“Okay,” she agreed. “Maybe you should.”

All of the sudden the room was filled with noise. Three loud knocks sounded on the front door and Jupiter jumped off the couch, his ears up and a loud, deep growl emanating from the back of his throat.

“Who in the world …”

“Theodora! Are you there? Theo!”

“That sounds like Ashley.”

Jordan stood up, pushing something into the front pocket of his jeans before offering his hand to Theo. She squinted up at him.

“It’s nothing,” he told her, pulling her to her feet. “Go.”

“Theodora!”

Theo rushed to the door and pulled it open to see Ashley on the other side of it. Her long, dark hair was disheveled and dotted with snowflakes, and her mascara was making black trails down her cheeks.

“What’s wrong, Ash?” Theo asked, pulling the girl in from the cold. “What’s happened?”

“They say she’s dead,” Ashley told her. Her blue eyes were wild and unfocused.

“Who’s dead?” Jordan wanted to know.

“I just saw her yesterday.”

“Who did you see?” Theo asked again. “You need to calm down and tell us what’s going on.”

“Mina Harper,” Ashley stood in the entryway, her whole body shaking. “They found her in one of the cabins on the lake.”

Theo thought about the conversation she’d had with Delaney earlier in the parking lot of Fireweed Farm. She’d felt awful when she’d heard the news a body had been found. Now that she had a name to put with that body, she felt positively sick to her stomach.

7. PAST TENSE

Once Ashley’s sobs had slowed and her body exhausted itself, she’d fallen asleep with her head in Theo’s lap. At that point, both Theo and Jordan had decided to stay where they were, there on the pair of couches, and they all fell asleep as the fire continued to cast light and shadow in the otherwise darkened room. When Indigo came downstairs the following morning, she found all three adults, Jupiter and four cats camped out together.

“Antee?”

Theo jumped at the sound of her niece’s voice, a sharp pain stabbing the back of her neck.

“Oh!” she grunted. “Hey, there, blue bird.”

“Chuff!” Jupiter said in greeting. Indigo went to where the dog was lying on the couch and wrapped her arm around his neck. She gave him a hug and gave the girl sleeping on Theo’s lap a once over.

“That’s Ashley.” She plopped a kiss on Jupiter’s snout, then she moved closer to her aunt.

“It is,” Theo told her with a nod that she quickly regretted. She reached up and dug her fingertips into the angry muscles in her neck. “She got some bad news last night about one of her friends and she didn’t want to be by herself.”

Indigo studied Ashley’s still sleeping face.

“That’s sad.”

“Hey,” Jordan said. “I know what we could do for her. How about we get her a warm washcloth so your Antee can help her clean her face. That might make her feel better.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Indigo agreed.

“You have to help me up first,” Jordan told her.

Indigo tilted her head. “You’re silly. You’re too big for me to help.”

“What does Delaney call him?” Theo asked.

“Paul Bumyun.”

Jordan laughed. “Close enough.”

“Do you remember who Paul Bunyan was?” Theo asked.

“A giant who cut down trees.”

“Exactly. He was a lumberjack. Pull hard,” Theo instructed. “Our lumberjack is tired.”

“And he’s a giant!” Indigo said, dropping Pickles, her stuffed cat on the ground so she could take hold of both Jordan’s hands. She pulled with all her might and Jordan finally came off the couch, surprising Indigo by bending and flipping her over his shoulder. She let out a happy squeal, jolting Ashley from her slumber.

“It’s okay,” Theo told her when she tried to sit up. She touched Ashley’s shoulder, urging her to stay where she was. “You’re okay. Be still.”

Ashley blinked several times and brought her hands up to her face. “Oh, wow … I’m so sorry I came over. Just showing up like that … that was just rude … and you’re my boss … and I’m just …”

“Stop it,” Theo said. “I am your boss, Ash, but I’m also your friend.”

“And she’s a pretty terrific pillow,” Jordan added, coming back into the room. He still had Indigo slung over his shoulder and he held a washcloth in his hand. He gave the cloth to Theo but kept the child, spinning her around in a circle. Indigo giggled, her legs and arms wild as they turned. Jupiter danced around the two of them, eager to be a part of their game. Jitterbug watched the activity from her spot on the back of the couch near Theo, her eyes half closed. It was just a normal Sunday morning at the barn as far as the cat was concerned. Only, it wasn’t.

“We’re going to start some breakfast,” Jordan announced. “Ashley, can I get you a cup of coffee?”

Ashley sat up and Theo handed her the washcloth.

“That would be really great,” she said.

“Lots of cream, lots of sugar, right?”

She nodded, wiping at the skin beneath her eyes. “Yes, please.”

“Do you like omelets?”

“You don’t have to cook for me,” Ashley said, swinging her legs around and planting them on the floor. “Actually, forget about the coffee. I should just go.” She stood up and Jordan turned to face her.

“I would be more than happy to make you a cup of coffee,” he told her. “And your stomach is gonna get all grumbly when you smell eggs and bacon and ham cooking. You might as well fill it with a little bit of breakfast.”