Page 51 of Before the Bond
I might not have made room for myself to stay, but the Ashwood estate and the people connected to it did their best to make me feel at home.
“Home,” I murmured.
When was the last time I had that?
I had a patient who made me laugh before noon and apologized for things that weren't his fault. I had a fun gal pal who was always there to lift my spirits and bully Donovan when she thought he was being too harsh on me.
I had people who greeted me in the morning and expected me to eat breakfast with them.
Donovan, in his own way, was there for me, too.
I also had… Caleb.
Caleb, who, despite everything he kept from me, wanted me to have the choices he couldn’t fully give me. Caleb, who not only saved me years ago, but was trying to protect me even now.
I stared at the go-bag one more time.
Then I crouched down, picked up the go-bag, and zipped it the rest of the way.
I lifted it and set it on the shelf in the wardrobe.
“I’m not going,” I said. “At least not any time soon.”
There were a lot of things I didn’t like, and there were things that would always be dangerous so long as I was in Greyhollow. But I couldn’t leave the town — or Ashwood estate — just yet.
The people here had done their best to make me feel like I could stay. The least I could do was stay.
Later that night, I made my way to the fireplace. It felt like ages since I'd last been here.
The area looked cozier than ever. The hearth’s fire glowed steadily. A few new logs had been thrown in, so it was crackling especially lively tonight.
As expected, Caleb was in his typical spot. He had no book this time. Instead, he was hunched over, staring at the ground.
I slowly walked in.
Caleb’s head shot up the moment he heard my footsteps.
“Olivia,” he said. It came out as barely a whisper. “You’re still here.”
I shrugged.
Caleb's gaze moved from my face down to my hands. He noticed the obvious lack of travel bags.
“I’m still a nurse,” I told him plainly. “Circumstances aside, I’m here for Jake first and foremost. And he’s going to need my help more than ever if the first shift is as bad as you make it out to be.”
The fire from the hearth flared. I could see part of it catch in Caleb’s eyes.
He considered that, then nodded.
“That’s true.” He then cleared his throat. “It would be… unfortunate if you left before it happened.”
I thought I caught a flush in his cheeks yet again. I smiled.
“Can I trust that you’ll give me all the info I need for his care this time?” I asked. “Or are you going to tell me he’s half-vampire, too?”
“Did you not notice his aversion to garlic?” he asked.
I chuckled.
