Terra left her grandfather to finish his warm milk and sauntered down the hallway. She noticed a light on in Owen’s room.

She knocked on the door. “Owen, you still awake?”

He opened it for her. “Sure. Come on in.”

He left her to sit at his desk and stare at his open laptop.

She eased into a corner chair. “I figured you’d be three sheets to the wind by now. Today was a great day, seeing all those people here to welcome you home.”

Preoccupied, he nodded but said nothing.

“Don’t worry, Owen. Your idea is a good one, and before you know it, this will be the place to go for therapy.”

He glanced up from his laptop and smiled. “You’re right. I am beat. I think I’ll go to bed now, so I’ll shut this thing down.”

She sensed he was trying to get rid of her. “Suit yourself. I hope you get some sleep so you can join me and Gramps for church tomorrow.”

As she headed for the door, she noticed some print photographs on the side table and stopped for a moment. She lifted the pile to thumb through them. “This is you and Leif.”

“Yep.” Owen hovered near as if he would snatch the photographs from her.

“Who’s the girl?”

“His sister.” Owen gently relieved her of the photographs. “She was killed.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Terra watched Owen. Maybe the party today had exhausted him and he wasn’t able to put on a good show for her, but he appeared troubled. She would give anything if she could help him through this.

“I’m glad he was here for you today. He looked different tonight than in those pictures.”

“Of course he did. In the pictures, his sister was still alive.”

That wasn’t what she’d meant. Terra couldn’t quite put her finger on it, then . . . yes . . . she saw it now.

FORTY-TWO

Early Monday morning, Jack nursed a hot coffee and waited for Terra in a booth at a local diner. He spotted her vehicle parked down the road and focused on his coffee. He looked up as she entered the diner. His heart rate always spiked when she stepped into view, especially with that smile and those bright blue eyes.

How had he ever walked away from this woman? How many times would he think about what a fool he’d been?

She scooted into the booth across from him. “Did you order for me? I’m starved.”

He kept his tone even. “Um . . . I did.”

The waitress approached the table and set several dishes in front of Terra. Pancakes, bacon and eggs, hash browns, a colorful display of donuts.

Terra rewarded him with a smile that he felt to his toes. Appreciation flashed in her luminous eyes. Yeah. That was the reaction he’d been going for. And it tethered his heart to her.