She’d gotten home, done her laundry, made dinner, and had settled in bed reading when she heard the sound of his car pulling up next door.

Carmella wanted to rush over to see how everything was, but she didn’t know if she had the right just yet. Or even more important, she wasn’t sure that’s what he needed.

Hell, she didn’t even know what she needed. So she’d wait, hoping Duke saw her light and made his way over.

Duke had driven around for hours until his father had finally called. Then he’d driven around for a few more hours, dropped his bike off, and grabbed his car to come home.

And as he sat there in his driveway, all he wanted was to see her kitchen light on.

She opened her front door just a few minutes later. Ginger gave him a friendly bark, hopped around until he’d given her some attention as he came in.

“Hi there. Want some tea? I just had a cup so the water is still hot.”

He went into her arms and she hugged him, snuggling into his body and being there.

“Tea is good.”

“Come on then.” She took his hand and led him to the kitchen. “Want some toast or a peanut butter sandwich?”

He settled at her kitchen table and the dog flopped over his feet.

“I have strawberry jelly even.”

“Made me an offer I can’t refuse.”

“Sure. Everyone can be jealous at my PBJ skills.”

He let the rest of his agitation go as she moved about her kitchen efficiently, dropping off a cup of tea and then a sandwich she’d even cut into triangles.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked as she joined him.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

“Whatever you decide.”

She didn’t push.

“How was your night?” he asked.

“I’m not sure if I want to talk about it either.” She snorted.

“What’s going on, gorgeous?”

“My mom dropped a bomb tonight. She’s moving to Spokane with Steven. This week. She told me to sell the house and give her a fair share.” This time her snort was derisive. “Maybe it is my fault for doing everything for her. But Jesus, how can she pretend like there would be anything left? She had the house paid off and then took out a second mortgage and nearly lost it. I spent my entire savings—that I was going to use on my own house—to save her and she just took it as her due. And now she thinks I did it to steal from her. I’m furious that she’d say such a thing. But so sad she’d actually think it.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t around when this all came down.” He’d been out licking his wounds and she’d needed him.

“Sometimes you need to handle your own stuff before you can deal with anyone else’s.”

“That’s true, Carm. So why don’t you try it?’

“Do you know the cost if she fails?”

The anguish in her tone tore at him.

“She’s an adult woman. You can’t get her committed. She won’t leave him. What can you do? Huh? If you keep pushing, it’s not like she’ll change her mind. You’ll just push her away even further. At least at this point when she fucks up, she knows she’s got you.”

“She’s got no one. My uncle is done with her. I’m terrified.”

He got up and moved to her, pulling her into his arms.

“I’m sorry. I know you’ve got a lot on your mind,” she said, face buried in his chest.

“I don’t accept your apology. Whatever she does isn’t yours to feel sorry about. You’re a good thing on my mind. They’re saying my brother tried to kill himself.” Once he got it out, he felt better.

She pulled away so she could see into his face. “Oh my god.”

They sat back down and he stuck close to her this time. “My dad finally called me a few hours ago. Danny isn’t conscious yet but they say it’s not unusual for his level of injury.”

“Suicide? Has he been dealing with depression or any other type of illness? I didn’t get the sense that this was even a thought with your siblings.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face and then drank some tea. “I’ve been trying to make sense of it for the last few hours. I found out stuff today and I still don’t know what to do with it all.”

She got up, grabbed a bottle of tequila from above the fridge, and brought it back with a shot glass.

“I have a counteroffer,” he said.

“Does it involve your penis?”

Love washed through him, taking away the heaviness in his head. His heart would take longer, but she was there. She was his and she made things better.

“It always eventually involves my penis when we’re talking about anything to do with you. I was going to suggest I finish this sandwich and then we take this to the bedroom. I can tell you out here, but I’d rather have you in my arms.”

“I accept those terms. Finish up your sandwich.”

She said the last as he shoved the last of the PBJ she’d made him into his face. He waggled his brows at her as he finished chewing and then cleared his dishes. Ginger trotted along behind them, settling into her bed as Carmella climbed into hers.

He stripped down to his boxers and got in beside her, sighing as she snuggled against him.

“My brother’s been to rehab three times. All three times for alcohol and the last two were for meth as well. His health is a wreck because of his high-stress job, made even more stressful because he’s been high all the time. His girlfriend dumped him because she got sick of his shit and because he got someone else pregnant and she’s now seven months along. Danny has been paying her condo rent and medical care.” He sighed and sat up enough to swallow the shot she’d poured for him.