Savaged

He nodded but still looked doubtful. She squeezed his hand and then grabbed the bags she’d placed in the backseat. “Come on. I’m with you.”

He glanced at the bags the same way he had when he’d first seen them, a mixture of curiosity and uneasiness, but followed her lead when she opened the truck door and got out.

Harper smiled when they stepped onto the porch, decorated with two potted evergreen shrubs flanked in twinkle lights on either side of the porch, and a large wreath on the front door. She knocked and then took Jak’s hand in hers again, giving him another encouraging smile. If he was going to begin stepping out into the world, he had to start somewhere, and the best place—she thought—was the home of people who understood his situation and would strive to make things comfortable for him.

So far, the only thing he’d done was to ride through town with her as she pointed out the different shops and businesses. She knew he had a million questions, she could see it in his expression that morphed from shock to bafflement, to delight, back to shock. He didn’t ask her anything though, and she figured he was taking it all in, attempting to figure things out for himself—or perhaps bring back memories of what he already knew and put them back into context. Not only that, but he also had to be struggling with the fact that he’d been given up, used, lied to in ways she still didn’t understand. There were so many unanswered questions remaining about what happened to him. Not to mention what happened to his mother and Driscoll. It was all so much. She didn’t want to rush him. He had to be completely overwhelmed.

The door swung open and Agent Gallagher stood there, smiling out at them. “Come in. Jak, Harper. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Agent Gallagher,” Harper said, stepping over the threshold, Jak behind her.

“Merry Christmas,” Jak mimicked, and Agent Gallagher smiled more broadly, giving him one of those manly shoulder pats as he entered his home.

“Please, you’re in my home. No Agent Gallagher.” He smiled. “Call me Mark. And come meet Laurie. She’s in the kitchen.”

They followed Mark through the foyer and down a short hall. “I’ll put these under the tree real quick. Hold on.” He took the packages from Harper’s hand and stepped into the living room, a beautifully decorated, brightly lit tree in the corner, and then met them again in the hall. “Right this way.” He smiled and led them into a large, open kitchen at the end of the hall. A pretty woman with straight, shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a red apron was taking something out of the oven and she turned, placing the tray on the counter and smiling when she saw them.

“Laurie, this is Harper and Jak,” Mark said, as Laurie took off the oven mitt and came around the island.

“Mrs. Gallagher,” Harper said, taking her hand. “Thank you for having us to your home.”

“Thank you for coming, dear. We’re so happy to have you.” She shook Harper’s hand and then held her hand out to Jak who took it tentatively. “Merry Christmas. Please, call me Laurie.” She smiled again, and though her smile was bright, there was a sadness in her eyes that was unmistakable—a very slight rim of red that made Harper think she’d cried recently.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Mark asked. “I’ve mixed up a special batch of my eggnog.”

“Sure,” Harper said. “I’d love some.”

“I’d love some too,” Jak said, looking unsure. Harper grabbed his hand discreetly between them and squeezed.

“You three go on in to the living room while I finish up the appetizers,” Laurie said.

“Can I help you with anything?” Harper asked.

Laurie hesitated, glancing back at the counter. “Oh sure, if you don’t mind. I just need to lay a f

ew things out on trays.”

“Great. I can definitely handle that.”

“Come with me, Jak,” Mark said. “The drink cart is in the living room. Harper, yours will be waiting.”

Jak glanced behind him as he followed Mark out of the room and a warm flush of tenderness washed over her at the uncertain look on his face. He felt comfortable with her over anyone else. Anyone else in the world, she realized, and the thought caused a feeling of deep honor to fill her.

Laurie told her what she needed done and they chatted easily, getting to know each other, Laurie telling Harper how the adjustment between sunny California and snowy Montana was going. Laurie Gallagher was warm and kind, and Harper liked her immensely after only ten minutes. Her heart broke to know that such a motherly woman had lost her only child.

They each carried two trays of appetizers into the living room where Mark and Jak were standing by the Christmas tree, both holding a glass of eggnog. Mark helped them set down the food, and then handed them each a glass. “Merry Christmas. Thank you both for joining us and brightening our home.” He looked at his wife and a flash of sadness moved between them before they both smiled, raising their glasses. Harper and Jak raised their glasses as well and then Harper took a sip of the rich, creamy drink, with the barest hint of alcohol. She was glad it was subtle. She wasn’t much of a drinker, and anything more, would have been too strong for her.

As she was lowering her glass from her lips, she glanced at Jak, who had just taken a drink. A look of pure horror crossed over his face before he sputtered, a spray of eggnog raining from his mouth as he coughed and retched and tried to catch his breath.

Harper took the cup from him, as Mark began patting his back and Laurie rushed forward with a napkin. He took it, wiping at his mouth as tears from coughing filled his eyes. “Oh dear,” Laurie said. “Are you okay? Let me get you some water. You must have swallowed it down the wrong tube.”

She rushed off and Mark ceased pounding on Jak’s back as he coughed once more, taking a deep breath. “What is that?” Jak asked, eyeing the glasses in Harper’s hands as though she was holding two big goblets of poison that he’d just drunk from.

“Just cream and eggs and well . . .” Harper looked helplessly at Mark who glanced back at her, sheepish.

“I should have realized that this might be a taste you’re not quite used to,” Mark said. Laurie came back into the room and handed Jak a glass of water, which he took, a grateful look on his face before he tipped it, drinking it all in three quick gulps. Jak let out one final shudder as Harper placed the two glasses on the table, looking at the trays of food with new eyes. There was an array of cheeses, but there was also vegetables and crackers and a few nuts and dried berries. She let out a sigh of relief. He had plenty of options there of foods that wouldn’t cause his stomach to protest. Hopefully. She wasn’t a medical professional, but knew his diet was limited and his body would probably react poorly to things it wasn’t used to.

Damn, I should have thought of that sooner, she admonished herself. By the look on Mark’s face, she could tell the same thought was crossing his mind.