They went into the kitchen and washed up. “So?” Erin began to pull ingredients from the fridge.

“Things are good.”

“I didn’t even have to poke at you for ten minutes to get you to tell me. Must be good.”

Raven looked up from where she’d started cleaning the produce. “It is. They are. Whatever.”

“You two have spent a lot of time together lately.”

“We have. We spent pretty much the entire day together on Monday. Went up to Snoqualmie to look at the leaves. Walked a lot. He’s a hand holder. Opens doors. Pulls my chair out. He glowers at people if they don’t move out of my way when we’re on the sidewalk.”

Erin loved that about her men. Loved the way they always made her feel protected. Cherished.

“It’s not that I can’t do it for myself. But he likes to and I let him. He sort of gets that I’m letting him. He’s nice to me. Though, he’s so pushy. Always wants to know about my childhood and stuff.”

Erin stilled a moment and then kept moving. “And?”

“I told him some. He saw the scars. I told him about that. He knows I was in foster care. Not all of it,” Raven added quickly. “I don’t want his pity. I don’t know if I could stand it. If he pitied me, I mean.”

“Sometimes, just saying it out loud lifts the weight.” Erin knew about this personally. Knew what it felt like to hold all that pain inside until she’d finally shared it with Todd and then Ben. Knew that it had brought them all closer to have shared her grief.

Knew too that Jonah Warner would keep pushing Raven to share and that hopefully, if Raven didn’t balk and run off, she might have found a person worthy of her confidences.

Raven lifted a shoulder. “It’s hard to say it out loud sometimes.”

“I know. But it’s not you. You did nothing wrong.”

“Academic.”

Erin knew about guilt over things that weren’t her fault too.

“Sometimes you should listen to your head as well as your gut.”

“I’m trying. He wants to stay over. God.”

Erin snorted as she began to shred cheese. “I imagine he’s not one to take no for an answer.”

“No.”

“Why don’t you just tell him?”

“Tell him what? I don’t need therapy, Erin, so don’t start on me with your freaking psychological mumbo jumbo about why I like to sleep alone.”

“Alexander has slept over.”

Raven smiled, softening. For her baby. Love swamped Erin just then. Raven would take a bullet for Alexander. She loved that boy and he loved his auntie right back.

“He’s my best guy. Clearly the rules can be broken for him.”

“I’m just saying, rules were meant to be broken. Especially when they exist to bandage some long-ago trauma that may need a little sunlight and fresh air.”

Raven grunted and went back to work.

Brody came over before Erin could do much more nosing around. Marti, Brody and Elise’s toddler, came into the kitchen at a full run, her arms open. When she saw Raven as well as Erin her face lit even more. She squealed with total joy as Raven stepped to her and swung her up into a hug.

“Martine, my love. I think you’re a foot taller now.”

Marti threw chubby arms around Raven’s neck.

Rennie came into the room and it struck Erin that her niece was nearly a teenager. In just a few months she’d be thirteen. But she had her mother’s beauty. Pale hair, big blue eyes. A dancer’s long, lean body.

“Why hello, Rennie.” Erin hugged her.

“Hey, Aunt Erin.” She grinned. “Thanks for the awesome paints. I’m working on something now. You know, to thank you.”

Elise came in, smiling at the sight of her daughters with Raven and Erin.

“I want to see too.” Raven handed Marti to Erin and then tipped her chin to Rennie, who still looked at her like she was the most awesome fireworks show ever.

“My art?”

“Yeah. Your dad showed me some the last time I saw him. He’s got like forty pictures of it on his phone. But that’s not the same as in real life.”

Rennie blushed and then bent when Alexander came in, patting her thigh. “Yo, Nee!”

“Hey, Alexander.” She knelt to hug him and he handed her a horse.

“Come play.”

Rennie waved at them and followed Alexander out.

“She’s a great kid,” Erin said before turning her attention back to Marti, kissing those chubby toddler cheeks. “Where’s Brody?”

“Jeez.” Raven went back to work. “Hello, Elise. How are you? Sorry about Erin’s manners. You know how she gets when she’s got a baby in her arms.”

Elise laughed and Marti did too. “Down, please.”

Erin kissed her one last time and put her down. With one wave over her shoulder, she headed toward where Alexander and Rennie were playing with Ben.

“He’s on his way up. He’s bringing the pies and some other stuff. He and Todd met in the lobby and there was secret stuff happening.”

“Halloween stuff most likely. You’re coming, right?” Erin turned to Raven.

“Uh.”

“Miles and his band are playing. There’s going to be a little Halloween parade thing.”

Raven groaned. “Miles doesn’t need me there.”

“Pfft. Alexander does. And Marti. And Rennie. And of course, me. Plus, Gillian and Elise and Brody.”

“You already used that one for Thanksgiving.”

“It’s all-purpose.”

“You’re coming to Thanksgiving?” Elise’s bright smile was genuine and Raven relaxed.

“Yes.”

“That’s wonderful. I’m glad you’ll be in town this year.”

“I’m planning on bugging her relentlessly until she agrees to make cinnamon rolls.” Erin flashed a grin and Raven groaned.

One of the only happy memories Raven had from her childhood was of her great-grandmother teaching her to make cinnamon rolls. She was too old to do much more than sit in the kitchen and tell Raven what to do. But on those rare visits once she’d gotten a little older, Eula Mae’s kitchen would be filled with scents that still made Raven smile to that day.

“Maybe. If you ask nicely.”

“I should ask Jonah too.” Erin fluttered her lashes.

“His daughter is coming home for it. She’s in Europe on some study-abroad deal. I’m guessing there’ll be some big dinner at the manse with Ma and Pa Kettle.”

Elise laughed. “The stories I’ve heard about his mother scare me. But she seems to like Daisy so she can’t be all bad.”

“In any case, he’ll be otherwise engaged.”

“You can go over there. I’ll give you a day pass for that.”

“I am still vexed I allowed you to guilt me into Thanksgiving day with you. I’m sure as hell not going over there. Plus, we’re not at the meet-the-parents stage. We’re just dating. Or whatever.”

He’d want to spend time with Carrie and there was no way Raven would get between them. The girl needed her dad and she had no doubts how much Jonah adored his daughter.

Elise sent Erin a look and Raven kept her head down, biting her tongue. See? She was learning. 

Raven looked at her phone and saw Jonah’s number. Smiling, she answered. “Yes?”

“That’s what I like to hear. Just yes. All the time. No matter what I ask.”

“It does me no good to encourage you in any way.”

“Oh, but it does.” His voice went all low and silky and she shivered. “I remember you encouraging me just fine the other night.”

“To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

She sat on her small deck, the rain falling, though she was dry beneath the overhang.

“What are you doing right now?”

“I’m sitting on my deck, drinking a beer, wrapped in a blanket, listening to music.”

“Damn, that sounds pretty nice. Wish I was there with you but instead I’m going into yet another meeting shortly. What are you doing Saturday night?”

“Nothing yet.” She’d been invited to dinner with some friends visiting from out of town, but anything he’d be offering would be better. She was officially at the stage where she turned down things with friends to be with a guy.

Man.