Coming Home(188)

She wasn’t the one who needed saving this time.

“Leah,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I could suffer through anything if you were my reward.”

A smile curved her lips before she cupped her hand over her mouth and burst into tears.

Danny was out of his seat in an instant, walking around to her side of the table, and she stood, throwing her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the floor and buried his face in her hair.

“My sweet girl,” he whispered.

Her sob was muffled against the side of his neck, and he reached up and ran his hand over the back of her hair, glancing over at the guard standing by the door. He was watching them before his eyes found Danny’s.

For a moment, they just looked at each other.

And then the guard gave him a knowing look, followed by a quick nod. He shifted his body, focusing his attention on the other side of the room.

So Danny got to hold her for a few more seconds than was permitted.

The most enriching and restorative seconds of his entire life.





“Thank you,” Leah said as she reached for the glass of Pinot Grigio the waiter handed her, immediately bringing it to her lips.

“Another for you, miss?” he asked, looking at Alexis.

She eyed Leah before she smiled up at him sweetly. “No, thank you, I’m fine.”

“Okay then. Your food will be right out,” he said before he turned and left the table.

Alexis turned, her eyes landing on Leah’s half empty second glass of wine.

“Don’t judge me,” Leah said, placing the glass on the table. “I had a rough week. My classes are out of control.”

“Well, you’re off now. You should just relax. Don’t even grade anything if you don’t have to.”

“I have to finish one more class of essays, but after that I’m not doing a damn thing. I swear, the person who created February break did so to save lives.” Leah twirled the stem of her wine glass as she fought the urge to finish it off.

Alexis laughed as she glanced down at her cell phone, trying to be discreet but failing miserably.

Leah smirked. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

She blushed, realizing she was caught. “I know,” she said, slipping her phone into her purse. “I’m sure he’s fine. You’re right. I just…you know…you think he’d text me if he had a question, right?”

“Yes, I do,” Leah said, trying to stifle a laugh. “He’s fine. They’re fine. Don’t worry.”

Alexis nodded and exhaled heavily as she brought her glass to her lips, perking up as the waiter approached the table with their food.

Leah found it hysterical, the mini panic attacks Alexis had whenever she left the baby with Christopher. In her defense, something always seemed to go wrong while he was watching her, but in her brother’s defense, they were always inconsequential—and hilarious—things. The first time he watched her, he somehow managed to put her diaper on backward. Another time, after the baby had gotten food on the outfit she was wearing, he had changed her clothes, and Alexis came home from the hair salon to find Savanna wearing her very beautiful—and very expensive—christening dress while crawling around outside.

“So,” Leah said, “tell me what you need me to do for the party.”

“I think we’re all set,” she said. “You’re making your spinach artichoke dip, right?”

Leah nodded, and Alexis looked up at the ceiling, running through some invisible list in her mind. “Yeah, so I think we’re good. If you could come a little bit early to help me set up, that would be awesome,” she said, twirling her fork in her pasta. She froze with the bite halfway to her mouth. “Is it supposed to be this crazy planning a one-year-old’s birthday party? I don’t even want to think about her sweet sixteen.”