I stride over to her cabin, but pause as I get to the porch steps. I don’t often question myself, but I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing by disturbing her. I’m no Good Samaritan. My reaction to Rosey isn’t normal for me. First giving up my privacy to give her a place to stay and now making sure she has a change of clothes? Is this who I am in Star Falls, or has Rosey sweeping into town shifted things somehow?

I have no explanation, but she answers the door as soon as I knock, like she’s been waiting.

“Just in case you needed a change of clothes. They’ll be too big, but at least…”

Her face is full of confusion, and for a second I wish I’d stayed the fuck in my cabin and finished the curry instead of trying to help.

“That’s so kind of you,” she says, like no one’s done anything kind for her in her life. “You’re a good man, Byron.” Her tone hits me right in the center of my chest. I’ve been called a lot of things in my time, but I’m not sure kind or good have made it to the top of the list. Somehow, when she says it, that’s how I feel. I get the urge to do more. To offer to cook her dinner, run her a bath, do something—anything—else.

Instead, I nod and turn away before I make an epic fool of myself. “Sleep well, Rosey.”

I need to get to bed myself. Maybe a night of rest will help quiet all these strange… urges I’m having. By tomorrow morning, the runaway bride will probably have moved on and I’ll never see her again. She’ll learn soon enough that Star Falls is a place you run from—not to.

FIVE

Rosey

Thank god I didn’t throw my cellphone away in the airport trash, like I considered doing. For some reason I thought Frank would chase after me, aided by the GPS embedded in my phone. Then I remembered I don’t live in a spy thriller. Why would a man I humiliated come after me? He probably hopes I’m dead right about now.