When We Found Home

by Susan Mallery

  They discovered they both loved horror movies—the cheesier the better—jazz and dark chocolate. They had a few mutual acquaintances from her days in the corporate world and neither of them understood people who didn’t like the Seattle winters.

  “The cold rain is the best,” Delaney said. “It’s an excuse to sit by a fire, read and drink hot chocolate.”

  “Or something stronger, although I’m with you on the reading.”

  The busy restaurant had gotten a little more quiet. Delaney noticed that several of the booths around them were empty and realized it was much later than she’d thought. Malcolm had long since paid the bill and they were on their second cup of decaf.

  “This has been great,” she said with a smile. “Thank you for asking me out to dinner.”

  “Thank you for taking care of Keira.”

  They both stood and walked out front.

  “How are you getting home?” he asked.

  “Uber.” Because no one drove in the city if they didn’t have to.

  “Me, too. Want to share?”

  “Sure.”

  He opened the app on his phone and entered her address, then requested the car.

  “Three minutes,” he said, sounding unhappy. “Sometimes they’re too efficient.”

  “Why would you say—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, he pulled her around the corner and took her in his arms. His mouth settled on hers. The kiss was warm, gentle and more arousing than she’d expected. Need exploded, wanting grew and the urge to press her body against his was overwhelming. Delaney had to grab control with both hands to keep from whimpering as he drew back.

  “And there’s our car.” His voice was regretful.

  She was shaking too hard to respond. What on earth had just happened? Was her reaction because she’d been alone for so long or was it more specifically about Malcolm? It had just been a very chaste kiss. There hadn’t even been any tongue. Yet she was aroused to the point of pain. Her breasts ached and between her legs, the very center of her was damp and swollen.

  She slid into the back seat as Malcolm confirmed there would be two stops. She wanted to protest, instead telling him to come home with her. She wanted his hands everywhere, his mouth on hers, and his penis filling her until she had no choice but to climax and maybe scream.

  Her reaction confused her. Yes, she’d always enjoyed making love with Tim, but she’d never been frantic before. She’d never wanted to beg and plead and rip off her clothes and—

  “I had a good time,” he said quietly.

  “Me, too.”

  “I’d like to see you again.”

  She managed a shaky smile. “I’d like to be seen.”

  He chuckled. “Good. I’ll call you.”

  They arrived at her building. They both got out. He kissed her again, more quickly this time, but her reaction was still the same. Intensely powerful arousal left her weak and desperate.

  “Good night, Delaney,” he said.

  Dammit, Malcolm, come upstairs and take me as hard as you can. Only she didn’t say that. She never had and she wasn’t sure she had the courage. So instead she murmured, “Night,” and walked to the door leading to the lobby.

  Once she was in her condo, she set down her bag, slipped out of her shoes, then leaned against the wall. Something had happened to her tonight and she had no idea what it meant. Time had passed—had she unexpectedly healed? Or was her mind simply playing tricks on her? It had to be the latter, she thought grimly. Moving on had never been allowed.

  chapter nine

  Malcolm walked into the kitchen for his second cup of coffee. Carmen had taken Callie and Keira to church and Alberto was in his study, watching his favorite political shows. The house was quiet, which gave him the perfect opportunity to think about his date with Delaney.

  He’d barely gotten to them sitting down to dinner when his grandfather joined him at the kitchen table.

  “How was your evening?” Alberto asked.

  “Good.”

  “Delaney is the young woman who helped Keira at the hospital?”

  “She is.” Malcolm briefly explained how they all knew each other and a bit about Delaney’s past.

  “I remember when her father was shot. A sad time for the city.” His grandfather cupped his mug in both hands. “It’s nice to see you dating again. It’s been a long time.”

  “It has.” While he’d gone out a few times since breaking up with Rachel, he hadn’t been all that enthused about the process...until now.

  Malcolm braced himself for more questions but Alberto only smiled knowingly.

  “I like having you all in the house,” Alberto said. “My grandchildren all close to me. I’m an old man, Malcolm. Having family nearby makes me feel content.”

  “You’re not that old.”

  “Old enough to know what’s important. Callie and Keira can help each other. They’ve both been alone for too long.”

  An insight that surprised Malcolm. He wanted to point out that Callie was a grown-up and could have as many friends as she wanted, and that Keira was with them, so not alone. Only he knew that wasn’t what his grandfather meant. He was talking about belonging—connection. A sense of place in the world.

  Alberto put his hand on Malcolm’s forearm. “You have to let go of Callie’s past.”

  “What are you talking about? I haven’t said anything about it.”

  “Still, it’s there between you. She’s a good girl who made a bad decision. Don’t hold that against her.”

  His grandfather was assuming a lot. For all they knew, Callie had been on the road to getting locked up long before it had actually happened. She seemed all right, but who knew if that was just a facade?

  “I’m neutral on the subject,” he said carefully.

  “I know why you’re slow to trust. But she’s family, Malcolm. She should be welcomed with open arms.”

  “I leave that to you.”

  Alberto smiled. “I have every confidence she’ll win you over. I’m usually right about these things.”

  “That you are.”

  Neither of them mentioned that Alberto had been completely wrong once. When it came to his family, he offered blind loyalty. A loyalty his own son had betrayed. Not that Malcolm could blame the old man—none of them had seen it coming.

  Regardless, Alberto had offered his heart first to Keira and now to Callie and he expected Malcolm to do the same. The hell of it was, saying no wasn’t an option. There was no one Malcolm loved more than his grandfather and he would do anything for him. Even trust when he knew he probably shouldn’t.

  * * *

  Callie woke to the sound of screaming. For what felt like forever, as her heart pounded and she found herself unable to catch her breath, she had no idea where she was. The dark room with its mystery shapes was unfamiliar. She knew she wasn’t back in prison—those screams were very different, but the ones she heard now were just as real.

  She sat up and turned on the light by her bed. The room came into focus and she remembered where she was. Relief eased the tightness in her chest and slowed her breathing, then the scream came again.

  Keira!

  Callie sprang to her feet and raced from her room. She ran into the preteen’s bedroom and flipped on the overhead light only to see the bed was empty. She raced into the second room, but Keira wasn’t there, either. Callie was about to return to the hallway when she remembered the closet and crossed to the closed door.

  Keira lay curled up in a corner, huddled in her comforter, Lizzy snuggled against her. Keira’s eyes were open and wide with fear, her mouth trembling.

  Callie dropped to her knees and pulled her close. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Did you have a bad dream?”

  Keira nodded without speaking. Her whole body shook like she’d j
ust been plucked from an icy lake. She sniffed several times, as if trying not to cry. Callie continued to hang on.

  “It’s okay,” she whispered, noting how small and delicate her sister felt through the thick comforter. “You’re okay.”

  Callie shifted to get more comfortable and moved Lizzy out from between them. The kitten stretched and yawned before collapsing on the floor and closing her eyes. Callie wrapped her arms around her sister again and waited for the trembling to stop. After a few minutes, Keira was able to speak.

  “I have bad dreams every few days,” she admitted in a small voice. “It’s different stuff. Sometimes it’s like the walls are laughing at me and I just can’t sleep in my bed. The room is so big.”

  Callie thought about how before going into foster care, Keira had slept in a dining room alcove. Nothing in the girl’s life had prepared her for living in a palatial house with too many rooms. She thought about her terror the first few nights when she’d been incarcerated. How some of the inmates would cry or scream. It had taken a long time for the fear to go away.

  She leaned back enough to smooth Keira’s hair off her face. “Want to come sleep with me?”

  Keira bit her lower lip. “Lizzy, too?”

  Callie smiled. “Yes, Lizzy, too. My bed is huge. We could invite Grandfather Alberto and Carmen, as well, if you’d like, but I think that would be weird.”

  Keira managed a shaky smile. “Maybe next time.”

  “Sure. Come on, let’s go get settled.”

  Callie stood and scooped up the kitten. Keira scrambled to her feet. They went next door and all got into the big bed. Callie left the lamp on, but put it on the floor so the light wasn’t in their eyes. Keira pulled up the covers and sighed.

  “Thanks, Callie. This is much better.”

  “No problem. I’m right here. If you get scared, just wake me, okay?”

  Keira yawned and closed her eyes. “I will.”

  Seconds later, her breathing was slow and even. No doubt the kid was exhausted, Callie thought, shifting to get comfortable.

  Lizzy lay between them. The kitten stretched before standing and walking closer to Callie. She sank onto the covers and curled up, her back against Callie’s stomach. Even through the layers of sheet, blanket and comforter, Callie felt the rumble of her purring.

  Hope for what the future could be battled with a haunting sense of loss. She missed her mom, who had died while Callie had been in prison. She missed who she could have been if she hadn’t screwed up. She missed being just like everyone else. And while she wanted to believe she’d been given an amazing second chance, she couldn’t help thinking there was a massive catch somewhere. One that she had yet to figure out.

  * * *

  Monday morning Delaney alternated between giddy and nervous. She told herself she was being ridiculous. She’d been on one date and it had been nice. Not amazing or life changing, but nice. Or maybe promising was a better word. She could go that far. So it had been promising and now she was going to see him again and big whoop. She would be fine. When he walked in with his baby sister, she would simply smile and continue working. Because she was at work. Plus she was nearly thirty so she really should be able to do a decent job and crush on a guy at the same time. It was all about focusing on the right thing.

  Her resolve lasted right up until she saw him walk in the door, Keira at his side. Malcolm spoke briefly to his sister before smiling at Delaney, then he walked away. Keira watched him go, her expression full of longing and pain.

  Turn back and hug her! Delaney willed the message to Malcolm but he didn’t receive it. He used his ID card to access the elevator for the upper floors and then he was gone. She turned back to Keira, who had gotten in line, and shook off any sadness before smiling at her friend.

  “I’m going on break,” she called as she started steaming milk for a hot chocolate.

  She met Keira at the tables around the side of the coffee stand.

  “How are you feeling?” Delaney asked as they sat down. “You look good. The bruise is almost gone. Any headaches?”

  “I’m fine.” Keira smiled. “Thanks for the drink. You should let me pay for them. I have money.”

  “I like treating you.” She narrowed her gaze and pretended to be mad. “No running into the street, okay? Next time I won’t chase after you.”

  Keira rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You would so chase after me, but I promise I won’t do it again unless I see another kitten. Or a puppy.”

  “No one wants a little animal run over, but you have to be careful.”

  Keira picked up her drink. “Because you wouldn’t run into the street either?”

  “I’m not going to answer that,” Delaney told her primly. “How are things with your new sister?”

  Keira sipped her hot chocolate, then smiled. “Callie’s great. She’s pretty and we have the same freckles. She really likes Lizzy. It’s nice having someone else who’s new like me.” She wrinkled her nose. “She didn’t make fun of my uniform when she saw it, which she totally could have. Oh, yeah, she and Malcolm had a huge fight this morning.”

  That didn’t sound good. “About what?”

  “That’s what’s so strange. I don’t get it. At breakfast, Malcolm was talking to Callie about the city and things she could go look at although why she would want to do that by herself doesn’t make sense to me. Anyway, they’re talking and all of a sudden he tells her she’s going to need a car. Grandfather Alberto agrees and then Malcolm goes on about different cars and that he’s happy to go with her to buy a car and she just totally blows up and screams she doesn’t want a car, then she ran upstairs.”

  Keira lowered her voice. “I think she was crying and I don’t know why.”

  “A lot has happened. The situation has to be stressful.”

  “I guess. I cried a lot at first, so that makes sense. Still, if Malcolm wanted to buy me a car, I would say yes.”

  Delaney grinned. “Is this where I point out you can’t drive for several years?”

  “Who wants to drive? I’d sell it and keep the money. You know, in case I needed it for something.”

  Delaney was about to ask for what when the truth slammed into her. Keira would need the money if she ran away. No, she thought. Keira wasn’t looking to escape—she wanted to belong. The money would be for if she was thrown out.

  She wanted to pull the girl close and hang on as tight as she could. She wanted to promise her that no one was going to run out on her or discard her ever again, only she knew her words didn’t matter. Malcolm’s did, and he would never think to say that.

  “Good to know,” she said, careful to keep her voice light. “If your brother asks for birthday present suggestions, I’ll be sure to mention a car.”

  Keira laughed. “I wish. Okay, my homework’s done, what about you?”

  “I’m completely caught up and dreading my dissection lab. Ugh.”

  “I’m not sure you’re ready for the whole doctor program.”

  “I do think about that, believe me.” Delaney glanced at her watch. “All right, kiddo. It’s time.”

  Keira finished her hot chocolate and tossed the paper cup into the recycling bin. “I can’t decide if the other kids are going to say I was a hero for saving the kitten or stupid.”

  “You’re a hero and now you have a pet.” Delaney hugged her, then kissed the top of her head. “Just don’t do it again.”

  “You are so bossy.”

  “I hear that a lot. Have a good day.”

  “You, too.”

  Keira waved and left. Delaney returned to work and finished out her shift. She was hoping Malcolm would show up at his usual time so she didn’t have to text him. One way or the other, she wanted to talk about what Keira had said, although she had no idea how to bring up the subject. Thankfully, a few minutes before ten, he stepped out of
the elevator, coffee mug in hand.

  She started his drink, then clocked out before handing it to him.

  “Do you have a second?” she asked, motioning to the tables where she’d sat with his sister a couple of hours before.

  “Sure.” He flashed her a smile. “Want to tell me what a great time you had and how you can’t wait to do it again?”

  Her subject matter was far more serious, but at the mention of their date, she felt herself flush. “I did have a good time and I would very much like to do it again.”

  “Good, me, too.” They sat across from each other. He looked at her. “So what’s up?”

  “I talked to Keira this morning.” She’d thought about what to say and now it all seemed wrong. “Please don’t tell her I told you or take this wrong, it’s just...”

  His blue eyes darkened. “Delaney, it’s all right. I’m not going to get mad. What did she say?”

  “That you and Callie had a fight about you getting her a car.”

  He frowned. “Yeah, we did and it came from nowhere. I have no idea why she got so mad at me, but she was seriously pissed. It’s Seattle. She’s going to need a car. What’s the big deal?”

  “I have no idea, but Keira said that if you wanted to buy her a car, she would take it in a heartbeat so she could sell it for the money.”

  “Why does she need money?”

  “I don’t know exactly. I’m wondering if maybe she doesn’t feel completely safe. I don’t think she wants to run away. She has nowhere else to go. I think she’s afraid of being abandoned.”

  Tension filled her body. Not only could she be totally wrong about Keira, she had no idea how Malcolm was going to react. He could be angry, defensive, tell her she was full of crap or any one of a thousand other scenarios, none of which ended well.