Page 71 of Monster Among the Roses (Fairy Tale Quartet 1)

“I’d invite you back to my place, but…” I winced again. “My bedroom is currently the living room and I’ve been sleeping on the most uncomfortable pull-out sleeper sofa ever made.”

Isobel blinked. “And how long has it been since you moved your mom in with you?”

I shrugged. “Not that long. I’d like to find us a new place. Preferably something with two bedrooms. But…we’ll see.”

“I’ve never met your mother,” she suddenly murmured.

I glanced at her. She looked as if she’d been left out of something important. Drawing her hand to my mouth, I kissed her knuckles. “We’ll have to fix that, though I already know she’ll love you.”

Her smile showed relief and delight.

When we pulled into the drive, I rolled down the window to hit the call button on the gate. It took nearly a minute for anything to happen, and then the iron bars began to open.

Henry opened the front door and stepped outside to stand on the front steps as I pulled around the circle drive to the front door, my headlights splashing over him. Then he started toward us even before I could brake and kill the engine.

“He doesn’t look pleased,” I mused, unbuckling my seat belt.

“I know,” Isobel said, sounding similarly confused. She shared a glance with me. “I wonder what that’s about.”

“Think he knows what we did?” I whispered.

She sniffed but didn’t say yes or no.

Henry pulled open the passenger side door, gasping, “Isobel,” as he reached for her.

“Dad?” She took his hand and let him help her down from the truck. “Is everything okay? You look upset.”

“Upset? Upset?” he roared. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You’ve been missing for hours.”

“I…” She shook her head, seemingly perplexed, while I frowned.

“You didn’t tell him where you were going?”

Her gaze shot to me as I joined her and her dad next to the still opened passenger door. “No,” she said before blinking. “You told him yourself; we’re adults. Why would I—”

“Because you don’t typically leave the house,” I explained. “Of course he’d worry. I would’ve worried if you had suddenly disappeared without a word after eight years of never going anywhere.”

“Thank you,” Henry said, nodding as he whirled to his daughter and pointed my way. “What he said.”

“But I…I…”

At a loss for words, she merely stared at her father and then me before I cleared my throat and offered, “Maybe you should let him know whenever you go out, just until he gets used to the idea of you coming and going again.”

“Yes, exactly,” Henry added. “It never even occurred to me you had left the property. I thought you’d gotten hurt, or fallen into the lake, or…I don’t know. I just knew I couldn’t find you. And it was awful.”

“Well I’m home now,” she started slowly before wincing. “And I really didn’t mean to worry you, Dad. I’m sorry I did.”

Henry nodded. “It’s already forgotten. I’m just glad you’re here now, and okay.” But he remained standing there between the two of us, his gaze shifting from me to Isobel as if maybe—oh, Lord, I hoped not—he could see exactly what we’d been doing.

“So…you two went out?” he finally said.

“Yes. It was a lovely time.” She grinned and kissed Henry’s cheek. “And you’ll never guess what. We’re going to open a flower shop together and sell some of my roses. Shaw told me my flowers’ beauty was meant to be shared. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that ever since. So I want to. Share them, that is. I’m going to start my own shop.”

“Darling, that’s…” Henry shook his head before clearing his throat. “That’s great. I’m so proud of you. But are you certain it’s not too soon to—”

“I’ll be fine, Dad. Don’t worry. But I do have a question.”

“Oh?”

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