caught sight of Seth, the woman dropped her gaze to the ground almost immediately.
Did she know what Seth was? Or did she just do it without thinking?
“You’ve been such a help, these past few weeks, dear. I wanted to bring you something but it’s been so late when you’ve been coming back, I didn’t want to wake the children to give these to you.”
Maisie glanced past Mrs. Wells to the corridor, hoping Brian wasn’t within earshot.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have, really.”
Mrs. Wells pressed something soft into her hands. Knitted...gloves? Maybe leg warmers, for very thin legs.
“They’re arm warmers, dear. You can slide them on, all the way up to your shoulder, or leave them slouched around your forearms and wrists. I left them with just the thumb hole to keep them in place so your fingers would be free to do your work around the clinic.”
Handy, and good to keep her fingers clear to squeeze a trigger. Cozy too.
“Found a few balls of yarn while the weather was warmer,” Mrs. Wells continued. “Enough to make scarves for the children and something to keep you warm as well. You do such a good job of watching over us.”
Well, Mrs. Wells had her hands full with the children.
“Mr. Wells still out?”
“He should be home soon.” The strain in Mrs. Wells’s voice prevented Maisie from asking further.
Mr. Wells had been gone two days. With the hard cold leaving frost on the pavement, it wasn’t likely Mr. Wells had been spending the nights away from shelter. Still, he’d been going out every day looking for work. Maisie didn’t want to believe he’d abandoned his small family...
Maisie did a mental count. She might be able to “accidentally” purchase enough supper for all of them tomorrow. Besides, she could go light for a few days after the solid meal Seth had bought her.
As if he’d sensed her thoughts had turned to him, the lanky werewolf stirred at her side.
“I’m sorry, my mind is wandering. Mrs. Wells, this is Seth.”
“How do you do?” Mrs. Wells gave Seth a glassy-eyed glance, more polite than truly seeing him.
Maisie guessed Mrs. Wells didn’t even notice the way her gaze slid over and away from the big werewolf.
“Nice to meet you,” Seth answered, playing nice.
Maisie got the impression from his awkward tone that he didn’t do it often.
“Didn’t you see Maisie home last night?” Mrs. Wells apparently missed very little, even if she wouldn’t look Seth in the eye.
Shite.
Mrs. Wells gave Maisie an apologetic smile but directed her words to Seth. “Hard not to hear the fuss when you were stomping about checking the boards to the windows and going on about entry points.”
“It’s a good thing to sleep where a person can see all the entrances to a room.” Seth didn’t seem unsettled by the commentary.
“It’s a good thing to see someone taking care of Maisie for once.” Mrs. Wells clucked and reached out to brush a loose hair away from Maisie’s face. It took effort not to fidget.
“No need.” Maisie had worked hard to make sure no one would need to look after her again. No one should put themselves before her, or die for her.
“Now, Maisie.” Mrs. Wells shook a finger under Maisie’s nose. “You’re far too young to be going on through life alone, no matter how you think you can take care of yourself.”
“I’m more concerned about getting through the next month, let alone life beyond that.” A change of subject was becoming an imperative. “The landlord stopped by today. That’s why Brian is up at the front desk shuffling through papers. The bastard says he has to raise the rent again and wants to send in his bullies to clear out any squatters in the building so he can renovate and sell the flats to trophy hunters. Otherwise, it’s back to the collecting on insurance threat.”
Mrs. Wells’s hands flew to her mouth and her eyes widened in alarm.
Maisie reached out to her immediately, took the older woman’s chill hands into her
Did she know what Seth was? Or did she just do it without thinking?
“You’ve been such a help, these past few weeks, dear. I wanted to bring you something but it’s been so late when you’ve been coming back, I didn’t want to wake the children to give these to you.”
Maisie glanced past Mrs. Wells to the corridor, hoping Brian wasn’t within earshot.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have, really.”
Mrs. Wells pressed something soft into her hands. Knitted...gloves? Maybe leg warmers, for very thin legs.
“They’re arm warmers, dear. You can slide them on, all the way up to your shoulder, or leave them slouched around your forearms and wrists. I left them with just the thumb hole to keep them in place so your fingers would be free to do your work around the clinic.”
Handy, and good to keep her fingers clear to squeeze a trigger. Cozy too.
“Found a few balls of yarn while the weather was warmer,” Mrs. Wells continued. “Enough to make scarves for the children and something to keep you warm as well. You do such a good job of watching over us.”
Well, Mrs. Wells had her hands full with the children.
“Mr. Wells still out?”
“He should be home soon.” The strain in Mrs. Wells’s voice prevented Maisie from asking further.
Mr. Wells had been gone two days. With the hard cold leaving frost on the pavement, it wasn’t likely Mr. Wells had been spending the nights away from shelter. Still, he’d been going out every day looking for work. Maisie didn’t want to believe he’d abandoned his small family...
Maisie did a mental count. She might be able to “accidentally” purchase enough supper for all of them tomorrow. Besides, she could go light for a few days after the solid meal Seth had bought her.
As if he’d sensed her thoughts had turned to him, the lanky werewolf stirred at her side.
“I’m sorry, my mind is wandering. Mrs. Wells, this is Seth.”
“How do you do?” Mrs. Wells gave Seth a glassy-eyed glance, more polite than truly seeing him.
Maisie guessed Mrs. Wells didn’t even notice the way her gaze slid over and away from the big werewolf.
“Nice to meet you,” Seth answered, playing nice.
Maisie got the impression from his awkward tone that he didn’t do it often.
“Didn’t you see Maisie home last night?” Mrs. Wells apparently missed very little, even if she wouldn’t look Seth in the eye.
Shite.
Mrs. Wells gave Maisie an apologetic smile but directed her words to Seth. “Hard not to hear the fuss when you were stomping about checking the boards to the windows and going on about entry points.”
“It’s a good thing to sleep where a person can see all the entrances to a room.” Seth didn’t seem unsettled by the commentary.
“It’s a good thing to see someone taking care of Maisie for once.” Mrs. Wells clucked and reached out to brush a loose hair away from Maisie’s face. It took effort not to fidget.
“No need.” Maisie had worked hard to make sure no one would need to look after her again. No one should put themselves before her, or die for her.
“Now, Maisie.” Mrs. Wells shook a finger under Maisie’s nose. “You’re far too young to be going on through life alone, no matter how you think you can take care of yourself.”
“I’m more concerned about getting through the next month, let alone life beyond that.” A change of subject was becoming an imperative. “The landlord stopped by today. That’s why Brian is up at the front desk shuffling through papers. The bastard says he has to raise the rent again and wants to send in his bullies to clear out any squatters in the building so he can renovate and sell the flats to trophy hunters. Otherwise, it’s back to the collecting on insurance threat.”
Mrs. Wells’s hands flew to her mouth and her eyes widened in alarm.
Maisie reached out to her immediately, took the older woman’s chill hands into her
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