Page 29 of Embattled Return

She waved a hand, then tucked it into his elbow. It was a bit awkward maneuvering that crutch away, but he handed it off to Marigold, then tightened his grip on the other side. He let Nancy lead him from the room.

“Now, this rear apartment gets a lot of sunlight in the morning,” she said brusquely. “You’ll have to deal with some kitchen noise, but it’s cozy and warm. You’re welcome to it for as long as you need it.”

She named a figure that seemed incredibly low. “That’s for the week?”

“Month. I believe it’s fair, because it isn’t a full-sized apartment. You’re responsible for your own space. I have a girl come in once a week to clean the common areas. If you want her to do your space it’s an extra twenty-five a week, but she’ll do everything.”

“That sounds fantastic,” he murmured, looking around.

The rooms were decent sized with hardwood floors, just like what was running through the rest of the house. It looked like there were just two rooms, the bathroom through the far door and this bigger space, sectioned off into areas by the furniture. In one corner was a large bed with a heavy wooden headboard and matching dresser. There was a sitting room area with a decent looking couch and chair, and the two areas could be separated by a folding wall partition if he wanted some privacy. On the far side, near the exterior door, was a compact galley kitchen. The appliances seemed newer. There was literally nothing wrong with the space.

Logan thought about his end goal. When he’d headed west, he hadn’t really had much to live for, merely a mild curiosity about his family history and a need to explain himself to Miller’s family. He wasn’t sure he wanted to invest in this cozy, way too welcoming space. Or these incredible, fascinating women.

Anxiety began to churn in his gut. There was too much coming at him too fast and he needed to back off.

“I’m going to have to think about this, Nancy. I’m not sure how long I’m actually going to be here and I don’t know if it’s worth moving my stuff.”

Nancy looked a little crestfallen, but he made himself turn away, grabbing the crutch from Marigold as he went. He’d known the elderly woman for five minutes. It wasn’t his business to safeguard her feelings.

Then he caught sight of Marigold. Her clear green eyes were narrowed and her berry colored lips that had sent shivers up his body were pursed. Logan made himself walk away. It wasn’t his responsibility to keep them happy. Period.

“Can you drive me back to the hotel?”

Without waiting for an answer, he went through the doorway. He heard her murmuring to Nancy, her voice cajoling, but he left without a backward glance.

The car was unlocked so he climbed in, wedging his crutches in beside his legs. Within a few seconds, Marigold was climbing behind the wheel. She didn’t say anything as she started the car and pulled away from the house.

Logan scowled as he looked into the dark, cold night through his side window. It wasn’t his job, damn it, to ensure their happiness. He didn’t know them. Period. They weren’t his relatives or lovers.

The thought of Marigold as a lover made him pause. Well, he’d pretty much nixed even the chance of friendship, now.

* * *

Marigold was angry,but his silence gave her a chance to think about why he had pulled away so sharply.

It had to seem too good to be true, everything that was going on. John was finding Logan’s family and now she was offering him a place to call home, even if it was temporary. Grandma Nancy was amazing, and if he hadn’t had anything like her before, maybe he could feel threatened.

His total aloneness worried her, and she’d rushed in to try to change that for him.

“I’m sorry if you felt like Nancy was too much,” she murmured. “She tends to adopt anyone that lives in her house. And I’ll admit, it’s been kind of nice having someone to worry about me again.”

“She seemed like a nice lady,” he said softly. “Wine and all.”

Marigold grinned in the dark car. Yeah, Nancy was definitely a different kind of bird. “Don’t let the wine or the age fool you, Logan. She’s sharp as a tack. She loved her husband like crazy till he died a couple years ago. They’ve lived in that house all their married lives.”

It was incredibly sweet, the way the two of them had been together. Marigold had seen the pictures, and all the little nick-nacks around the house with their initials together. In all of their pictures, they were sharing love-filled glances. It was so sickeningly sweet.

And she wanted it. She wanted that same devotion she could see spilling from W.C.’s eyes, the way he touched Nancy’s shoulder and held her hand to make sure she didn’t fall. In a way she even wanted the heartbreak she could see in Nancy’s eyes, because it meant she had loved deeply and completely.

Marigold hadn’t felt that kind of love, yet, and she wasn’t really in a hurry to. School would be taking a lot of her time, coming up, and it wasn’t fair to half-ass a relationship. She’d refused to allow herself a pet for the same reason. It wouldn’t be fair to the animal if she wasn’t there to care for it. Her heart ached for something to cuddle and love, but she wasn’t going to allow her need to eclipse another being’s emotional health.

“I can’t imagine being married that long,” he murmured.

She didn’t say anything, though it was the perfect opportunity to bring up the ex. If he wanted to talk about her she would let him bring her up.

For most of the ride back to his hotel she held her tongue. It wasn’t her business if he wanted to rebuff their offers of friendship. She needed to quit expecting more from him.

When she dropped him off at the front entrance, though, she wavered. “If you need a ride anywhere, just let me know. Obviously, I’m just a few minutes away.”

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