Heart's Haven by Lois Richer

was a break between songs. They began hassling Cassidy. Their banter rippled while Ty studied her. Her records put her at twenty-nine. Six years ago—she’d gone to Europe when she was twenty-three. A tender age for a world traveler.
    Yet in Cassidy’s case, it fit. She wore maturity like it was an outlook she’d had for a long time. He remembered she’d talked about sisters, raising sisters. Had it happened then?
    He wanted to learn more.
    “Ty?” Two community workers, friends of Gail’s, had organized the evening. He’d left them in charge, but now they wanted him to talk to the crowd.
    Ty pushed away his questions about Cassidy and concentrated on explaining what the Haven was about and invited those who wanted to participate or help to sign the sheets by the door.
    “If you want to hang around, we’ll be enjoying fresh pizzas as soon as they’re ready,” he offered before turning the microphone over.
    With music filling the room, the workers started board games, initiated shuffleboard and generally saw to it that everyone was involved. In the kitchen, the kids gathered around the center island as Cassidy showed them how to roll out pizza dough.
    Ty leaned against a wall, admiring her easy rapport as she coaxed and cajoled each kid. Jack flourished under her tutelage and was soon chopping vegetables like a pro. But the size of the knife he was wielding worried Ty, so he pushed away from the wall, ready to intercede.
    “Leave them be.”
    “It’s dangerous, Mac.”
    “They’re not babies. Most of them probably carry switchblades longer than that. Besides, I doubt Jack would appreciate your interference in front of his friends.”
    Ty frowned at him. “But—”
    “Look.” Mac nudged his shoulder.
    Ty twisted, watched Jack lift a knife from a smaller boy’s hands. The boy’s face darkened with anger but before he could say anything, Jack pointed out that they had chopped up enough toppings. He handed the boy a block of cheese and a grater, dared him to shred the whole thing.
    “Jack’s finding his way. Don’t interfere, Ty.”
    Ty studied the boy until he felt someone watching him.
    Cassidy.
    She arched one eyebrow, as if to ask if he approved, and Ty nodded. She continued explaining how much of her homemade sauce to place on the dough, but she kept returning to Jack, teasing, brushing flour off his nose, hugging his shoulder. Jack glowed.
    “She’s good with him.”
    Ty nodded. Maybe a little too good. Envy pricked his ego as he watched their easy camaraderie. Cassidy made communicating with Jack look so simple, and yet Ty had never found anything more difficult.
    Vigilance from twenty-odd pairs of eyes made sure the pizza was cooked to perfection. Under the chef’s direction, the kids served everyone a steaming slice before they sampled their own. Laughter echoed through the room.
    “Makes it worth all the work, don’t you think?” Cassidy stood by Ty, surveying the energized room.
    “I guess.”
    “You don’t sound convinced.”
    His old nemesis, fear, chewed at its leash, broke free.
    “I’m not.”
    Her face sobered as Cassidy studied him. “What’s wrong now?”
    “The Haven is supposed to be a place for people who can’t help themselves.”
    “And?” Her lips crimped tight.
    “I’m not convinced these kids need help. They have nothing to do but make trouble and they’re using us for a good time.” He watched Jack pick up his guitar, follow the instructions of an older boy. “What happens next week when we can’t amuse them? Or feed them?”
    The silver in her eyes melted to liquid mercury. She grabbed his arm, drew him out of the room and into the hall.
    “Is this really about feeding some kids, having a little fun, Ty? Or are you upset about something else?” Cassidy sounded irritated, but underneath her frustration, a deeper emotion was clear. “Maybe you’ve never spun your wheels in a neighborhood where there doesn’t seem to be any way out. Maybe you can’t