Since Aidan was starting with the kitchen, Clare had moved essential items into one of the spare bedrooms upstairs. She had a coffeemaker, a microwave, and a mini-refrigerator she’d bought to get her through the weeks without a kitchen. Pulling on a robe, she brushed her teeth and ran her fingers through her hair on her way downstairs to let him in.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Hey.”

At least it wasn’t a grunt.

“I had a key made for you so you can come and go.” He came with such high praise from Bea that Clare had decided to trust him with the key. It was all part of her determination to acknowledge that just because she’d encountered one monster, not all men were evil.

He took the key and pushed it into the pocket of his faded jeans. “Thanks.”

“Big talker, aren’t you, O’Malley?”

He stopped what he was doing and stared at her. “Huh?”

“Never mind. I’ll get out of your way. Just grunt if you need anything.”

She was halfway up the stairs before he grunted out what might’ve been a chuckle.

That afternoon at the bookstore, Bea and Clare sat behind the counter unloading boxes of new inventory that had arrived earlier in the day. The two women kept up a steady stream of chatter during their afternoons together. Bea often said she had no idea how she’d ever managed without Clare. They began to share confidences, which was how Clare knew Bea had never been married or had children but doted on her nieces and nephews. She apologized for the grilling Clare had faced at the book club meeting.

“Don’t be sorry. They were just being friendly.”

“They’re nosy. Especially Naomi. That girl has never had a thought her mouth didn’t share.”

“They’re women. It’s what we do.”

“Will your girls be coming up to visit soon?”

“My oldest and youngest will be here for a week after Christmas. My middle daughter is living in Nashville this year. She’ll be in Rhode Island with her dad’s family for Christmas, but she’s going back the next day.”

“What’s she doing in Nashville?”

“The same thing millions of others go there for—she’s trying to break in to the music business.”

“Wow. Is she that good?”

“She really is.”

“It must’ve been hard for you to let her do that.”

“It wasn’t exactly my idea. Her father agreed to it when I was…” Clare stopped herself. How did she tell her new friend the rest? “Well, let’s just say she worked it out with him.”

Bea raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

“It’s a long story.”

“And it’s your business, honey.”

“I’ll tell you,” Clare said haltingly. “I want to tell you. It’s just… It’s kind of a big deal, and I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.”