Page 4 of Miracles and Marriage

“I came to see you.”

“How did you find the place?”

“Interesting story, that,” he said, glancing at her attire. “You getting up or going to bed?”

She pulled the lapels of the warm fleece robe closer and shook her head.

“Today isn’t a good day, Cal.”

She began to push the door shut.

He held it open easily and stepped inside.

“You look like you need some help.”

“More than you can give.”

“Meaning?”

He studied her closely. Zoe was conscious she hadn’t even washed her face that morning. Her hair probably looked like the wreck of theHesperus.She hated not projecting her normal cool demeanor. But at the moment, none of it mattered.

“I went to your sister’s home and she gave me directions to here. Which seems like a good thing, now. I didn’t know you two were twins. That was a shock.”

Zoe nodded wondering how much longer she could remain upright. She always kept her family life separate from work.

“I’m surprised you even knew I had a sister, much less where to find her.”

“She’s listed as the person to notify in case of emergency.”

“And you count this as an emergency?”

He looked at her. “You tell me. Why aren’t you in bed? You look terrible.”

“Gee, thanks. Actually I need to be.”

He scooped her up and asked which way. Zoe almost protested, but it felt so good to relinquish control for just a second. And being off her feet eased some of the discomfort—or the pills were beginning to work.

“Talk to me,” he said as he walked up the stairs to the bedroom she used.

Zoe didn’t want to let him know everything, but she did owe him an explanation. Her flight had been unlike her and he had a right to know if it would happen again. She wondered if anything else would be so devastating she’d immediately flee to the comfort of the family sea cottage.

“Two heads are better than one at solving problems,” he said.

He gently put her on the bed and once she covered herself with the spread, sat on the edge of the mattress.

“It won’t happen again,” she said.

“What happened and won’t again?” he asked.

“I won’t leave so unexpectedly like this time. It was a private emergency.”

“Hey, Protection, Inc. is good in emergencies. We have strategic planning down to an art. I doubt there are many things we can’t handle. Besides, you help me in brainstorming solution, let’s try this one.”

She almost smiled. Cal was so proud of the company—and rightly so. Their success rate was terrific. It was becoming synonymous with high end security in the capital. The firm was constantly hiring new agents as it expanded. One department did nothing but vet new hires. Cal made security as sacred as apple pie.

“Unfortunately the company can’t help in this situation,” she said.

“Try me,” he invited.