Page 95 of Havoc's Fox

“Is it that obvious?” Analise asked.

“It is. Your whole face lights up and your smile isn’t forced anymore, it’s just natural.”

“She’s a special little girl.”

“Does she know you’re leaving yet?”

“Probably not. I wanted to go talk to her myself, but Havoc said he thought it was best that I didn’t. I think he’s thinking make a clean break, you know?”

“That’s too bad.”

“Yeah, but he knows that once I go back to Boston it’ll be a long time before I come back. So, while I don’t like it, I do see his point.”

Daisy sat for a few minutes trying to get a read on Analise. “I think maybe you should come home more often. It might be good for you.”

“I’m starting to think that I shouldn’t have come this time, much less coming back more often,” Analise said, huffing a laugh at her own comment.

“I thought things were different, beginning to work out.”

“I don’t know about working out, but I definitely thought they were getting better, too. Must have been hopeful thinking.”

“Why? What happened?”

“It’s not important.”

“It is, though.”

“It’s okay, really. I don’t want anything said to him.”

“I give you my word, I won’t say anything at all to him.”

Analise looked at Daisy for an uncomfortable amount of time, knowing that Daisy was probably the only one who wouldn’t say anything to Havoc. “When I called to tell him that I was going back home, my work needed me, I told him I knew I was responsible for part of the problems we’ve always had. I thought it was going well. I even mentioned that now that we’re at least friends again we don’t have to stress about seeing each other when we come home for the holidays anymore. I thought it was a good thing. He told me that I should feel free to come home anytime I want because next year he’ll be going to spend it with Maia. Which basically means that he won’t be here if I am.”

“Oh, ‘Lise.”

“I know. I thought we were making progress at least. I even started to question him on it and he said he just feels it’s for the best. It’s easier.”

“Maybe he can’t see you just once in a while. He wants you so bad it hurts,” Daisy said.

“I guess so,” Analise said. She gazed off toward the front windows for a few seconds, then Janie came in with snacks and drinks. She smiled at Janie. “You always made the best snacks, Aunt Janie. It was always such a treat being here as a kid.”

“Oh, I’m so happy to hear that, sweetheart.” Janie pressed a quick kiss to Analise’s temple, then went back to whatever she was doing in the rest of the house.

Analise turned her attention to Daisy. “So, instead of listening to me, what about you? I know you came home right before you finished your graduate program, and I know it was a man, but I didn’t feel right calling and saying, ‘Hey, I hear you got your heart broken. You good?’ So, now that I’m right here face to face, are you alright? And you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“Not everyone knows. I mean, yes, they all know I moved back home, but the reason for it is kind of hazy where most are concerned, though I’m sure the parents probably know, thank you clan telepathy.”

Analise laughed lightly as she sipped her hot chocolate. “Anything I can do?”

“I wish, but no. I just trusted the wrong person. He was supposed to guide us, and help lead us to the next point in our lives and he gave me an inordinate amount of attention. He said I was gifted and glowed so brightly that he couldn’t unsee me even when he closed his eyes. And I believed him. I fell for it hook, line and sinker.”

“Oh, Daisy. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, me, too. Things went from great to bad and then to abusive.”

“He hit you?!”

“No, he didn’t, but the emotional aspects were almost just as bad. His wife found out and she practically stalked me.”

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