“Ohhh, that does sound good,” Emmalyn said. “That wedding cake flavor coffee?”
“You know I keep it all the time,” Hellen said.
“I’m feeling the need for a nap. Feel free to drop by if you want to,” Lucien said.
Emmalyn’s face went from warm and open to tight and a shade lighter.
“Or not,” Lucien said.
“Are you inviting people to my house?” Hellen asked.
“I just thought I’d let them know they wouldn’t be interrupting anything since I’d be sleeping. Hopefully.”
Hellen shook her head dismissively. “Wouldn’t be interrupting anything anyway. Nothing to interrupt,” she grumbled.
Barron cleared his throat. “We’re going to get back to spray painting our house’s floor plan.”
“You do that. Emmalyn, I’ll bring some coffee over later or tomorrow and we can pick a good sappy movie to watch,” Hellen said.
“Sounds like a plan,” Emmalyn said, forcing a smile.
Barron gently pulled her back away from the jeep, stroking her back soothingly as Hellen pulled away.
“What happened? What’d I say?” Lucien asked.
“Emmalyn hasn’t been back in my house since she was attacked there. I don’t think she ever will be.”
“And I just invited her over. Makes her think about stepping inside and facing everything that happened there again. I’m sorry. I didn’t even consider that.”
“It’s okay. It was hard for me to stay there for a while, too. At one time I loved my house, not so much anymore. I don’t hate it. I just don’t have the same attachment I used to.”
“Where’s Barron’s house?” Lucien asked.
“It’s over on the river, just a little ways down from Brandt’s. If it wasn’t for all the foliage, they could probably see each other from their porches.”
“That’s interesting,” Lucien said thoughtfully.
Hellen pulled into her driveway and brought the jeep to a stop. She pulled the keys out of the ignition and looked at Lucien who was in the process of returning her seat to its regular position. “You alright? You need some help?”
“Naw, I’m good.”
Hellen got out of the jeep and walked toward her house, intentionally taking extra time while unlocking her door to allow Lucien to get out of the jeep and catch up with her. She turned back to look at him once she opened the door and waited for him to pass her and move into the house.
“You do not have to take care of me. I can do me.”
“Yeah, and I can do me,” Hellen snapped.
“No, you don’t get it. I can take care of myself and you.”
“So, can I.”
“Hellen…”
“It’s not up for discussion, Lucien. Whatever you can do for me, I can do for you, or we’re not doing anything at all. It works both ways.”
“You’re agreeing we’re doing this then?” he asked without pausing to look at her.
“I’m not agreeing to anything. You’re the one who said you weren’t leaving. I’m just saying, if you ever hope to have anything normal come from this, you better realize I’m as capable as you are and stop treating me like I’m not.”
