aunt so easily.

Crystal Holley could have easily passed as a woman in her early thirties, except she dressed and acted like someone stuck in the seventies. Her long blonde hair lay flat, down to the middle of her back. Her skin and face were clean and clear of any product, and Kayla doubted any product could make her more beautiful than she was already. She was wearing one of her signature long flowing sundresses. Kayla had always admired the freeness she had in not needing a bra. The back of the sundress was open, with just a few straps of material crossing her spotless skin.

She could see a large tattoo on her back, but couldn’t make out what it was. From this point of view, it appeared to be the top of a brightly colored tree.

When they had first arrived at Holley Hall, Connor had still been a little sleepy from his ordeal. But after Crystal had made a grilled cheese sandwich for him, his most favorite meal in the entire world, her son had perked right up and started chatting with everyone who would listen about the black dog that bit him. He seemed to be handling the entire ordeal as a very grand adventure.

They had spent almost an hour downstairs in the most beautiful kitchen Kayla had ever seen. Crystal had made sandwiches and heated up some homemade soup while they talked about her plans to get a job and find a place of her own.

She tried not to think about the lonely five hundred dollars in the bottom of her purse, the entire sum of the savings account she’d cashed out. She’d planned to use it to help settle them in to Silver Cove, but it would probably just cover their new medical bills.

She knew she was probably dreaming of finding a place of their own so soon, but she had to think about Connor, and it was clear now that she couldn’t stay with her mother anytime soon. She didn’t want to be a burden to Crystal and mentally determined to only stay as long as she had to.

She’d felt bad about leaving her mother, but she had to think of Connor first and foremost. The safety of her son outweighed her loyalties towards her mother.

She thought of heading out to stay with her brother, but JT had his own place on a small island off the coast. She doubted shuttling out by boat every day would be good for her or for Connor.

Her mother had cried and apologized profusely about everything. Kayla had agreed to stop by tomorrow and discuss their living arrangements further. It had been nearly dinnertime and she’d been too tired and worried about Connor to focus.

So, she’d followed Rowan to his aunt’s place and had, after eating, let them lead her upstairs in almost a daze to two of the largest and nicest rooms she’d ever seen.

“They’re adjoining,” Crystal said, setting Connor down on the massive king-size bed in what would be her room. “Connor’s room is just through here.” She opened a door and flipped on a light. “I keep this room for guests with small children. There are plenty of toys and other things to keep a three-year-old happy and busy.”

Kayla poked her head into the soft blue room and smiled. Sure enough, there were two single beds, a chalkboard, a large box of toys for young kids, and plenty of other things to keep Connor happy.

“The bathroom is just there,” She nodded to a door on the opposite wall. “You’ll have the entire floor to yourself for as long as you want. I’m up on the third floor.” Crystal smiled. “I’m not expecting guests for a few weeks, so you take your time deciding where you want to be. There’s no rush.” Crystal laid a hand on her shoulder. “I have plenty of room and always love the company.”

She glanced over as Rowan set down the last of her bags. She’d been thankful that she hadn’t unpacked anything at her mother’s place yet.

She knew by morning she’d feel even guiltier for leaving her mother. But right now, seeing her son settle down in the king-sized bed, alive and healthy except for a few scars and a new cast, she decided not to think about it until tomorrow.

“Let me know if you need anything else,” Rowan said from the doorway. “Remember”—he nodded to Connor— “if you need anything, I’m right across the street.”

“He’s on speed dial.” Crystal showed her the digital screen on the phone by the bed. “Just pick it up and hit the number one.”

Rowan shook his head and handed her a card. “Or, in case you want to join this century, here’s my cell number. Feel free to program it in your cell phone.” Crystal elbowed him slightly as she smiled up at him.

She smiled and tucked his card into her back pocket. “Thanks, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

“Make sure to keep an eye on him.” Rowan walked over and sat next to Connor. “Is it okay if I check that bump on your head one last time, CJ?”

Connor glanced towards her and she nodded with a reassuring smile. Then he turned back to Rowan and nodded.

“It doesn’t hurt now. The magic grilled cheese fixed me.” He smiled over at Crystal.

Crystal had fed him a line about how adding a dab of spices healed everything from headaches to bellyaches. Her son had swallowed the fib easily.

She stood there as Rowan ran his fingers over her son’s head gently.

“Looks like the bump has already gone down by half.” He smiled at Connor then turned to her. “I bet he’d like a nice bath and then…” He leaned closer to Connor. “I know for a fact that my aunt has some chocolate cookies she made fresh this morning.”

Crystal chuckled and nodded when her son’s eyes turned to the woman. “I’ll bring some up. There are small plastic bags under the bathroom sink you can put over that cast if he wants to take a bath.”

“Thank you.” Kayla felt her chest heave. She didn’t understand what she’d done to deserve such kindness.

Rowan disappeared as she looked down at her son.

Crystal turned to leave but stopped short of shutting the door. “Kayla, it fills my heart to know that you’re back in town. I saw… felt that someone was coming and that life would be mixed up for a while, but then everything would settle into place.” She smiled. “I think, no, I know that this is where you and Connor need to be.” She smiled. “Happy accidents like this happen all the time.”

Kayla’s throat closed and she couldn’t explain the wave of shivers that raced down her spine.

“Now I’ve gone and scared you.” Crystal shook her head but kept her smile light. “Don’t mind me, I’m harmless.” She chuckled, then stopped as she moved to shut the door. “Remind me some time to read your cards. I’ll explain later.”

Crystal shut the bedroom door. Kayla knew that Crystal was not only into star charts and palm readings but also into Tarot cards.

She’d gone her entire life not believing in any of that nonsense, but she trusted and liked Crystal enough not to challenge the woman’s beliefs. The free-spirited hippy that Crystal was was still a million times better than the depressed, self-destructive hoarder that her own mother had become. Scooping her son up, she carried him into the bathroom.

Stopping just inside the door, she let out a low whistle.

“Nice digs.”

There was a massive claw-foot tub that sat just below wide windows with an arch above them. Light drapes hung over the windows, showing heavy wood blinds below for privacy. At the end of the tub, a small TV hung in the corner so that the bather could lay back and watch the set. There was a long wall of off-white cabinets with two sinks in marble countertops and a massive mirror hanging over them. The light fixtures were classic, almost antique, and there was even a small chandelier hanging over the tub.

On the other wall stood a massive stone shower, which could have easily fit almost a dozen naked bodies. There wasn’t a door or shower curtain, just a long hallway and a small stoop you had to step into to keep the running water in the shower section. There were built-in stone shelves, and Kayla smiled when she noticed all the bright bottles of soaps. Here, she had always liked Crystal’s taste.

She’d missed the scented soaps and shampoos the woman sold in her store, Serenity’s Attic.

Setting Connor down on the stone countertop, she reached over and started drawing his bath.

“Mommy, where is this place?” he asked, rubbing his chubby hand over his eyes.

“I told you, baby, we’re staying with Miss Crystal, Dr. Rowan’s aunt for a few days.”

“Why? How come not Mema’s?” She moved over to her son and started removing his soiled clothes.

“Mema has some things to work out before we go back,” she said as she worked. “I need to help her get things cleaned up.”

Her son’s bottom lip jutted out. “Why? How come?”

She didn’t have the heart to lie to her son. She knelt down until she could look into his brown eyes. “Honey, it’s not safe there.”

“Because of the doggie?”

“Yes, and because of the other animals she has there.” Not to mention the filth and clutter. She held that thought in.

“When can we go back?” he asked as she wrapped a small trash bag around his cast.

“I don’t know, baby. But until then, we’re going to stay here. Is that okay?” she asked him as she sat him down in the water.

He nodded as she reached for a cream-colored washcloth and started to rub the lavender soap over his body, trying to remove some of the dried bloodstains from his arm and hands. His eyelids grew heavy, and she knew he’d be fast asleep within a few minutes of placing him in the massive bed.

When she was satisfied that he was clean, his hair washed and rinsed, she wrapped him in a thick cream towel and laid him on the bed.

“Mama?” he said with his eyes closed.

“Yes, sweetie.”

He opened his eyes and looked at her. “It wasn’t Mema’s fault that the doggie bit me.”

“I know, sweetie.”

“She was crying.” He snuggled into the towel as she pulled his pj’s from the overnight bag.

“She was scared.” She sat next to him and pulled on his Batman pj’s.

“I wasn’t scared,” he said, looking down at his chest. “Because I’m Batman,” he said in a deeper voice. She smiled. “Besides, I got a new cast and switches.” He held up his other hand.

“Stitches,” she corrected.

“Switches,” he tried to say again. She smiled and nodded. “Doctor Rowan said… he calls me CJ.” Her son interrupted his own thought with a smile. “He says that some scars are cool.”

“I suppose some are.” She tucked her son’s feet under the soft comforter.

“I sleep in here?” He sat up slightly and looked to the other room.

“For tonight.” She smiled. “Will you be okay while I go in there and take a shower?”

He squashed up his mouth and glanced over at the flat screen television.

“Do you think Miss Crystal has cartoons?”

She chuckled and leaned over to take the remote. It took a few minutes to find the right channel, but when SpongeBob came on, he leaned back into the bed, and she lost all of his attention.

She walked into the bathroom and tossed her soiled clothes, along with Connor’s, into the laundry basket and stepped into the massive shower.

She was too tired as she stood under the hot spray to scrub her own body clean. Instead, she dumped a handful of lavender-scented shampoo on her head and let the bubbles wash away all her aches and worries.

The cuts on her hands stung as the soap washed over them. She glanced down and sighed when she noticed how swollen her hand was. One look at her fingers and she knew she’d have to rebandage them before crawling into bed.

They had spent less than six hours at her mother’s house and had walked away broken and scarred. What did that tell her about her decision to return home? Was it a sign?

She let the hot water hit her shoulders and she relaxed. The possibilities of how the day could have ended flooded her mind. Her shoulders slumped as she leaned her head against the cool stone wall.

She hadn’t realized she was crying until her legs gave way, forcing her to sit on the stone seat as the water rained down, washing away all her tears and only part of her fears.

* * *

That next morning, Rowan opened the front door of his aunt’s house without knocking. Since he knew the massive door was never locked, he nudged it open all the way so he could get the box in it without dumping out its contents.

“What is all that?” his aunt asked as she came down the stairs. She was dressed in one of her yoga outfits with her long hair tied in a knot at the top of her head, and he knew she was probably heading down for one of the classes she taught.

“Stuff.” He smiled up at her.

“I can see that.” She stopped at the foot of the stairs. “Why are you bringing it over here?”

“It’s for Connor.” He glanced down at the box, full of footballs, baseballs, soccer balls, and all the other sports items he’d found in the attic last night. His mother had probably placed them up there shortly after he’d left for college.

“Why would a three-year-old need any of this?” She picked up his old baseball glove with two fingers, then shook her head and set it back down.

He smiled and held in a chuckle. “He’s a boy, he’s going to love all this stuff.” He set the box down, then glanced up the stairs. “Are they up yet?”

Crystal glanced up the stairs as well. “I heard someone moving around. I was about to make some breakfast before my morning class.” She took his shoulders. “And you are just in time to help.” She nudged him towards the kitchen.

For the next forty minutes, he helped his aunt pull together some cinnamon oat banana pancakes along with scrambled eggs, freshly chopped fruit with walnuts, and yogurt.

Crystal always had fresh fruit and juices, not to mention herbs and vegetables. His aunt was more of a health nut than anyone else in town. Hell, even he didn’t eat like he knew he should, being a doctor and all.

“Something smells good,” Kayla said from the doorway. “Good morning.” His aunt turned with a big smile and caught Connor as he jumped into her waiting arms.

“How’s the big guy today?” she asked Connor as she walked over to the table, ignoring everyone else in the room as the pair chatted amongst themselves.

“How are you doing this morning?” Rowan asked Kayla as he set the bowl of scrambled eggs on the table.

“Much better,” she said, but he could see the dark circles under her eyes and knew that she hadn’t gotten enough sleep.

“Well, my aunt’s banana pancakes are the stuff of legends.” He held out a chair for her to take. When she sat, he leaned closer to her. “Along with my scrambled eggs.”

“This is a lot of food,” she said, glancing at the table.

“Serenity and Ben are going to join us—” Crystal stopped when they heard a faint, “Hello,” from the front of the house. “Just in time.” Crystal set Connor in the seat next to her own and rushed over to hug her daughter and son-in-law. “How’s Aurora today?” Crystal leaned down and whispered to Sarah’s belly.

“Aurora?” Kayla asked, glancing in his direction.

“Sarah and Ben don’t want to know the sex of the baby, but Crystal is sure that it’s a girl and has already picked out a name.”

Sarah chuckled. “I told you, I’m pretty sure it’s a boy.”

Crystal shook her head. “In two months, eleven days, six hours, and…”—she squinted at the clock— “thirteen minutes, we’ll find out.”

Ben laughed as he helped Sarah sit down. “If that’s the case, you’ll win the jackpot. I have my own guess and time slot.” He sat down.

“Where is the chart?” Rowan asked. “I want to change my calculation.”

“That’s cheating,” Sarah said, scooping some eggs onto her plate. “One guess is all you get.”

Rowan glanced at Kayla. “If I spot the twenty-buck buy-in and pick the date and time, care to split the winnings with me?” he asked her.

“Depends,” Kayla said between adding food to Connor’s plate. “What’s the pot worth?”

He smiled. “Last count, almost a thousand.”

She coughed a little and he watched her eyes go huge. “A thousand dollars?”

He nodded. “Twenty-dollar max buy-in. One time spot per person.” Rowan handed her the bowl of eggs and waited until she was done putting some on both her and Connor’s plates before taking a scoop for himself.

“Sounds like a plan,” Kayla added with a smile. “When is the baby due?”

Sarah and Ben both said the due date together. Ben reached over and took his wife’s hand as they smiled at one another.

“The first baby is usually late,” Crystal added. “But Serenity was almost a full month early, and I’m sure Aurora is going to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Besides, my grandchild is going to be a Virgo, which means… She’ll be early.” She nodded as if the conversation was over.

He finished his breakfast then leaned down and checked the bump on Connor’s head and smiled when he saw it was gone.

Glancing down at his watch, he saw he had appointments scheduled soon and made his excuses after dropping his dirty dishes into the sink.

He drove the three blocks to his building and sat outside as his new Jag purred. Looking at everything he had, he wondered how he’d gotten so lucky.

Several years ago, he’d been stuck working ten-hour shifts, living in a small apartment he couldn’t afford, and driving a beat-up truck. Now, he had everything he’d ever wanted: his own practice, a house, and one of the nicest cars he could dream of owning. Well, everything except someone to share it with.

His happy smile fell away slightly as he got out of his car.

When he entered the waiting room, he groaned inwardly when he spotted Earl, his face red and puffy.

“Come on back.” He sighed and helped the older man to his feet. “Third time’s a charm.”