Page 106 of Hide From Me

With a deep breath, I tried to decide what I wanted to do. Me. I wanted so badly to be mad at Cas, and I just couldn’t. Fine. I knew what I would do.

I headed to the shower, and then the closet to get dressed. I would head over to the Dove and see what Winnie had to say for her grandson.

I’d be annoyed later that everything in said closet was jeans and t-shirts. I guess he wasn’t taking me out to a club. Then again, the dress from the art gallery was hanging up. Ah, memories.

The Dove was quiet at this time of the day. I don’t know why, but I kept thinking that I was being followed, and maybe I was. But this didn’t feel like when Cas followed me. This was the whole spine-tingling, keep you on edge feeling.

“Hello, dear. I thought you were moving out?”

I smiled at Winnie.

“I haven’t agreed to anything.”

She took my hand and patted it.

“Of course you haven’t. But believe me when I say my grandson won’t take no for an answer. And he’s smart, about this at least, because you are a catch. Of course, I will miss having such a wonderful tenant.”

What did one say when they gave you positive praise? I could count on my fingers the number of times I’d gotten a real compliment and not one that was to get anything in return.

“Thank you.”

Winnie let go of my hand.

“How about a latte for old times? I just baked some fresh muffins. You can come sit with me for a little while. Give an old woman something to remember.”

I nodded and followed her to the counter.

“Are most of the people that come here, um,” I didn’t know how to finish that. Spectors? Gang members? Morally gray?

“Affiliated to my Caspian and the boys?”

She nodded.

“Yes and no. Most of the buildings on this street are rental properties and investments. Of course, because I am who I am, my business does well with that crowd, but plenty of just your everyday, average folk stop by. You’ve met me. Who could stay away from this stunning personality?”

She wasn’t wrong. Just standing here, I wanted to be closer to her. She was sweet with a dark side I was pretty sure.

“How come I never met you, you know, when I was first brought here?”

She handed me the latte and asked one of the girls to grab a muffin from the back.

“By the time you showed up on my grandson’s doorstep, or, rather, across the street, I was done raising them. They bought that house and were out to take over the world. Just like their grandfather, rest his soul.”

A lilt in her voice told me that bit still affected her.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

She pursed her lips. “Oh, never you mind. I had many, many good years with that man. He loved me like no one else could.”

She stepped around the counter. “Come and sit down and tell me about Caspian and his less than traditional ways of getting your attention.”

What could I tell his grandma? I wasn’t about to tell her that he got my attention by inviting me to a gallery and getting me off in a corner.

“Well, that look says it all. I don’t pretend to know everything going on anymore. Those days are behind me. All I can offer is to be there for you like this family can be there for each other. Ichose this life as much as it chose me. It won’t always be easy to love him. But he will make it impossible to live without him.”

It was a little odd the way this woman seemed to know exactly what Cas was and exactly how hard everything around us was. I didn’t even pretend to really know. I’d been gone for years, and not by choice. But coming back here and seeing the division, or at least one detective’s reaction to my affiliation with the Spectors, it said a lot.

“Winnie, can I ask you a question?”

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