“Stop it!” Linnea shouted.

The two men threw punches and, gripping each other, crashed into the back of the sofa, falling over it and tumbling, locked together, as they wrestled each other to the floor. The coffee table wobbled, tossing all the glassware to the floor. The sound of crashing glass and the screams of the women brought Cooper into the fray. The two men were back on their feet, circling, when Cooper stepped between them, arms out, only to catch a punch in the chin from John. Anna screamed again as Cooper spun and crashed to the floor.

Gordon and John stopped fighting and stood panting, staring at Cooper.

“I’m sorry, man,” John gasped. “Never meant…” He bent over, grasping his knees.

Gordon wobbled back, then stood wide-legged, eyes on Cooper.

Linnea ran to her brother and crouched beside Anna to check on him. He had raised himself to a sitting position and was rubbing his jaw. He was going to have a nasty bruise.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Cooper said, sounding more embarrassed than hurt.

“You tosser,” Gordon said to John.

John’s fists formed again, but this time Linnea’s voice was heard.

“Stop it, both of you,” she shouted at the top of her lungs.

She looked at both men. John’s hair was plastered against his face, his T-shirt torn, blood dripping from his lip. Gordon stood a few feet away; he was going to have a black eye and his collared shirt was ripped open, missing buttons.

“Go home. Both of you.” Her shoulders slumped and she felt she was ready to slide to the floor. “I don’t want to see either of you. Please. Just leave.”

When neither of them moved, Pandora stepped forward and clapped her hands. “Okay, fellows. You heard the lady. Everybody out.”

Linnea walked to her bedroom and quietly closed the door.

A HOT SHOWER had never felt so comforting. Linnea stood under the steady stream of water, relishing the warmth. She spread lavender soap over her body, washing away the musty smell of the blanket and the haunting sight of Flo looking like some mad homeless woman. She emerged cleaner, calmer, but beyond exhausted. Wrapping her hair in a towel, she slipped into a nightgown and a thick terry robe. She went to sit on the bed with Luna in her lap, stroking her soft fur while staring out at the dark night.

A soft knock sounded on the door. She closed her eyes and released a long sigh. “Please just go away.”

“Linnea? It’s me. Pandora. I’ve brought you a nice hot cup of tea. It’s just what you need.”

“Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Come in.”

Pandora walked in carefully balancing a tray in her hands. She kicked the door shut behind her. Luna rose and growled at the intruder.

“Hush, Luna,” said Linnea. “It’s Pan.” She held Luna back so Pandora could set the tea tray on the bed.

“I didn’t know what kind you liked, so there’s hot water and a selection. And some honey and lemon.”