Jenny had wondered how long her reprieve would last. She knew she had at least a week while her parents were on vacation. And without her mother around to keep everyone up to date, Paul and Anna wouldn’t find out until her parents returned home. Naively Jenny had thought maybe she’d even have an extra day or two after they got back from Alaska. But mere hours after returning home, her mother had been on the phone.

The local gossip mill must have been working overtime to get the news to her so quickly.

“Is it true?” her mother had immediately asked.

Still groggy with sleep, Jenny scooched up in bed, pulling her pillow with her. Checking caller ID could have saved her a world of hurt. Then again, knowing her mother, Catherine would have just driven over if Jenny hadn’t picked up the phone. “Hi, Mom. How was your trip?”

“Fine. Relaxing. Your father decided to stay an extra week for more fishing.” Her mother said fishing like it was one of the seven mortal sins. She also sounded anything but relaxed. “But don’t change the subject. Is it true?”

Twenty-six years had taught Jenny that stalling only made the situation worse. “It’s true.”

“Jennifer. He’s living with you?”

“Sort of.”

“Either he is or he isn’t.”

Jenny squeezed her eyes shut, knowing a headache was only minutes away. “Only temporarily.”

There was a long pause, and Jenny braced herself. She’d been so sure a week would have been plenty of time to get rid of Jared. That he’d be long gone before her parents found out.

“Hmmm.”

Hmmm?What the heck did hmmm mean?

“Maybe this isn’t as bad as I first thought.”

Jenny’s eyes flew open, and she jackknifed to a sit. “Excuse me?”

“Well, I’ve never liked you living out there all by yourself. You know that. It’s too isolated. I really wish you would move back here. This is your home. And it’s only a ten-minute drive to your place. An easy enough commute to your business.”

Jenny’s headache came on full force. They’d had this same discussion a hundred different times, a hundred different ways, and it always ended the same way, with her mother still holding out hope that Jenny would “come to her senses” and move back home.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Jenny said, bringing the conversation back around. “I have everything under control. He won’t be here that long.”

“That’s not what your brother told me.”

“You’ve talked to Paul?”

“Naturally. He was kind enough to fill me in on everything.”

Jenny had no idea what “everything” meant, but she wasn’t about to ask. Turns out, she didn’t need to.

“After Paul explained exactly who Jared Worth is and what his relationship had been to Steven, I’m feeling much better about the situation.” There was a pause while her mother took a drink of her ritual one cup of coffee in the morning. “I think it will be a good thing for you to have someone living out on the lake with you.”

Jenny fell back against her headboard. “You’re kidding, right?”

“You know your father and I are always here if you need anything, but if you choose to go your own route on this, well, like I said, I feel better knowing you have some . . . protection.”

Jenny let the protection comment slide—the crime rate in Hidden Lake was practically nonexistent—but they both knew what anything meant. All Jenny had to do was ask her parents for the money to repay Jared, and he’d be gone.

She couldn’t kid herself; she was tempted. Like she had been several times before. But unlike before, she was determined to find her own way out of this.

Jenny assured her mother that she had everything handled and not to worry. After enduring a few minutes more of her mother’s advice, the call ended.

The moment she hung up, the phone rang again almost immediately. This time she had the presence of mind to check the caller ID.

“Morning, Paul,” Jenny said.

“Mother called.”

“Surprise, surprise.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”

Jenny couldn’t disagree more.

“We’re just worried about you, Jelly Belly,” her brother continued. “You have to know that.”

The familiar nickname and the concern in her brother’s voice was her undoing. Her throat clogged with a week’s full of stress and strain. “Don’t be. You know Steven couldn’t even stand to live with me full-time.” She tried to hide her hurt behind a teasing tone.

“That’s not true.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and she wiped them away. “You’re right. He only kept the apartment above his parents’ garage to escape my family’s early phone calls.”

Paul’s laughter was a little too loud and a little too forced, but Jenny loved him all the more for it. “Could you blame the guy?”

Jenny felt herself start to get back onto even ground. “Heck no.” She drew in a breath, then confided to her brother, “Jared’s the Ghost, Paul.”

There was a pause while the impact of her words sank in. “You’re sure?” Paul finally said.

“Yes.”

“Wow.” Paul paused. “The way Steven used to talk about that guy. Remember that time we were at Steven’s parents’ house and Steven couldn’t stop talking about how amazing the Ghost flew and Steven’s dad finally interrupted and said there was no way anyone could be that good. Steven was silent for the longest time, and then he said the Ghost was.”

“Yeah, I remember.” She also remembered how Steven’s voice had taken on an almost reverent tone when he spoke of the Ghost . . . of Jared. Steven had all but worshipped at the tips of Jared’s wings.

“Hey, have you . . .”

Paul didn’t even have to finish his thought for Jenny to know what he was asking. “No. Steven’s parents are still down in Arizona. Half-here, half-there, remember?” She hadn’t seen them since the funeral. A part of her had been relieved that they’d left so soon after the funeral. Bumping in to them would be another painful reminder of everything she’d lost. Everything they’d all lost.

All of a sudden, Jenny couldn’t stay in bed a moment longer. “Listen, Paul, I’ve got a full day. I really need to go.”

It wasn’t the complete truth, but she had to get off the phone and now. She didn’t want to talk about Steven, about his living and not living here. Or his parents and how Jenny hadn’t found the courage to face them since the funeral.

“I’m here for you, Jelly Belly. Just say the word, and Jared is gone.”

“Sweet, but slightly overprotective. You can back off, Paul. I have it handled. Really,” she said, not sure if she was trying to convince him or herself.

Now, an hour later, Jenny sat the edge of her yard and buried her feet into the sand. Tiny pebbles and rough grains filtered through her bare toes and over her feet. It wasn’t even nine in the morning, but already the lake was alive with activity. A bright Saturday in May that promised unseasonable warm weather would do that.

Shielding her eyes from the sun, she could make out several of her neighbors from her spot on the shore. A handful of fishing boats speckled the large lake as they trolled near the shorelines, while a group of teenagers braved the cold water for a few hours of waterskiing. Their rock music and loud voices echoed across the water. Each time they sped past Mr. Wilcox, their wake tipped and rocked his shallow aluminum boat. Grabbing the boat’s side with one hand, he raised the other, fist clenched, and shouted out an obscenity that was thankfully obscured by the music.

Bracing her hands behind her in the thick grass, she tilted her face upward, closing her eyes against the sharp rays. Warm sun beat down on her, and the heady fragrance of her grandmother’s flowers surrounded her. Not for the first time did Jenny wonder what her grandmother would say about the mess she was in.

Spilled milk don’t clean itself.

Her nana’s voice came to her swift and clear. How many times had Jenny heard that old saying? But even Nana had to see that this mess wasn’t so easily taken care of. For days she’d been trying to figure out a way to improve the business’s bottom line. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure out a way. And then there was her other worry: one very large, very intimidating, heartbreakingly handsome worry working in the hangar behind her.

With a small shake of her head, she tried to concentrate on anything other than Jared. She listened to the music blaring from the kids’ boat, she listened for Mr. Wilcox’s raised voice, she strained to hear the lawn mower coming from next door, but none of it did any good. No matter how hard she tried, she could not force him from her mind.

Everywhere she went, he was there, making her feel like an intruder in her own house, in her own yard. In her own business. Whenever she turned around, she saw him watching her . . . judging her. She wasn’t sure what unsettled her more: the watching or the judging. Her whole life she’d been judged by her family and had been found lacking; she should be used to it by now. But there was something different in the way Jared looked at her. His gaze held an intensity she’d never seen before. Like he could look deep into her soul and see her every doubt, her every insecurity. And her every mistake.

Then there were the other times when those looks had nothing to do with uncovering her darkest failures and everything to do with uncovering her deepest secrets.

He crowded her mind, made her forget—and worse—made her remember. And each time her body responded to him, she felt so much guilt. As if Steven were alive and she was cheating on him.

A part of her wanted to pack her bags and run away like she had as a child. Except, back then, she’d always escaped to the safety of Nana’s house. But the reality was, she still felt safe here. Even with Jared here. Maybe because he was here. And that was definitely not something she wanted to examine too closely.

After Steven had died, all Jenny had wanted was to be left alone. When her family kept showing up, trying to comfort her, she had been quick to push them away. She told them she was happy living by herself on the lake. And she was. She still was. But as much as she hated to admit it, sometime during this last week, she had started to find solace knowing someone else was in the house. There was a strength about Jared that she couldn’t deny. He possessed an air about him she’d never sensed in another man. Not even Steven. It was there in the way Jared walked, the way he spoke, and the quiet restlessness that seemed to keep him on alert at all times.

Her hands bunched in the grass as she fought against the wave of guilt that rolled over her. How could she be so disloyal? She fought for and found a mental picture of Steven. In her mind she saw his sandy blond hair, his smiling face. But then his hair changed color, turned an ebony black. And his green eyes became hard blue sapphires.

Water skiers roared past, startling her. Waves slapped angrily against the beach and splashed across the sand.

She sat up and looped her arms around her bent knees, trying to stop her trembling.

Steven her mind begged, looking for forgiveness.

A loud bang came from the hangar, but she didn’t turn around. Jared was inside doing heaven only knew what. Over the last week, he’d laid claim to the space, and Jenny seemed to be the only one who had a problem with that. Zeke took it all in stride, acting as if he enjoyed having another guy around the place. Several times Jenny found herself working up her courage to confront him, to remind him that this was her business, and she was in charge. But whenever she was near him, he threw her off balance and made her forget what she wanted to say.

She picked up a rock and tossed it in the water. Maybe her family and friends were right. Maybe she did need to get out. For so many months, she’d gone out of her way to distance herself from friends and even her family to the extent they’d allow it. Being around people only reminded her of everything she had lost. Living had been replaced by mere existing. Living meant you laughed and you loved. Existing was just basic survival. You could be numb when you just existed. Numb was good. Numb kept her from feeling a pain so crippling it would destroy her.

She needed Jared to leave. And it wasn’t just because of the business. There was more: an awareness of him that scared her like nothing else since Steven’s death.

He could not stay here for the next four months. She wouldn’t survive.

A tall shadow fell over her, blocking out the sun. She tensed, not needing to turn around to know who it was.

“We need to talk.” His deep voice with a hint of roughness was becoming all too familiar. So was the perpetual look of irritation in his hard blue eyes. She didn’t need to be facing him to know it would be there. His tone said it all.

“Ignoring me won’t work.”

She’d beg to differ.

“It’s about your Beaver.”

She whipped her head around so fast her neck twinged in protest. From her spot on the ground, her eyes leveled on the five-button fly of a pair of worn Levi’s. Embarrassment tinged her cheeks pink, and that was before she forced her gaze up. She swallowed hard. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. Taking up her whole line of vision was his bare chest and a set of broad shoulders, tanned by the sun and defined by muscles. A T-shirt dangled from the back pocket of his jeans. “My wh-what?”

“Beaver.”

Pink turned to bright red. “I don’t—”

“The piston Beaver.”

She looked up at him. “The plane?”

“Of course the plane. What the hell did you think—” He broke off as a slow grin curved his lips. “You have one dirty little mind.”

“I do not.” That was the truth. Or it had been until a week ago.

He shifted his weight and crossed his arms across his chest.

His grin was worse than anything he could have said.

She felt like a fool, sitting on the ground at his feet. Standing, she kept her eyes off the fly of his Levi’s and off his bare chest.

She ducked her head and took her time brushing off the seat of her white shorts. God, please let him blame her red face on the sun. Unable to face him, she stalled, searched for the flip-flops she’d kicked off when she’d first gotten to the beach. She found them in the sand, right next to where she’d been sitting. Picking them up, she brushed off her right foot and was just about to put her flip-flop on when she lost her balance and wobbled. Jared’s hand instantly closed around her arm, steadying her. Heat that had nothing to do with the sun infused her.

Unnerved by his touch, she turned all thumbs. She fumbled as she tried to put on her shoe . . . tried not to think about how long it had been since she’d felt the strength of a man’s hand on her.

With more force than necessary, she shoved the second flip-flop on. The hard plastic bit the soft skin between her toes.

The minute she had both shoes on, he let go of her arm. “Now, can we talk about the Beaver?”

She finally met his gaze. While her insides were tied up in knots and her arm still tingled from his touch, Jared seemed completely unaffected. She should have been relieved. “Can you stop calling it that?”

“What should I call it?”

“Anything but . . .” She couldn’t, she wouldn’t, say it.

“The Beaver?”

She glared at him. “You needed something?”

“The plane is due for an oil change, and during yesterday’s flight, Zeke noticed the hydraulic flaps seemed a little slow to respond.”

“I can’t help you.”

“Big surprise.”

His comment pissed her off. He had no idea how she and Zeke divided the responsibilities. “Zeke handles the maintenance on the plane. He’s the one you need to speak with.”

“I would, but he’s not here.”

“He has the day off. Not everyone deems it necessary to work seven days a week.”

“Five would be nice. Hell, at this point I’d settle for four.”

She clenched her jaw. “We don’t have any charters scheduled for today—”

“Big surprise,” he said again.

“We don’t have a charter, so there’s no need for Zeke to come in.”

“And we wouldn’t want to be ready in case someone called out of the blue.”

That had never happened before, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “Then I would call Zeke.”

“Listen, sweetheart.”

God, she really hated it when he called her that.

“There’s a lot more to this business than just flying the plane. I don’t give a damn what you and your handyman do when I’m gone, but while I’m here, you’ll run a business like a business should be run. The plane will be maintained. And sunbathing”—the look he gave her made her feel like she was wearing the tiniest of bikinis instead of a pair of shorts and a tank top—“is not part of the job description.”

She hadn’t been sunbathing, and he knew it. And more importantly, the plane was impeccably maintained. Immediately following yesterday’s flight, Zeke had consulted with her about the hydraulic flaps. They’d both agreed that tomorrow, during the regularly scheduled oil change, he would also inspect the flaps. “At least I keep my clothes on.”

The moment she said the words, she wished them back.

He rocked back on his heels and rubbed a hand across his bare chest. “I’ve never had any complaints.”

“Then I’d suggest a hearing test.”

“What?”

“I said you need a hearing test.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

He was playing her. The jerk. “No one around here wants your opinions. Believe me.”

“You’d better start, or damn soon there won’t be a business.”

She turned and headed for the house. Why did she bother? Conversing with Jared was like the worst version of a “Who’s on First” Abbott and Costello skit. All they did was talk in circles, but even so, he always seemed to come out ahead.

Just as she reached the front porch, a car pulled into the driveway. Shielding a hand over her eyes, she looked up the hill and saw a silver Volvo. Fan-freakin’-tastic. A run-in with her sister was the last thing she wanted.

Dropping her hand, she made her way to the parking area and waited for Anna. It took forever. Mr. Wilson on his tractor drove faster than her sister.

Finally, her sister angled into a parking spot and turned off the engine. Jenny smiled, trying to muster up some enthusiasm. She saw her nephew was in the backseat. She waved. He didn’t wave back. Great, just what she needed. Another ornery male.

Several moments passed before her sister got out of the car; Cody stayed put.

Jenny tried not to feel underdressed. Even on a weekend morning, her sister managed to look like she’d just come from a Paris boutique. The pale lilac skirt and matching fitted jacket had exquisite, exclusive, and expensive stamped all over it. “This is a surprise.”

“Good one, I hope.”

“Always,” Jenny said and wished it was true. At one time it had been.

Anna looked around the yard. “Grandmother’s garden looks lovely. She always knew you’d be the best care-taker.”

If her sister’s compliment hadn’t instantly put Jenny on guard, then the affectionate tone would have. As far as Jenny could remember, the last time Anna had said something nice to Jenny was when they were kids and Jenny had roasted Anna’s marshmallows during their cookouts on the beach. But then Anna had outgrown Barbies and grown boobs and decided everyone needed a life plan by the time they were thirteen. Her tolerance for her younger, less driven sister had all but evaporated.

“Thanks,” Jenny said warily.

Her sister looked past her, toward the hangar. “Zeke sounds busy.”

It wasn’t Zeke, but there was no way Jenny was going to tell that to her sister. She was sick and tired of having every aspect of her life analyzed by her family. “So, what brings you all the way out here?”

“Well, I—” Anna broke off midsentence. “That is not Zeke.”

Jenny turned and saw that Jared—still shirtless—had emerged from the hangar. He grabbed something, then headed back in.

“Is that who I think it is?” Anna asked, sounding like a breathless schoolgirl.

“It’s no one you know.”

“I think I can make an accurate guess.”

Yes, Jenny thought. Unfortunately, her sister could.

“You sure know how to pick them,” Anna continued. “I’ll give you that.”

“I didn’t pick him.”

Anna grinned at her. “I would have.”

“Anna!”

“What?”

“You’re married.”

“Married, not buried.”

Something in her sister’s tone caught Jenny, and she found herself looking more closely at Anna. But as she searched her sister’s features, Jenny knew she must have been mistaken. The tentativeness. The trace of uncertainty Jenny had thought she heard had been an illusion. Anna had never had an unsure moment in her life.

“Come on, this I have to see.”

Her sister was halfway across the yard before Jenny could react.

Jenny hustled to catch up, knowing there was no way she could stop her sister. For a woman who drove a good ten miles under the speed limit, Anna was a surprisingly fast walker. “Don’t you mean meet?” Jenny asked when she reached Anna.

Anna flashed her a huge smile, the kind that Jenny hadn’t seen for years—if ever. “Yeah, right. Meet.” She smiled again.

The hangar’s large front doors were open, and sunlight flooded most of the vast interior. Toward the far end, Jared was working on one of the hydraulic flaps. The muscles on his chest and arms bunched and rippled as he worked underneath the plane’s flap. Every time he reached forward, his Levi’s slipped a little lower on his hips, exposing more of his rock-hard abs and the thin, dark line of hair that spiraled around his navel and disappeared into the waistband of his jeans.

Jenny felt a sudden rush of anger, and it had nothing to do with his working on her plane and everything to do with him standing half-naked in front of them making her remember the way the heat of his hand had felt against her skin as he’d held her, steadied her, while she put on her flip-flops.

Anna let out a long-drawn-out breath. “That’s your partner?”

“Don’t call him that.”

“I never expected him to be so—”

“Arrogant? Obnoxious? Overbearing?”

Her sister tore her gaze away from Jared. “Gorgeous.”

He was turning them all into besotted fools. “Let’s go,” Jenny said and started to turn away.

“Not on your life. I’ve been dying to meet your partner ever since Mom described him.”

Her sister had never been infatuated with a guy. Ever. Not even with her husband. She and Phillip had had the perfect relationship. They’d met, fallen in love, and gotten married all in six months. The fact that Anna was now ogling the man wreaking havoc in Jenny’s life was just plain wrong. “He’s working.”

“I can see that.”

“We shouldn’t interrupt him. We both know how much you hate to be interrupted at work. Jared’s the same way.” Okay, she’d made that up, but it was probably true.

“I don’t think he’ll mind. I’m sure he’s anxious to meet your family.” Anna’s look was a clear reminder that Jenny could have avoided this if she had brought him to their father’s party.

Jenny considered dragging her sister back to the house. The last thing she wanted was for Anna and Jared to meet. For Jared and any of her family to meet for that matter. Like the rest of them, he had no trouble trotting out all of her flaws. She could just imagine what a field day he and her family would have comparing notes on all of Jenny’s shortcomings.

But before Jenny could act, Anna called out, “Hello.” Her voice carried loud and clear.

Jared paused and turned their way.

Anna waved, and Jenny rolled her eyes. Her normally reserved and studious sister was making a spectacle of herself. And that was before she motioned for him to join them.

Jared set down the tool he’d been working with and made his way toward them, wiping his hands off on the seat of his jeans. His long legs ate up the distance.

Jenny glared at him as he drew near. Glared at him and then at the shirt he still hadn’t put on.

He flashed her sister one of the bone-melting grins he reserved for women other than Jenny. “I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure.”

“Dr. Anna Adams. Jenny’s sister.”

Doctor. Of course her sister had to throw that in.

“Jared Worth. It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m sorry we couldn’t meet last Friday.”

“Friday?” he questioned, his brow creasing.

“Yes. At our father’s birthday party. Jenny said you had a previous commitment.”

Jenny found herself the object of Jared’s full attention. While that might be most girls’ dreams, it wasn’t hers.

She made sure to tell herself that twice.

“Yes,” he answered Anna, still looking at Jenny. “Maybe next time.”

“Will you be staying long?” Anna asked.

“No,” Jenny said at the same time Jared replied, “Depends.”

Anna looked from one to the other, then laughed softly. “Interesting.” She held out her hand. “I wish I could stay longer and chat, but I’ve got to get going. It was nice meeting you.”

He shook her hand. “Likewise.”

Anna smiled one last time, then finally followed Jenny back to her car.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Jenny said the moment they were out of his earshot.

“Do what?”

“You know what. Introduce yourself.”

“Why ever not? He’s your partner.”

“Stop calling him that. And he’s not going to be around long enough for it to matter if he meets any of you. He’s leaving. Soon.” They reached the car. Her nephew was still in the backseat listening to his iPod and doing a good imitation of ignoring the world.

“Hmmm,” was her sister’s only reply.

Jenny let the subject drop, like she always did when she and her sister disagreed. “Before you arrived I was just about to head inside for a glass of lemonade. Would you and Cody care to join me?” She didn’t really care if her teenage mutant nephew ever got out of the car, but excluding him would be rude. Besides, she’d only have to endure his company for a short while until they left.

“Mix or homemade?”

Lusting over the enemy and insulting her culinary skills. Perfect. “Homemade.”

“No thanks,” Anna said on a laugh. “But I do have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?” Jenny was certain her surprise showed. She couldn’t remember the last time her sister had asked her for anything.

“I got the promotion.”

Of course she had. “Congratulations.” Jenny tried to put some enthusiasm behind the compliment.

“The new job means a lot of overtime. More hours. Longer days. Weekends.”

“Sounds tough.”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

It was true, and they both knew it.

“I’m actually heading in to work now,” she added.

“On a Saturday?”

Her sister let out a sigh. “Do you listen to anything I say? I just explained how I’ll have to work weekends.”

“Right,” Jenny said. Frankly, her sister’s work schedule didn’t interest her in the least. She had enough to deal with.

“That’s why I’m here.” Anna paused. “I need you to watch Cody.”

Anna crossed her arms. “Believe me, you were my last choice.”

“Thanks a lot.” Not that Jenny wanted to watch her nephew, but the insult hurt, nonetheless.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that we both know you’re not the most organized individual.”

“If I’m such a poor choice, why not take him to Mom’s? She loves having Cody.”

“I would, except she’s buried under work.”

“And I’m not?”

Anna took a slow, sweeping look around the property. “No.”

Jenny felt like a dartboard her sister kept taking aim at. “What about Paul?” It seemed to her that if her brother had time for early morning calls to pester his baby sister, then he obviously had time to watch his nephew.

“He works nearly as many hours as I do. You know that. Come on, Jen, it would only be for the weekend. Cody’s excited to come to the lake.”

Jenny glanced into the back of Anna’s car. Cody didn’t look at all excited. Like mother, like son. Anna had never fallen in love with the lake like Jenny had. She’d never liked the water or fishing with Grandpa or gardening with Nana. To her, it had all been an interference, a waste of time for a girl who only wanted to set the medical world on fire.

And then the full impact of her sister’s words hit her. “Weekend? As in today and tomorrow?”

“And possibly next weekend, too. Until I can make other arrangements for the summer. He has a baseball game late Sunday afternoon and a book report due on Monday. Please make sure he gets that done.”

Jenny looked back at her nephew. He was turned sideways in the seat, facing as far away from them as possible and slouched so far down on the expensive beige leather seat all Jenny could see was the top of his spiky blue hair. But that still didn’t hide the fact that he wore a big Back Off sign.

“This was a mistake,” her sister said, uncrossing her arms. “I told Mom you couldn’t handle it. Forget I stopped by. I’ll figure something else out.”

Her sister opened the car door, and Jenny waited for the sense of relief she was sure would come. She didn’t need this. She didn’t need her nephew hanging around giving her attitude. Her gaze strayed toward the hangar. She had enough to deal with at the moment.

She could handle it; she just didn’t want to.

Through the open car door, Cody shifted his position, and their eyes met. But this time, instead of seeing a brooding teenager, she saw something else, something more: a kid trying his hardest to act like he didn’t care. But each time Anna talked about him staying for the weekend, Cody seemed to collapse into himself a little more. It was almost as if he expected to be rejected. Watching him, Jenny felt a pull on her heart. If anyone in this family knew about building barricades and pretending not to hurt, it was her.

“He can stay,” Jenny heard herself say.