The next day, Clover hurried into The Pantry, still feeling the rush of Dustin. This was her first day back since her week off. She’d had to swap her evening shifts with the day workers to make it all work out, which meant she hadn’t been in The Pantry for five days straight. As much fun as she had during her time off, she missed being a part of things.

She’d tried to call Dustin after work, but he didn’t pick up. Sometime in the middle of her REM cycle, he’d texted that they had stayed late for batting practice and he’d call if he got the chance today. She patted her phone in her back pocket, ready to answer at any moment even if she was in the middle of work. Jane had never been a hardnose about personal phone calls. Not that Clover had given her a reason to be. She’d have to watch herself to make sure she wasn’t taking advantage of Jane’s kindnesses.

She’d teased Dustin pretty hard when he’d asked her out. He gave as good as he got, though. Had he been in town, he would have tickled her side, she would have squealed, and they’d end up kissing for hours.

Man, she missed him!

The way she felt about Dustin inspired her for the weekly pep talk with Serena, which was sure to happen today because she hadn’t seen her for a while. Serena was smart and beautiful; she deserved a man who made her feel fascinating. Clover grabbed an apron and checked the calendar for tonight’s menu. Sloppy joes—she could make those with her eyes shut, which was great because it freed up her brain to think about Dustin.

Quietly humming as she worked, she lost herself in the tasks of chopping onions and green peppers. She didn’t look up until Jane breezed through the door.

“So, how was your time off?” Jane asked.

“Bliss.” Clover felt her cheeks heat and knew that it had nothing to do with the slowly bubbling mixture on the stove. She glanced at the clock on the wall and noted it was after five. “Hey, where’s Serena? She’s usually here by now.” And Damarius has usually eaten three sandwiches.

Jane’s face clouded with worry. “I haven’t seen her since last Wednesday.”

“At all?” Clover stirred the mixture vigorously. “That’s not like her.” Serena’s visits weren’t regular, but they could usually count on seeing her within five days.

“Paul and I have been praying for her, and we asked the ladies in the quilting circle to add her to their prayers too.”

Clover swallowed her worry. She needed to trust the Lord and hoped that her conversation with Serena in the park was enough to hold her over. A cold chill crept down Clover’s spine like the hairy legs of a spider as she thought of Serena’s husband finding the pair under that pine tree. “I’ll keep praying for her, too.”

Jane smiled, her eyes bright pools of worry. They talked about the items that needed to be stocked for a few minutes. “I’ll call our supplier and see if they can switch us to earlier in their route. That would help. If not, we’ll have to handle—”

A blur of black hair and a torn red shirt darted into the kitchen and latched his arms around Clover. She stumbled back from the force of his hug. “Damarius! I was wondering where you were. Where’s your mom?”

His brown eyes were as big as the hamburger buns. “With Dad.”

Clover cupped the back of his head and hugged him close so he wouldn’t see her lips move as she talked to Jane. “Can you call her?” she asked. If Damarius was here alone, then something must have happened. Jane already had her phone out and was on her way out of the room to conduct the call far away from tender little ears.

Instead of asking Damarius what had happened to his shirt, she walked him over to the cupboard where they kept a few special treats. She opened it and waved her hand in front of the packages. “What do you want?”

He pointed to the Oreos.

“Oooo, good choice. But they’re no good without milk to dip them in.” She crossed to the fridge and removed a gallon. For a moment, she wondered when he’d had milk last. Her mom rarely bought milk for the two of them. They didn’t have a way to keep it cold.

Damarius gave her a small smile, even as his eyes darted to the doorway like he expected someone to come through at any moment—or hoped they would. Clover’s heart pulled in all directions. She set Damarius up on a stool with a tall glass of milk and the entire package of Oreos. He could eat himself full on the cookies for all she cared—as long as they kept his mind off whatever it was he had run away from. He methodically worked his way through a stack, dunking each one until it was soft before shoving the whole thing in his mouth. Clover smiled at him, hoping her concern wasn’t as evident on her face as it was in her racing pulse. With each moment that slipped by, her fear for Serena increased.

Jane came back in a couple minutes later and motioned for Clover to come out.

“I have to check on something, I’ll be right back.”

Damarius said okay, his cheeks as full as a chipmunk’s the day before he goes into hibernation. He had a streak of black up his arm where he’d wiped his mouth.

She carefully shut the door behind her and pressed her back to it as if she could shield Damarius from what was to come. “What is it?”

“Serena answered. She’s in bad shape. She was weak and had a hard time getting a full breath. I’ve sent officers and a paramedic to her house. They’re sending someone for Damarius.” Her voice broke and her eyes filled with thick tears.

Clover pressed her fist to her lips to hold in all the nasty words she wanted to call Chad. “How did he find her?”

Jane swiped a tear off her cheek. “Serena met him at a fast food place with Damarius, and he talked her into going home with him. Damarius ran off, refusing to get in the car. Chad grabbed him, but he managed to get away.”

“That explains the tear in his shirt.” Clover’s stomach soured. “Chad’s been after her to meet and talk.” The topic had been a main part of their conversations at the park. “Oh my gosh—it’s my fault.” Clover’s lunch threatened to make a reappearance. “If I’d been here last week to talk to Serena, this wouldn’t have happened. I can’t believe I wasn’t here.” She’d been off feeling precious and fascinating with Dustin when she should have been here helping her friend.

“Clover.” Jane shook her arm. “This isn’t your fault. We’ve seen this cycle with other women. They leave their abusive husbands and a couple months later go back.”

“I know—but she was doing so well.” Clover groaned and wrapped her arms around her middle.

“We help those we can—those who want help. I hope she comes back, and I’ll make sure she knows we are here for her and Damarius.” Her gaze traveled to the swinging door. “I’ve got to talk to him, prep him for when the officer comes. That’s not going to be easy. Can you serve dinner on your own?”

Clover nodded numbly. “I’ll do whatever I can to help. Make sure the officer has my name and number to call if Damarius needs anything—anything.” She was such a failure. Serena depended on her for support, and she’d let her down.

“Of course. I’ll have them take him out the back door so the other children don’t become alarmed.”

Clover threw herself into serving dinner. She handed napkins to people with food in their beard, picked forks up off the ground and brought new ones, dished sloppy joes onto buns, and gave her cardigan to a teen with skinny arms who hunched over like the world was on her back.

Her phone rang, and she knew with all her heart that it was Dustin calling. She glanced around at the room, seeing all that needed to be done, all the places she could fill in these people’s lives, and let it go to voicemail.

She offered comfort and encouragement and a smile to all those who needed them. And by the time she fell into bed, not even bothering to take off her shoes, she’d given everything she had. It wasn’t until she was on the verge of sleep that she realized she hadn’t called Dustin back. Feeling as though she didn’t deserve that much happiness in her life—not when she’d let her friend down—she pulled the blanket over her head and went to sleep.