As Audrey resumed her seat, she saw again Dennison’s sentence. “I’m pleased to say it should be safe for you to return to Chicago, Audrey.” She could go home, where she knew how things worked. Where moose didn’t attack her. Where she was a respected, valued member of the university.

Her fingers stroked over the keyboard as she stared at the swirling screen saver. Yes, she could return to work.

On her third day on the run, she’d called her boss to ask for a family crisis leave. Her superior had been understanding—after all, Audrey had never used her sick days—and said to take as long as needed.

Yes, she’d have a job.

Not an apartment, though.

That was gone, and her belongings were in storage. Not that she’d have wanted to go back to her old apartment. There’d been…blood in the bedroom. A shudder ran through her. The slightest noise would make her think someone was breaking in again.

No, it was good she’d have to find a new place. One with far better security.

Catching her eye, Uriah gestured to the bottled water, silently asking if she needed another. She shook her head.

She sighed. God, she’d miss coming here each day.

And she’d miss Gabe.

No, no, no, don’t think about him. She shook her head and tried to shift her thoughts to ones that wouldn’t make her cry.

Like how much she loved working with Lillian in the garden.

Lillian—oh, no. Audrey’d promised to take care of the garden until the harvest season. All the salad greens were planted, and the rapidly growing tomatoes in the sunroom would need to go in soon, and…

She couldn’t leave now. She didn’t want to leave now.

And what about the library? She had to finish deciding what to order.

Knox needed her. If she didn’t keep teaching him, he’d never learn to read.

The children’s hour programs had to be developed and scheduled, too.

Really, she needed to finish what she’d started. Leaving her tasks half-completed was…was poor form, as Lillian would say.

Besides, it’d be less stressful to return after Spyros had been behind bars for a couple of months.

August. She would stay until August.

“Problems, Goldilocks?” A warm palm cupped her chin and lifted, forcing her to look up into penetrating blue eyes.

Gabe.

If she stayed a couple of more months, what would he think? What if he didn’t want her to? What if it turned awkward?

His brows drew together, and he took the chair beside her, his arm around her shoulders. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” His low resonant voice tugged at her.

“I…I’m going to stay until August. I need to stay.”

“All right.” His brows drew together, even as he wiped a tear off her cheek. “Do you need my permission?”