“Yeah,” he admitted. “At least I thought I should have someplace for her, if she ever needed me.”
That sounded asinine even to him. By the time he had bought this house and had the dormer added and the apartment finished, his sister had been twenty-four years old. An adult. Long past thinking of her big brother as a refuge, assuming she ever had. He’d held on to his delusion too long, he thought now—and not for the first time. But today, his chest had lightened at the idea of Nell staying here. At being able to look out his bedroom window at night and see a light up here.
At being able to provide her with a refuge.
“If you really mean your offer...” Nell’s brown eyes shimmered as if tears threatened.
“I do. I’d be happiest if you would.”
She took a big breath and swallowed. “Then I’d love to. I’ll try not to...to lean on you too much, but knowing you’re there makes me feel a lot less scared.”
“I’m the one who talked you into taking a chance and coming home.” He let the leash he’d been keeping on his intensity slide, hoping it wouldn’t scare her. “I’m asking you to let me support you. Having you here...” He shook his head, unable to find adequate words. “It’s amazing.” He sounded a little hoarse. “The fact that you trust me, that means a lot to me, Nell.” Enough already. Ease up, he told himself. He tried for a friendly smile. “I’d like it if you’d have dinner with me. I already have some chicken marinating—I didn’t figure a restaurant would appeal much.”
“No.” While tremulous, her smile was real. “I don’t want to be recognized until I’ve seen my parents, at least. And since you recognized me so easily, other people probably will, too.”
“You’d be likeliest to catch your parents home in the evening,” he pointed out.
She nodded. “I thought...tonight. I’m here. It would be silly to hide out for the next twenty-four hours.”
Colin smiled at her. “Will you let me come with you?”
“A truly gutsy woman would say no.” Even her eyes smiled this time. “Me, I’d be grateful if you would.”
“Good.” He backed onto the landing. “Let me haul your bags up.”
“Oh, I can...”
“Settle in,” he told her. “You’ll need to look around and tell me what I forgot. Maybe take a nap.”
“I can plan my strategy.”
“You can do that, too.”
A minute later, when she popped the rear door to her hatchback, he reached for the larger of the two suitcases.
Elation rose from the incredulity.
Maddie Dubeau was home.
CHAPTER FIVE
NELL KNEW THE house, as she’d known the faces of her parents when she saw them online. This was one of the gracious, older homes right on the river, lawn sweeping down to the rocky bank. Even shrouded by darkness, she knew it was painted white with dignified black trim, and that a huge old weeping willow hung over the murmuring water of the Deschutes. Her father had already strung the Christmas lights, sparkling white. Their Christmas tree, she suddenly remembered, had always been silver-themed. Mom didn’t like garish colors.
Colin pulled into the driveway, set the brake and turned off the engine. Neither said a word. They gazed at the house in silence for a minute, and then he got out and started around to her side. Nell quickly unbuckled and joined him.
Windows were warm golden squares, but the porch light was off. A streetlamp half a block away cast a circle of yellowish light. The temperature had dropped with nightfall. Nell told herself that was why she shivered, but she wasn’t convinced.
I don’t remember that night. I don’t.
But prickles tiptoed up her spine anyway.
Colin took her arm, looking down at her, his face shadowed. She remembered the night he had confronted her at the library and how much he’d scared her. Tonight, he was all that gave her the courage to walk toward the deep front porch.
She knew without looking where the doorbell was.
They stood side by side, listening to the bell toll. Footsteps came faintly, loud enough to allow her time to brace herself for the moment when the porch light came on and then the door opened.
Marc Dubeau stood in the opening, expression impatient. In that first, fleeting glimpse, Nell saw that he hadn’t changed much from the man in her memories. Hair at his temples had turned silver and new lines aged his face, but he was still thin, handsome and fit.
He looked first at Colin, his eyebrows climbing in surprise, and then his gaze flicked to Nell. Shaking only inside where nobody could see, she thought, That’s just like him. Courteous to women, but always assuming men are more important.