Jim and Winifred. Mom had once told me Winifred had helped her understand our ways. I hoped Winifred would be able to do the same for Michelle.
I looked at the three-story plantation style home with a sense of pride. Michelle and the boys would have plenty of room. The house was meant for families.
I parked near the back porch and cut the engine. Liam’s inquisitive study of the place made me smile.
“Welcome home.”
I looked at Michelle and found her watching me. She was scared.
“Everything will be fine. I promise you’re safe here.”
She nodded, but her scent didn’t change as she opened the door and started helping the boys down.
I watched the three of them study the yard as if it were the first one they’d ever seen. Most of the grass had just been cut. I hadn’t exaggerated when I’d said there was a lot of it. As big as a baseball field, at least. And all surrounded by woods. Closed in and safe.
From inside the house, I heard Jim’s “about time” a second before the back door opened. He strode out with a goofy grin on his face. I couldn’t help but return it. I’d missed my brother.
“Emmitt! About time they let you go,” he said as he jumped off the porch.
I met him halfway, hugging him with a slap on his back. He grunted and gave one back. I pulled away before he started something and grinned at him.
The wind shifted just then, and I breathed in the scents of the trio’s fear. Jim inhaled, too, and gave me a knowing look before I turned toward Michelle.
“Jim, this is Michelle and her two brothers, Liam and Aden. Michelle, this is my brother, Jim.”
Winifred came out of the house just then, looking the picture of a human’s grandma. She’d even twisted her hair back into a bun. I heard Jim chuckle under his breath and elbowed him.
Winifred came to give me a hug. There was no backslapping.
“It’s so good to see you,” she said. Then she turned to Michelle and the boys. “I’m Winifred, but everyone calls me Nana Wini.”
“This is Michelle,” I said.
Michelle held out her hand, and Winifred shook it.
“I’m so glad Emmitt brought someone with him,” Winifred said a second before she bent and pulled both boys into a brief, tight hug. The two of them looked like their eyes would pop as they stood, staring up at her.
“I have to say, I always thought it would be Jim who brought someone home first.”
What was she doing?
“Nana—”
“But, I’m very happy. How long have you two been together?”
Michelle looked at me, her face flushed scarlet.
“Two blissful days, Nana,” I said. She knew darn well how long. You’re not helping, I sent to her before speaking aloud. “Michelle and her brothers need a place to lay low.”
Nana looked over her shoulder at me. I knew that deadpan look. It was a warning to keep my mouth shut. She didn’t understand just how scared Michelle was, though.
“She needs us,” I said. She just needs time to understand that, I added over our mental link.
“Of course she does,” Nana said aloud, turning back to Michelle. “Since you’re not with Emmitt, would you be interested in going out with my nephew Cameron?”
“Nana!” I said. You don’t have a nephew.
She laughed.
“It’s good to have you home, Emmitt. Jim’s been good company, but these young men are going to be a welcome distraction from the monotony around here.” She held out a hand for each boy. “Let’s go in and have dinner. After that, I’ll see if I can find any of Jim and Emmitt’s old toys. Believe it or not, they used to be small like you two, and loved playing. Still do. So, you better keep an eye on the things I give you. They’re likely to try to convince you to let them play, too.”
The boys looked back at Michelle, clearly not ready to trust Winifred.
“We’ll follow you in,” Michelle said.
They’re this reserved all the time? Winifred asked silently.
Yes.
Nana led the way to the house, and Jim stayed back with me to study the three as they went inside.
“We tried to clean the place up a bit,” he said softly.
I nodded, knowing they’d done what they could. When I’d left, the place had been a huge, run-down old house. Now, it was a little less run-down and split into six apartments, two on each level.
Stepping inside, I looked around. The oversized door opened into a large entry, where Winifred and