Between shivering and sobbing, she couldn’t form any words, but she let him usher her up the steps and into the house. Once on the couch, he tugged an old woolen Aran fishing sweater over her head and tucked her up in the blanket the kids used when they watched TV.

“Will you be right for a sec?” He peered at her, concern bright in his eyes. “I’ll be back with a hot drink.”

She sucked in some breaths, desperately trying to find a kernel of calm to grab onto, but it only spiraled her into another noisy, snotty crying jag. Brutus, who always gave her a wide berth, wandered over and rested his head on her lap. Her tears splashed onto his nose, but he didn’t seem bothered and he stayed put, his soulful brown eyes gazing up at her. She reached for some tissues and realized she’d left the house without her handbag.

Harry returned and pressed tissues into her hands, tucked a heat pack in behind her and pulled her still-shivering body against his warmer one. “Where’s that unwanted heat source of yours when you need it, eh?”

Alice didn’t know if it was because she couldn’t be any more vulnerable or sink any lower than this total emotional collapse, but she laughed. Given she was so full of snot and tears it was more like a bubbly snort.

Brutus barked and licked her face. Alice ruffled his velvet ears. “Totally gross, Brutus.”

Harry laughed. “There’s nothing Brutus loves more than a good messy cry, right, mate?”

Between the heat pack and Harry’s body temperature, the cold she hadn’t been aware of seeping into her bones started to lose its icy grip. Her trembling limbs slowly stilled and her noisy gulping breaths returned to normal quiet ones.

“You think you can safely hold a mug now?” Harry asked.

She nodded and he handed her a hot chocolate with a marshmallow melting creamily into the frothy liquid.

“The kids love this, but I can make you tea if you prefer?”

“This is perfect. Thank you.” She drank it, feeling its sugary warmth streaking into her and bringing with it a measure of control. “Where’s Holly and Hunter?”

“Mid semester disco and scouts. Brutus has been pining all evening so you dropping in like this has really helped him out.”

Alice set down her mug. “I didn’t actually set out to visit you. I needed to get out and I just started walking and …”

“Well, I’m glad your feet brought you here, but it’s not the night to be walking in a sleeveless top. Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“Are you safe? Do you need to call the police?”

“The police? Why would I need to call the police?”