Ruby was right. Lisa was being stupid, and as Lisa felt her eyes grow heavy, she made herself some promises. She promised herself to forgive. She promised herself to be truthful, and Lisa swore an oath on the new life she’d been given. She would spend the rest of it rebuilding a heart broken by those more stupid than herself.

***

Shortly before nine on Sunday morning, Lisa opened her eyes. She drew in a deep breath, and as the aroma of coffee made its way to her, Lisa looked to the kitchen. Through her eyelashes, she took in the view of Bennett’s tousled hair and rumpled pajamas. It was an unfamiliar sight to see, and Lisa liked it. She liked it a lot.

Lisa tossed aside the blanket, grimacing when she saw the dried blood on her sweater. She pulled the fabric away from her skin, and sitting up, her eyes met Bennett’s. “Good morning,” Lisa said, her voice gravely from sleep.

Believing Lisa would never speak to her again, two simple words had rejuvenated Bennett like no amount of blood ever could. “Um…good morning,” she said, holding up a carafe. “I made coffee if you’re interested.”

“I’m…um…I’m more interested in a shower if that’s okay,” Lisa said, and folding the blanket, she draped it over the back of the couch.

“Of course,” Bennett said, pouring some coffee into her cup. “There are extra towels in the linen cabinet, and there should be some spare toothbrushes, too. Use whatever you’d like.”

“Thanks.”

Bennett turned to put the carafe back. “Oh, and given the state of your clothes, if you’d like something else to wear, there are plenty of things in the wardrobe.” Hearing no response, Bennett looked over and saw that the bedroom door was already closed. She sighed. “Or not.”

Bennett only had snippets of sleep over the past five hours. Tormented by what she had done, vindicated by reasons she believed were sound, and then hollowed out by her own selfishness, slumber’s embrace was fleeting. And when she awoke from the brief respites, she was more exhausted than she’d been. It repeated again and again, driving home what Bennett already knew. Instead of holding onto hope, instead of having faith in a woman who’d never shown one iota of anything other than sheer and utter decency, Bennett had allowed the haunts of her past to pollute her heart.

With coffee in hand, Bennett went to the windows and pulled aside the drapes. She couldn’t help but snort at the gray, wintery sky, its hue adding to her dismay. If there were ever a day when she needed to feel warm, it was this one.

***

Lisa stepped from the shower and wrapping one towel around her head and one around her torso, she used yet another to wipe the steam from the mirror.