Page 37 of Shuttered Hearts

“Declan, we can’t ask that of you,” Dad says.

“You didn’t. Besides, Ava loves you, and she would be pissed if she found out we didn’t ask for her help.” Declan reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone.

“You’re gonna call her now? It’s late,” I say to him.

“She’ll be up,” he assures me as he puts the phone to his ear. “Hey, Ava,” he says as he turns and walks back toward the front door.

Dad and I are quiet while we wait for him to return. We can’t hear what’s said, just the soft murmur of his voice from the front of the house.

“She can’t win this,” I say.

Dad doesn’t respond.

Declan comes back into the room a few minutes later. “She’s going to get on the first flight down here,” he says as he comes to take a seat next to me. He reaches over and takes my hand. “I gave her what information I could. She’s just as confused as you are, but she’s confident we’ll figure it out long before it goes any further.”

“Okay. Thank you, Declan,” Dad says, standing from the couch and bending down to kiss me on the forehead.

“That’s it?” I ask him.

“There’s nothing else we can do tonight. We’ll wait till Ava gets here and go from there,” he says, turning toward his room. “You’ll turn everything off and lock up behind you?”

“Of course.” I’m both stunned and jealous by his calmness.

Declan and I sit on the couch for a few more minutes before he squeezes my hand, bringing my attention back to him. “Your dad’s right. There’s nothing else to do tonight.” He stands and pulls me up with him. “Ava will text me with her flight information as soon as she has it, and I’ll pick her up from the airport and bring her straight here.”

“Okay.”

“Come on, let’s shut the house down and lock up. I’ll walk you home.” Declan begins moving around the house, shutting off the few remaining lights.

“We didn’t get to have that conversation,” I say quietly when I meet him by the front door.

He takes the keys from my hand, locks the front door, and turns to me, placing his hand on the small of my back and guiding me to the cottage. “There were more pressing things toworry about, and we have all the time in the world to figure us out.”

Us. I didn’t realize how much I liked the idea of an “us” until he said it. “I don’t want to put off that conversation for some undetermined amount of time. If Dad has taught me anything, it’s that we don’t always have as much time as we think.”

“Then we won’t put it off indefinitely. We’ll talk about it as soon as we have some answers from Ava,” he says as we reach the cottage door. He unlocks the door with the keys still in his hand and then places them in my purse, hanging across my body. He cups my face in his hands, studying me. “Are you okay by yourself, or do you want me to stay?”

“I’ll be okay,” I tell him, worrying my bottom lip.

“I’ll stay if you want me to.”

“I know you will, but I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” He leans down and presses a kiss to the corner of my lips. If I’m being honest, I want more, but I know now isn’t the time. “Go inside. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Declan says so quietly he’s practically whispering.

“Good night, Declan,” I whisper back.

nineteen

DECLAN

“Hey, big brother,”Ava says, pulling me into a hug when she meets me at baggage claim the following day.

True to her word, Ava texted as soon as she booked her flight. Since Boston to Baltimore is a popular route, getting a flight wasn’t a problem.

No, the only problem I can find is the reason for her impromptu visit. Not that I’ll complain about it, Ava is one of my favorite people and I don’t get to see her nearly enough.

“Hey, squirt.” I hug her tight, a little longer than necessary, but I’ve missed her. “Thanks for flying down so quickly.” I finally pull away, taking the carry-on bag from her shoulder.

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