Page 65 of Home Tears

“Jenny.” He interrupted smoothly. His hand caught hers, holding it against him. “Why don’t you go see if your friend is okay? I’ll be right out.”

Surprise lined her eyes. She looked at Dani, then Boone, then the door. “Uh. Okay.” Her hand slid out from under his and she reluctantly walked for the door. She looked back twice before finally slipping outside.

“Boone.” Her eyes fell back to the counter. She didn’t know if she could bear looking at him again, see the disapproval or even the distaste in eyes that she once thought she loved. “I—”

“Don’t.” He gentled his tone. “Please, don’t.” His Adam’s apple moved up and down. “I came to see you, and it’s been two days.”

“What?” She looked up now.

He was hurting. A vein stuck out from his neck. “I thought you would’ve found me, so that we could’ve done this in private.”

She hadn’t.

His voice was so quiet. “You never did.”

Oh. She laid her hand on the counter again, and spread it out. Her palm rested flat. She needed it for balance. It was like an anchor for her. “I—”

“You should give the money back.”

“What?”

“The award my family’s company gave you. You should give it back.”

Her eyebrows pulled in together. She was given that because she tried to save a house full of orphans. Her mind was buzzing. “I didn’t know that came from your family’s business. You used a different last name. I didn’t know you were a Quandry until you showed up in my cabin the other night.”

But maybe he was right? She’d been hailed a hero, even though so many children died. She had no doubt the money came to her because of him.

“You have money. I thought you didn’t have anything.”

“What?” She had money? Well, she did now. “I have money because of the award. I didn’t at the time.” He was right, but that didn’t matter. She’d get a job. The money wasn’t important.

“No. The settlement. Jenny’s become friends with your sister. She told her. You led me to believe you left home with nothing. That’s not true.” He tilted his head to the side. “Right?”

“What settlement?”

“Oh, hell.”

She twisted around. Mae was in the doorway behind her, another box in her hands. She had the door propped open with her leg, like she caught the tail end of their conversation and stopped abruptly. Blinking a couple times, her shoulders lifted up and she dragged in a deep breath of air. “Okay. Um.” She came out, placing the box on the bar beside Dani. The door swung shut behind her. She raked a hand through her hair. “Hello, I’m Mae O’Hara. I’m the owner of this place.” She waved a distracted hand around the bar, then resting on Dani’s arm. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I need to have a word with my niece.”

Boone nodded, giving both of them a second appraisal before leaving.

Both waited until the door closed behind him. They spoke at the same time.

Dani: “What settlement?”

Mae: “You and that man have history.”

Dani pressed her hands to her forehead. A migraine was coming, but she couldn’t ignore Mae’s words. “What?”

“You and that man.” Mae waved a finger in her face. “I came around before, but it looked too intense. I snuck off to the side to watch.”

“You were watching?” Dani had to laugh. Of course her aunt would watch. Why wouldn’t she? “Did you have a snack? Popcorn, perhaps?”

Mae ignored that. “Who is he?”

Dani had another retort to deliver, but swallowed it. She closed her mouth. “He’s no one.”

“Danielle O’Hara.”

---