Page 74 of Elora and the Crow

He forced a smile and sat her up on his lap. “Nothing’s wrong. We should hop in the shower and then get to the Thai place before you faint from hunger.”

“Yeah, okay,” she said, giving him a troubled look.

He made his smile more natural and said, “But don’t be getting handsy with me in the shower like you usually do, lady. I need fuel if you expect me to continue to service you sexually.”

She laughed and gently bonked her forehead against his. “I’ll be on my best behaviour.”

CHAPTER23

“Did you see the text from Maisie and Kinsley this morning?” Cece sat down at the small table they’d snagged near the coffee shop window.

“Oh my God, yes,” Elora laughed. “I have no idea how Maisie talked Kinsley into taking a gondola ride up a mountain. She’s terrified of heights.”

“Her face certainly looked like she was about two seconds from barfing in that picture,” Cece said.

Elora laughed again. “I’m happy they’re having such a good time.”

“Me too.” Cece stirred her tea. “And just a teensy bit jealous.”

“Your time will come, Cece. You’ll be in Alaska and watching polar bears before you know it.”

Cece just nodded without any of her usual enthusiasm when the topic of her Alaska trip came up.

“What’s wrong?” Elora asked.

“Nothing,” Cece said. “How was work this morning?”

“Fine, but don’t change the subject, please,” Elora said. “Why aren’t you enthusiastic about Alaska?”

“I am,” Cece said.

“Cecelia,” Elora said.

Cece sighed. “The water heater died last week, and I had to use my vacation money to buy a new one.”

“Oh, Cece.” Elora took her hand and squeezed it lightly.

“It’s fine,” Cece said. “I wasn’t even close to having enough saved up for the trip anyway.”

“It isn’t fine,” Elora said. “And it isn’t fair that this happened.”

Cece wasn’t crying, but Elora knew how upset she was. She squeezed her hand again. “I’m so sorry, honey. I know how much you were looking forward to your trip, and I also know this is, like, the fourth time you’ve had to use the money you’ve saved on something else.”

Cece shrugged. “I should sell the house, I know that, but my mom and Aunt Sybil loved it so much, and it doesn’t feel right to give it up.”

“Sure, but it costs so much money, especially for one person, that I think they would understand if you sold it,” Elora said. “You could get a cute little condo downtown.”

“I would love that,” Cece said with a soft smile. “And you’re right, Mom and Aunt Sybil would understand. But there are so many repairs that need to be done to the house that unless I fix it up first, I won’t be able to sell it for enough money even to pay off the mortgage.”

“Shit,” Elora said.

“Yeah.”

The utter defeat and worry on Cece’s face made Elora’s chest tight.

“Honey, I -”

“It’s fine,” Cece said, pasting an obviously fake smile on her face. “I’ve been binge-watching DIY YouTube videos on house repairs for the last week. I’ll be an expert before you know it and can fix the house myself.”

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