“No.” Camille bent to stroke Socks, her eyes were filled with worry. “Because I thought you might still change your mind.”

“Mom. No.”

“This morning you had trouble even thinking about the fire.”

“I’ll be okay,” Summer said.

“I’m sorry you have to go through this.”

Again.

Her mom didn’t say the word, but it hovered between them as the ghost of her father had for twelve years. “I’m fine. It’s you who’s having to go through all of this: property damage, insurance nightmares—”

“Summer, listen to me.” Camille’s sudden urgent tone scared her, so did the way she set down Socks and gripped Summer’s hand. “None of that matters. If you want to leave, I understand. I mean that.”

Summer searched her mother’s face for the reason why she wanted Summer gone so badly, and found none. “I told you, I’m sticking,” she said slowly. Want me to stick.

Her mother’s stiff shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly.

With relief? With regret? Summer had no idea. “I wish there was something else I could do.”

“Your being here is enough.” Camille squeezed her hands twice. “God help the both of us.”

“Mom.” Summer felt scared for no reason. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Yes, it is. Because life goes on.” Camille’s smile was heartbreakingly sad. “That’s what Tina always claims anyway.”

“It’s been twelve years,” Summer said softly. “It’s okay for life to go on.”

Camille looked down at their linked hands. “I know people think I’m crazy to still miss him so very much.”

Grief battered Summer, grabbing her by the throat. They’d never talked about this. They’d been wrong to never talk about this. “I don’t think you’re supposed to stop missing him. You’re just supposed to be able to keep loving, even other people.”

“Is there a manual for that?”

Summer choked out a laugh and leaned in for a hug that felt so right she thought she might never let go, but at the sound of a knock, Camille jumped and turned to the doorway.

Two tall, lean, tough, rangy fire marshals stood there. One neatly groomed, wearing an easy smile and those Harry Potter glasses, the other wearing a camera around his neck and looking at Summer in a way that upped her body temperature to unsafe levels.

Last night had been…amazing. Nice to know that when she needed stress relief, Joe Walker could provide it. But she hoped like hell he remembered that that’s all it’d been.

Camille dropped Summer’s hand to become the consummate hostess, moving forward with her best “come drink tea out of my fancy china” smile. Kenny followed her, leaving Joe alone with Summer.