“Do what?”

Cassie lifted her head. “It’s all so easy for you. Adjusting. Sliding into a new environment. Fitting in.” A sharp bark of laughter filled with an embarrassing amount of bitterness hopped out. “You’ve been here four days, and you’re completely at home. I’m dating—or as you would have it, near to matrimony—with Kir and I feel like a weird imposter that can’t quite catch the same vibe as everyone else. Like... I don’t know...”

Frieda carefully set her glass aside and lowered her voice. “Keep going. Like what?”

She didn’t want it to come out. Didn’t want to hear the tirade building inside her or the childlike words that came with it. The emotion behind it was too powerful. Too threatening and dangerous for her to process.

It rushed out anyway. “Like everyone here is in a whole different reality. A make-believe world where everyone’s happy and supportive and actually enjoys each other’s company. Half the time, I expect little cartoon forest creatures to sweep in and start tidying the house. But then I remember—Oh, no. This is absolutely real because mixed in with it all is the reality that my boyfriend is a mobster and someone may, or may not, want me dead. Do you realize how insane that all sounds? I mean, seriously. The Mad Hatter could walk through that door right now and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. But I’m pretty sure you’d ask him to dance.”

Her aunt stared back at her, the dumbfounded expression on her face one Cassie had never once seen before.

Heat crept up Cassie’s neck, and her belly roiled in a grossly unpleasant spin. All her life, her aunt was the only one who’d shown her comfort. Made her laugh and accepted her no matter what. And yet, she’d spewed all over her like some petulant shrew. She stood, her legs shaking from a mix of adrenaline and fatigue. “Aunt Frieda, I’m sorry.”

Frieda closed her gaping mouth and swept Cassie with a head-to-toe assessment. “Don’t be.”

“But I yelled at you. I made it sound like you were whack-a-doodle when it’s me who’s the odd man out.”

Frieda pushed off the counter and strode toward her. “You are not whack-a-doodle. You’re doing the best you can with the tools you have to work with.” She gripped Cassie by both shoulders and held her tight. “That also wasn’t yelling. It was a whole lot of emotion that’s probably been brewing a while finally finding an outlet.” She pulled her in for a fierce hug.

Cassie readily accepted it. Closed her eyes and let the love, comfort and relief her aunt’s embrace offered soak into every cell. “I don’t like losing control like that. I don’t like hurting you, and I don’t like feeling like the person sitting on the sidelines in the middle of a big party.”

“Well, first—you didn’t hurt me. Not in the slightest. Startled me, maybe. But you’re going to have to learn to actually yell and throw in some choice obscenities before you have a chance at getting under my skin.” She backed away only enough to meet Cassie’s eyes and rubbed her hands up and down Cassie’s arms. “And I know this new situation you’ve found yourself in is frightening. Not just because of the email or the person behind it, but because life’s thrown you in a situation full of healthy, happy, loving people who won’t let you keep them at a distance. They like you, Cassie. They think you’re smart. They think you’re funny. They think you’re worthy. Just like I do.” She squeezed Cassie’s shoulders and lowered her voice. “You’re the only person keeping yourself on the sidelines. We’re all here. Waiting. Ready for you to join in. All you have to do is stand up and step into it.”