Page 76 of Five Fingers of Death

I wasn’t sure I wanted to live alone. If I was struggling, there would be no one to talk to. Even knowing she was in the same house would be comforting.

“You don’t have to decide now. She’s staying in the old house until you decide.”

“Is this new house on the property?”

“Yes. It was supposed to be for one of the guys, but?—”

“I can’t take someone else’s house.”

She smiled at me, shaking her head. “You didn’t let me finish. It was supposed to be for Asher, but since he never came back to work here, the house is vacant. You’re not taking anyone’s house.”

“What will happen with our old house?”

“Well, either Vira will stay in it or we’ll use it as a guest house. Lord knows we have enough family members coming and going.”

It didn’t sound like a terrible plan, and at least I wasn’t putting anyone out. I was silent for the rest of the drive, considering what my life would be like now that I was out of the looney bin. The closer we got to home, the more my nerves skyrocketed. I hoped I could handle this. I prayed I was ready for this change in my life.

“It looks like everyone’s waiting for you,” Eva muttered as we pulled down the drive. “I told them not to, but it looks like, as usual, no one paid attention. I’m really sorry about this.”

The thought of having to talk to all these people right now was overwhelming. I wanted nothing more than to run upstairs and shove my head under a pillow. They all knew what had happened. I didn’t need their pitying looks every time I saw them.

But staying in the car wasn’t an option either. I blew out a harsh breath and flung the door open. What surprised me most was that Carli—Jason’s daughter—came running over to the car. I barely knew the girl, yet she had a get well soon card waiting in her little hand.

“Izzy! I made this for you!”

I couldn’t help but smile at the little girl. It was hard to ignore that infectious smile. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

How much did she know? Did Jason tell her what happened? My eyes slowly lifted to meet his, but all I saw was caution. Was he worried I was going to hurt her? I would never harm a child. I understood that what I had done was scary, and it gave him every right to question my judgment, but I would never do anything to her.

“—and Vira made brownies with me!”

I crouched down when I realized that she was still chattering away and I had missed almost all of it. “Vira made brownies with you?”

She nodded wildly, then frowned as she cocked her head at me. “Are you still my friend?”

“Of course I am. Why?”

“Because you were gone a really, really long time.”

“Well, I was sick. I had to get better so I could come home.”

“That’s what Daddy said,” she pouted.

“Well, he’s right.”

“But now you can make brownies with me too!”

I smiled at her, but before I could answer, Jason was next to his daughter with a hand on her shoulder.

“Carli, she just got home. Let her breathe.”

His daughter pouted, taking a step back. “Okay. Can I see you tomorrow?”

I had no idea what I was doing tomorrow. Life was so overwhelming and thinking past walking through that door was just too much. But I also didn’t want to let her down.

For the next year, I want you to only think about yourself.

“Why don’t I get back to you on that,” I answered, smiling to break the disappointment. “I still have a lot to do in my new house.”

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