Page 17

“Do you have nightlights?” Eric whispers, falling into step beside me.

I smile. “You’re scared of the dark?”

The boy grows sullen as if ashamed. “Sometimes.”

“Should I let you in on a secret?”

He glances up to meet my gaze.

“When I was your age, I always slept in my mother’s bed.”

His face brightens. “What? You don’t look like you’d have been scared.”

“Oh, I was. I didn’t even have the confidence to sleep alone like you. You’re much braver than I was. Even your aunt Jen was also scared of the dark.”

“Really?”

“Yes. She thought the moon was hiding under her bed after following her home. She didn’t like the moon for a long time. She called it ‘The Stalker.’”

Eric bursts into laughter, dimples peeking.

“One day, when she was scared, we decided to both search under her bed for the moon and chase it out of our house. Maybe even call the police to arrest it if it refuses to leave.”

Eric’s eyes widens, enthralled by the story. “So what happened? Did you find it?”

I shake with a dramatic sigh. “We looked everywhere in her room for it but we couldn’t find it. Then, I took your aunt Jen outside and there the moon was, sitting regal in the sky. That was when Jen realized that the moon doesn’t follow her and that her fear was all in her mind.”

Eric laughs for a whole minute. Wren smiles beside him, her face alight as she watches her son laugh. My heart skips.

“Maybe there’s nothing under my bed too,” Eric says. “Just like Aunt Jen thought the moon was under her bed but it wasn’t.”

“I agree, but we’ll get you your night lights.” I make a mental note. “Home Depot is still open.”

Wren shakes her head. “You don't have to. I’ll get it for him tomorrow.”

“It's no problem. Security first, right? Comfort, second. Both matter.”

The guest room is sparse with a bed, wardrobe and a vanity table. I realize too late how impersonal it must seem.

“It's perfect.” Wren sets her purse down. “Thank you for this.”

“It's temporary.” I clear my throat. “Until my team deals with the threat.”

She nods but doesn't meet my eyes. I show them Eric's room next door with its adjoining bathroom.

“Can I put my dinosaurs here?” Eric asks, already laying out a collection of plastic figures on the dresser.

“Anywhere you want, buddy.” I check the window locks. “This place is your fortress now.”

Wren watches us from the doorway, her expression unreadable. I wonder if she's regretting agreeing to come here. It was less an invitation and more an order after what happened at Eric's school.

“I should call Talia and update her.” She turns away, phone already in hand.

“I ordered dinner.” I follow her into the hallway. “Nothing fancy, just Italian from Salvatore's.”

“Eric loves Italian.”

“I know.” The words slip out before I can stop them.