Page 17 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

Jenna stood and chuckled. “So much for a goodbye. I think waiting a little longer to tell him about Mila is smart. Let him enjoy a few more hours.”

Elsie sighed. “It doesn’t matter when I tell him, it’s going to devastate him.”

Dean crossed his arms over his chest and rooted his feet on the floor. Every fiber in his body commanded he cross to Elsie’s side and pull her close, but not now. Not with Jenna here. She knew him too well and would no doubt run right to Calvin and tell him her suspicions. Better to keep a little bit of distance. “We can tell him now if you’d rather.”

“No, you were smart to dangle some normalcy in front of him. Structure is key, even in chaos. Hell, maybe especially in chaos.” Closing her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose. “How can I not show him how upset I am? He’ll know something happened.”

“You don’t have to hide anything. If he senses something and asks, then we tell him. If not, then we break the news when we bring him home.” He held his breath and waited for her response. He didn’t have a kid. Hell, he didn’t even spend a lot of time with them. But he understood respect. Understood people of all ages craving authenticity and honesty.

She offered him a watery smile. “You’re right. Sorry, I’m just so tied up in knots I can’t think straight.”

Jenna crossed the porch to Elsie’s side and braced her hands on either shoulder. “You’re doing great. Call me if you need anything, but you seem to be in good hands.” She tossed a quick look over her shoulder that told Dean he hadn’t been as subtle about his feelings for Elsie as he’d thought.

Elsie drew in a shuddering breath then pressed a quick kiss to Jenna’s cheek before Jenna said her goodbyes and hurried to her car.

Dean took over Jenna’s spot and stared into the darkening afternoon as the skies opened and raindrops plopped down from the heavy clouds. Wind spit water on his face and sent a chill down his spine. The storm was here and they’d weather it together, come hell or high water.

7

Elsie shook the water from her umbrella before stepping into the yellow and green three-story Victorian house turned shelter. Safe Haven Women’s Shelter had been transformed from a family home into a beacon of hope for women and children for miles around. Mrs. Collins, the owner, had worked diligently to turn the rooms into spaces of service—opting to keep only a small portion on the top floor for her private quarters.

Entering the shelter, a sense of peace washed over Elsie. She’d been blessed with a loving and supportive family but that didn’t mean she didn’t understand the need for a place like this. Heck, if her parents hadn’t stepped in and offered Mila a home, she and Jimmy might have needed a place like this.

Luckily, that hadn’t been the case, but Elsie had promised herself she’d do whatever she could to give back. To be a strong and stable shelter to anyone who found themselves in a tough situation, just like her parents had done so many years ago.

“Smells good.” Jimmy shrugged out of his rain jacket and hung it on the old coat rack in the corner of the foyer. “I bet it’s cookies. Can I have one?”

She should say no, but she wanted to shower him with as much goodness and happiness as possible before she shattered his world. “Sure but take your boots off first. Mrs. Collins doesn’t need you tracking mud through her kitchen.”

Jimmy kicked off his boots then disappeared through the swinging door on the far side of the foyer that led to the kitchen.

“Let me help you with your coat.” Dean stepped in behind her and shut the door, blocking out the ugly gusts of wind and swirling leaves that had been ripped from the trees. He freed her from her jacket then hung it beside his, placing the umbrella on a black mat on the floor.

“Thanks.” She slipped off her shoes then picked up the ones Jimmy had left lying in the middle of the room. “Want a cookie?”

A buzzing sound echoed off the high ceiling, and Dean fished his phone from his pocket. He checked the screen and his features hardened into a mask. “I need to take this.”

“The library is right behind you,” she said with a flick of the wrist. “You can close the door for some privacy. Find me in the kitchen when you’re done.”

He gave a nod then answered the call before disappearing into the library.

A small part of her wanted to press her ear to the wooden pocket door to hear whatever conversation Dean couldn’t have in front of her, but the more mature part of her pointed her toward the kitchen.

A cheerful scene greeted her. Mrs. Collins stood at the marble-topped island and slid freshly baked peanut butter cookies onto a white platter. Flowers erupted from a vase on the farmhouse table, where Jimmy and his friend Amelia sat with a glass of milk and giant smiles.

Another little girl she hadn’t seen before sat across from Jimmy and shoved a cookie in her mouth. Her dark hair was pulled into two high pigtails and her dress fit a bit too snuggly. Ayoung woman with a faded bruise ringing her right eye hovered behind her.

“Elsie! Look, peanut butter. My favorite.” Jimmy snagged a cookie from the blue plate in the middle of the table.

“I thought he’d like them,” Mrs. Collins said, a knowing smile on her wrinkled face. “Elsie, this is Stacey and her daughter Skylar. They came to stay with us last night. Skylar and Amelia wanted to help me bake, and Stacey’s been looking forward to your arrival.”

Elsie waved at the woman who appeared to be around her own age. “Glad to meet you both.”

Skylar finished her treat and grinned. “I’m four. We’re on an abenture.”

Elsie couldn’t help but smile at the way the little girl said adventure, respect firm for Stacey’s ability to leave a bad situation and not let her child sense her turmoil. Only recently did she realize how difficult that could be.

Mrs. Collins washed off the countertop then dumped a dirty mixing bowl into the sink before facing Elsie once more. “Stacey has an interview on Friday. She saw the flyers around town for the Dress for Success event next week. She hoped maybe she could get a sneak peek. I can watch the little ones while you take her back to see the donations if you’re both okay with that.”

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