Page 27 of Shelter from the Storm

Edith exchanged a quick glance with Theo, obviously excited that Gretchen was opening the door to allow them a peek inside.

Manny, oblivious to the undercurrents and blissed out on gooey chocolate, gave Gretchen a commiserating grunt. “I get that. I hate to speak ill of them, but my folks aren’t exactly warm and fuzzy, either.”

Edith snorted, as if that was the understatement of the century.

Without meaning to, Manny had set Gretchen at ease. Not that Theo was surprised. If Manny was a dog, he’d be Marmaduke, big, goofy, loveable.

“Do your parents still live in Harrisburg?” Theo hoped the question was innocuous enough that she would answer.

Gretchen nodded, licking the tiniest smear of chocolate icing from her lower lip. “My mom and stepdad do. My dad left when I was five, so I don’t know where he is.”

Edith frowned. “You never see him?”

“Not since I was five.”

That answer might have bothered Theo—the idea of a man splitting on his two kids and never looking back—but it was clear from Gretchen’s tone, her father’s departure didn’t seem to bother her much.

“That couldn’t have been easy.” Like him, Edith was choosing her words carefully, hoping it would encourage Gretchen to say more.

“I don’t remember him much at all. My brother, Shaw, was eight when he left, and he took it hard. He started getting in trouble at school, acting like a little brat. Mom married Ivan when I was seven. Sometimes I think she accepted his proposal because she couldn’t handle Shaw on her own.”

“Did Ivan help?” Manny was completely unaware how thrilled Theo and Edith were that Gretchen was giving them this look inside.

Gretchen shook her head, a faraway look in her eyes that concerned Theo, made him believe she was recalling unhappier times. “No.” She hesitated, seeming to remember where she was. “Ivan was a strict disciplinarian.”

Theo pinned her with a look because he could tell, once again, she was leaving too many things unsaid.

She grimaced under his steady gaze. “Okay,” she relented. “Ivan was an abusive asshole and a bully.”

“Oh, dear.” Edith reached over to place her hand on top of Gretchen’s. “I’m sorry to hear that. How did your mother handle it?”

Gretchen lifted one shoulder. “Mom wasn’t the strongest of women, so she always took his side, supported him.”

“Was he mean to her, too?” Manny had put his fork down, fully invested now in hearing Gretchen’s story.

“No. Shaw took the brunt of his anger.” Gretchen bit her lip. “It got bad. Some stuff happened, and we ended up in foster care.”

Theo frowned. She’d clearly breezed over a hell of a lot.

Edith’s fingers were pressed to her lips, upset by Gretchen’s admission. “How old were you when you went into foster care?”

Gretchen looked away. They were treading on dangerous ground here. It was obvious she regretted saying as much as she had, and he suspected before they could ask another question, she’d find a way to change the subject.

“I was thirteen. Is it okay if I pour myself another cup of tea?” Gretchen asked as she rose, halfway to the kitchen before she finished her question.

“Of course, my dear. This is your home now. You don’t even have to ask.” Edith sighed heavily the second Gretchen was out of earshot. “Poor girl.”

Theo nodded in agreement, though he didn’t add more, concerned Gretchen would overhear them. He might not know her well, but he’d seen enough to let him know she wouldn’t want their pity.

Mercifully, Manny recovered quickly, guiding them back to a safer topic. “Got any D.C. restaurant suggestions?”

Theo named a couple of places, his gaze drifting toward the kitchen. He sensed Gretchen was dawdling, uncomfortable with returning.

Three steps forward, two steps back.

She’d just stepped back into the dining room when there was a knock on the front door. Because he was looking at her, he caught the brief flash of panic that crossed Gretchen’s features before she managed to school them.

“That’ll be Jacob.” Edith rose from the table. “I invited him to stop by for a slice of cake after his shift.”

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