“Yeah, I’m glad it’s the weekend. I need to figure stuff out and sleep.” Figure stuff out like where they were going to find an apartment, how much she had in savings, finding cheap furniture, and how the heck she was going to replace what they’d lost, all before Christmas. “This’ll be my last free weekend probably until Christmas. Next weekend is the annual holiday decorating party.”
They rode the elevator to the top, just the two of them. “Nice. So you get the entire place decorated?”
He held the door for her as they opened on to his floor. “We do. Tree, garlands, the works. It goes a long way toward making the kids who don’t have a real home feel good. Christmas is all about family, and when you have none, or at least when you have none that you can rely on, it means even more. If there are kids who celebrate different holidays during the season we make sure we honor their traditions as well. These kids may put on a tough act, but they are heartbreakingly vulnerable. That’s why this news about the shelter possibly closing is even more serious.” They were standing outside his door, talking softly in the empty corridor. He was still holding the bags in his hands, but the look on his face stopped her from speaking. She didn’t know what it was. He looked…upset maybe. “Oh my God, Ethan,” she said, touching his arm. “I’m not saying all this to make you feel bad. I know you offered to help, but I totally didn’t expect you to solve the problem or even think about it today.”
He cleared his throat and looked away for a moment. “No, no, I…want to help. I just…yeah, today I couldn’t get to it. But I want to help you, Allie.”
The way he said her name was almost magical. Like he actually really, really cared. She waved her hand. “I know, I know, let’s just enjoy the fact that it’s the weekend. We already hijacked your home and now you’re buying us dinner. Seriously.”
“Do you need help next weekend? With the tree?”
He was a saint. What had she been thinking these last few years? Obviously she had judged the book by its cover, and she had been so wrong. This hot, beautiful, compassionate man was now even offering to give up his Saturday night for her. She forced a normal smile on her face, not the pathetically happy one that was inside. “We always need help, but you don’t have to. It’s Saturday night.”
“No plans,” he said, unlocking his door and holding it open. She walked through and again caught that whiff of whatever cologne he wore—it was something fresh like the ocean, not strong, just a hint. Hook came barreling toward them like a raging bull, and they both bent down to greet the dog.
“Then sure. We’d love that. I hate assembling the stupid tree.”
His head was close to hers as Hook demanded more attention. “Assembling? No real tree?”
She tried to remember how to speak, but she wasn’t prepared for Ethan this close up, offering his services. “Not in the budget. It’s too much of a hassle, too.”
“I’ll get a tree.”
“Oh my God, you guys, it’s about time. I’m dying of starvation.” Her sister appeared at the top of the hall and then marched forward, grabbed the bags, and groaned as she walked toward the kitchen. “Whole Foods, really? I was thinking more along the lines of McDonald’s.”
“I’d rather die, Dani,” Ethan said dryly as he hung up his coat.
Dani was opening the takeout containers, making faces as she looked in each box and laid them out on the black marble counters.
“Dani, maybe you should say thanks.”
Her sister rolled her eyes. She settled on a sandwich with a reluctant huff. “Thanks for the food. I know it must be hard when you’re old to think of what young people might like to eat.”
“Well, you might not get to be old if you eat garbage.” His voice was laced with a smile, and Allie watched him. He dealt with her sister like she was amusing. He wasn’t the least bit bothered.
“Wine?” Ethan asked, turning to her.
“Sure,” Dani answered before she could.
“Not you,” he said with a laugh.
“Yes, please. You may feel the need to drink on a regular basis now that my sister has moved in,” Allie said. Ethan took out the wine glasses and poured while she took out dishes and forks.
“I’m going to my room,” Dani said, almost out of the kitchen.
“You’re not eating food in our room.”
“It’s fine. Cleaning lady comes in every morning at nine.”
“This is the life,” Dani whispered as she exited the room.
“Where do you want to sit?” Ethan asked as he helped himself to a sandwich and salad. Allie picked up the same for herself.
“I’m easy. Wherever.”
He grinned. “Easy is hardly how I’d describe you.” He led the way into the living room and she followed him, picking up her wineglass. Hook followed them, in the hopes he’d get handouts she was sure. They settled on the dark leather couch. Ethan had the fireplace going and only the dim glow of a table lamp lit the large space, but the city lights helped illuminate the rest of the apartment. Again that intimacy they’d never shared was back. Snow fell in swirling patterns outside the windows, and she felt as though they were in a protective, warm cocoon.
She took a sip of wine, and they ate in silence for a few moments. Everything was delicious. Things could have been very different tonight if he hadn’t rescued them.
“I’d never been to Haven House. It’s an impressive place.”
She nodded. “It is. Almost one hundred kids right now, at capacity. It’s a sad time of year for most of them, so we’re busy trying to make it a special year even if they’re on their own.”
“Do they just walk in off the street?”
“Most of the time. It takes a lot for some of them. Many of these kids are so dejected, and depending how long they’ve been on the street, it can be really hard to reach them. But when you do—when they finally start to open up—it’s like reaching a whole new person. And usually it’s from that point that their life starts taking off. No one wants to be on the street, especially a teen. When we provide them with a bed that’s their own, food, and showers, they learn to trust again. That’s why I’m so afraid of this place shutting down, Ethan.” She was horrified at the tears that seemed to appear out of nowhere in her eyes. She had no idea what Ethan was thinking, but his face went a few shades less than his usual tan.
He ran his hand over his jaw. “I, uh, I still need to see what I can do to help out.”
She nodded. “I haven’t said a word to the kids. We’re not going to unless we have no choice. I don’t want anyone freaking out at this point, and we have a few vulnerable teens at the moment.”
He cleared his throat and put down his sandwich. “What about moving the shelter to a different location?”
She shook her head. “Where? We’re right downtown. There isn’t another place that’s large enough to support us, or at least without having to make significant renovations, and we don’t have the time or money for that. And just the thought of such a big change, of uprooting them, is awful. People know where we are. The shelter has been in that location for fifty years, since it opened. Kids know where to find us. To move…”