carefully, making sure he missed again.
Eden stood behind him as the skittles reset. “Let me help.” Her hand slid over his, warmth shooting through him as her touch guided his hand to the correct position.
He’d always played badly for two reasons. One, to let her win, and two, so she’d do this—stand behind him, touching him, helping him. Yet he wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of memories that flooded him. Desire poured through him like a tidal wave. He had to break contact or his resilience was going to snap, and he’d be unable to continue.
David shook her off. “Eden, don’t.”
She backed away, hurt etched on her face. “Sorry. I just wanted to help.”
Guilt pierced him. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted, but he had no choice. “It’s not you, it’s me.”
“That’s very clichéd of you, David.” Hanna put the tray down on the table. “Chicken in a basket, chips, and cola.” She looked at them. “What did I miss?”
Eden forced a smile. “It’s David that missed. Again.”
David rolled the bowl half-heartedly. He dropped onto the plastic seat and put a finger in Marc’s hand. His nephew smiled at him, babbling happily. Why did things have to be so complicated?
He took the food his sister offered. “Thanks.” As he ate he noticed Eden studying his hands. “What?”
“Just wondering about the tattoos,” she said.
He looked down at his hands. Each of his knuckles had a different symbol on them. “Can’t explain here,” he said. “Suffice it to say each one is there for a reason.”
Each gang related and each indicated a crime he’d committed. He’d worn them so long he’d almost forgotten they did wash off. He only hoped the persona he’d adopted would wash away as easily.
3
Sunday afternoon, Eden perched on the edge of the bed. Her first week had flown by, and she’d enjoyed every minute of it. Well, almost. David had tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible, but she wasn’t going to let him win. She watched Hanna pack, dutifully listening as her friend listed the same things over and over.
“And he hates carrots,” Hanna continued. “So if you must give him them, mix it with something else.”
“OK.”
“And he won’t sleep without the penguin. And he still gets real bad colic and can cry for hours and throw up after a feed.”
Eden stifled a grin. “Han, I’ve been looking after him almost a week now. I know about the penguin, and the duck in the bath, and how to hide the carrots, and the mobile and music he likes. I’ll move his cot into my room. He’ll be fine. I also have your phone number, pager number, hotel number…” She winked. “The doctor’s number. And I even know how to call the emergency services if I need them.”
“I’m sorry,” Hanna said, her hands pausing as she lifted another woolen sweater into the case. “Am I making too much fuss?”
“Just a tad. We’ll be fine.”
“You know I do trust you—it’s...”
David that I worry about. Hanna’s furrowed brow said it all without her having to voice a single word, and Eden knew why. David’s behavior was erratic at best and downright unstable at worst. Hanna hadn’t needed to say anything. All the measured looks and heavy sighs let Eden know Hanna didn’t feel safe in her own home or around her own brother. Another reason for her to stay here, despite David’s snide comments and the devious ways he’d used to try to get rid of her for the past few days.
“It’s just...I’ve never left him over night before.” Hanna finished.
“It’s no different to the day time. Just darker.”
“What about David?”
Eden managed a cheeky grin. “David is a big boy now. I’m sure he won’t cry too much when you leave. Is he taking you to the airport?”
Hanna shook her head as she closed the suitcase. “No. He has another meeting.”
“Not anymore.” David leaned against the doorframe.
How had he sneaked up like that? And how much of the conversation
Eden stood behind him as the skittles reset. “Let me help.” Her hand slid over his, warmth shooting through him as her touch guided his hand to the correct position.
He’d always played badly for two reasons. One, to let her win, and two, so she’d do this—stand behind him, touching him, helping him. Yet he wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of memories that flooded him. Desire poured through him like a tidal wave. He had to break contact or his resilience was going to snap, and he’d be unable to continue.
David shook her off. “Eden, don’t.”
She backed away, hurt etched on her face. “Sorry. I just wanted to help.”
Guilt pierced him. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted, but he had no choice. “It’s not you, it’s me.”
“That’s very clichéd of you, David.” Hanna put the tray down on the table. “Chicken in a basket, chips, and cola.” She looked at them. “What did I miss?”
Eden forced a smile. “It’s David that missed. Again.”
David rolled the bowl half-heartedly. He dropped onto the plastic seat and put a finger in Marc’s hand. His nephew smiled at him, babbling happily. Why did things have to be so complicated?
He took the food his sister offered. “Thanks.” As he ate he noticed Eden studying his hands. “What?”
“Just wondering about the tattoos,” she said.
He looked down at his hands. Each of his knuckles had a different symbol on them. “Can’t explain here,” he said. “Suffice it to say each one is there for a reason.”
Each gang related and each indicated a crime he’d committed. He’d worn them so long he’d almost forgotten they did wash off. He only hoped the persona he’d adopted would wash away as easily.
3
Sunday afternoon, Eden perched on the edge of the bed. Her first week had flown by, and she’d enjoyed every minute of it. Well, almost. David had tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible, but she wasn’t going to let him win. She watched Hanna pack, dutifully listening as her friend listed the same things over and over.
“And he hates carrots,” Hanna continued. “So if you must give him them, mix it with something else.”
“OK.”
“And he won’t sleep without the penguin. And he still gets real bad colic and can cry for hours and throw up after a feed.”
Eden stifled a grin. “Han, I’ve been looking after him almost a week now. I know about the penguin, and the duck in the bath, and how to hide the carrots, and the mobile and music he likes. I’ll move his cot into my room. He’ll be fine. I also have your phone number, pager number, hotel number…” She winked. “The doctor’s number. And I even know how to call the emergency services if I need them.”
“I’m sorry,” Hanna said, her hands pausing as she lifted another woolen sweater into the case. “Am I making too much fuss?”
“Just a tad. We’ll be fine.”
“You know I do trust you—it’s...”
David that I worry about. Hanna’s furrowed brow said it all without her having to voice a single word, and Eden knew why. David’s behavior was erratic at best and downright unstable at worst. Hanna hadn’t needed to say anything. All the measured looks and heavy sighs let Eden know Hanna didn’t feel safe in her own home or around her own brother. Another reason for her to stay here, despite David’s snide comments and the devious ways he’d used to try to get rid of her for the past few days.
“It’s just...I’ve never left him over night before.” Hanna finished.
“It’s no different to the day time. Just darker.”
“What about David?”
Eden managed a cheeky grin. “David is a big boy now. I’m sure he won’t cry too much when you leave. Is he taking you to the airport?”
Hanna shook her head as she closed the suitcase. “No. He has another meeting.”
“Not anymore.” David leaned against the doorframe.
How had he sneaked up like that? And how much of the conversation
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