My mouth hung open, searching for a reason. I appreciated my older brother looking after me and caring enough to keep inviting me over, but I had just received my promotion at work, and with Francis getting older, my only goal was to become the museum director when she retired someday.

I could never achieve that without putting the extra hours in and proving myself with my research.

My career was all I had left.

I loved my family, but my parents lived hours away, and we only saw them at the holidays. Ever since my brother had gotten married, I saw him less and less. It didn’t bother me; I loved Eloise. They were perfect together, but he had his own family to look out for now.

“Please, Len,” he said. “For me?”

I hated when he pulled the sad puppy dog eyes. He’d been doing it since we were children, and our parents always fell for it. I knew better, but how could I deny him when he was pleading so hard and laying on the guilt so thick?

“Fine,” I huffed out.

“Perfect. I’ll see you at six,” he said before turning off down a side street I knew led to his house.

We only lived minutes apart, and somehow, I managed to avoid seeing him more often.

I liked it that way, keeping my solitude. I used to enjoy the noise of it all—the busy town during tourist season, the social gatherings, my overbearing, but lovable, brother—but recently, I’d grown to seek the silence.

Three years ago, I found my purpose, and I poured everything I had into that.

A few more blocks, and I found myself outside a little boutique, a narrow alley beside it. I turned down it, making my way to a door at the back.

I typed in a four digit code on the pin pad outside and heard the little click of the door before I pulled it open. Not even two steps in, a set of stairs rose to the second floor above the shop. I hurried up them and passed by two doors of the top landing marked one and two. I kept going up a second flight to the third floor and found the door marked three.

My purse was cluttered, but I found my key quickly and unlocked the door, letting myself into the apartment.

Instantly, I was greeted by a fur ball making its way between my legs. I heard the soft meow from the living room, letting me know the other was on its way.

“Let me in, Birdie,” I said, trying to move forward without stepping on her.