Page 98 of Defended By Love

The girl looks even more at the floor, like she’s hoping it will suck her in. “Yeah,” she says eventually. “You helped me figure some forms out at the library.”

Shelly takes a couple steps down the stairs towards us, towards the girl. Her mouth is pressed into an impossibly thin line. I would think it’s angry, but her eyes are so full of compassion. She walks towards the girl slowly, like she’s approaching a skittish cat.

“I’m sorry that I’m forgetting your name, right now. I’m not at my best,” she says softly, adding an embarrassed smile.

Suddenly, all my carefully honed tactics to get people on my side seem amateurish compared to Shelly. Even though the girl has clearly gone through the wringer, she’s shifting the attention to herself. With a hint of a smile to come, the girl lifts her head for the first time. She has green eyes that look like one hard stare could shatter them to pieces.

“Rhiannon.”

Shelly nods and finishes her way down the stairs. “It would seem that I helped you with the wrong forms. Tomorrow, we’ll find the right ones,” she says matter-of-factly. “In the meantime, I think showers, dry clothes, and a spot of food are in order. Rhiannon, you can use the one in my room. First door on the left. Towels are under the sink. I also have some pajamas in the top drawer of my dresser that you can wear. They are very fashionable—providing you like cats in sunglasses.”

Rhiannon still doesn’t smile, but her shoulders seem to release some tension. She heads up the stairs at the same time Grant heads down the other stairs. I go to follow him, but Shelly grabs my arm.

“I’m guessing you’re responsible for all this.”

I wince, vowing to do better tomorrow.

“I’m sorry—”

“Thank you,” she interrupts. “You can tell a lot about a person by the people they deign to help.” She pauses, looking up the stairs. “And that girl needed help.”

“I’m trying.”

She pats me on the shoulder and offers me a smile. “I’d say you’re doing more than trying. Who knows what could have happened to the poor thing tonight if you hadn’t thought of her.”

That one hurts as much as it inspires.

“I couldn’t have done it without your son.”

Shelly, bless her, beams like the proud mama she is. “He’s pretty special, isn’t he?”

I nod. “I like him a lot.”

“If he’s bringing you home to meet me, I’d say he likes you, too.” She frowns. “Just do me a favour?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t tell me why he’s dressed up like that. There are certain things a mother shouldn’t know about her children’s nighttime activities.”

By the time I’ve worked out what she’s meant by that, she’s already turned and gone into the kitchen. She’s humming away as she grabs a worn apron that reads ‘World’s Best Mom’ and puts it over her bathrobe.

“Can I help with anything?”

Shelly just shoos me away, looking at me like I’ve just made a ridiculous suggestion.

“No, no. You go shower. Get warm. Just be sure to come upstairs with an appetite after your shower. I’ve been told I tend to make a bit too much food.” She smiles as she pulls out pretty much every single item out of the fridge. “It’ll be nice to cook for a full table. I think Rhiannon just really needs someone to cook for her.”

I’d say Rhiannon needs someone to cook for her just about as badly as Shelly needs to cook. If I were a more whimsical person, I’d wonder if there wasn’t a touch of fate in this after all.

Despite the fact that I know I’m going to have to consume three meals worth of food at two in the morning, I smile.

So far, this is the best day I’ve had in a while.

Chapter 42

I wake up in Grant’s arms. In his cartoon sheets. In his arms. In love.

“This is nice,” I mutter and snuggle deeper against him.

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