Hide Away by Iris Johansen Page B

chances.”
    She nodded. “I like that. It makes me feel safe about you.”
    â€œAbout us.”
    She smiled as she transferred the eggs to the frying pan. “But he doesn’t really know me. I can tell how he feels about you.”
    â€œFeeling takes time to build.” Joe had said something like that last night. “But you can trust him.”
    She nodded. “And he doesn’t mind me playing my violin.”
    â€œWhich evidently means more to you than all his protective instincts.”
    â€œYes. I have to learn to take care of myself now, but if I couldn’t play my violin…”
    â€œI don’t imagine you have any problem with anyone’s objecting to your playing.”
    â€œYou’d be surprised. Not everyone likes the violin. Not everyone likes music.”
    â€œThen I pity them.”
    â€œSo do I.” She scooped the eggs on a plate and added bacon and toast. “I think they must be empty inside.” She put the plate in front of Eve. “But that’s just me. And I have to be polite if I run across someone like that. Elena said it’s rude to intrude on someone’s space. Do you want some orange juice?”
    â€œI can get—”
    â€œI’m right here.” Cara headed for the refrigerator. “Anything else?”
    Eve’s lips turned up at the corners. “No, you’ve met all my desires.”
    â€œI hope so.” That brilliant smile was back. “Because you’ve met mine.” She poured the orange juice. “And I cheated you out of dinner last night after Joe came in with my violin. Joe and I were starved this morning, so we ate before he went out hunting for any bad guys wandering around.”
    â€œI’m a little hungry myself.” She started to eat. “Good heavens, these eggs are delicious. What did you do to them?”
    â€œMushrooms and a dash of chili powder. And I crumbled up a little bacon, too.”
    â€œThey’re absolutely wonderful.” She supposed she should start thinking more about diet. “And healthy, too. Lots of protein. Thank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome. I’ll just wash up these dishes and…”
    â€œJust toss them in the dishwasher,” Eve said. “But you might go and clean up. When I went back to the bedroom last night, I looked up the nearest church. It’s St. Michael’s, and they have an eleven o’clock Mass. Do you think you can make it?”
    â€œI can make it.” She was putting dishes into the dishwasher with the speed of light. “I have to go take a shower. And I don’t have a dress I can wear. I guess I’ll just have to wear my jeans. Elena always liked me to dress up a little when we went to church. She said that it showed respect to God, and it was a kind of celebration.”
    â€œWe’ll go shopping and make sure you have one next time,” Eve said. “And I think both Elena and God will forgive you for a lack of respect this time.”
    â€œI do, too.” Cara was flying down the hall. “I’ll be out in thirty minutes, okay?”
    â€œVery much okay.” She watched the door slam behind Cara.
    Slamming doors, excitement, and the wonder of the young. So much better than the intensity, the sadness, the wariness that she had seen in Cara before. A foreshadowing of the Cara who could be. It warmed the heart.
    But that sadness was still with Cara, and going to pray for her Elena would help. Thirty minutes, Cara had said, and Eve wasn’t dressed either. She hurriedly finished her breakfast and started back toward her bedroom.
    *   *   *
    Joe still wasn’t back when Eve and Cara got into the Toyota forty minutes later. She called him as she was backing out of the driveway. “Everything all right?”
    â€œYes. Just being thorough. The clock is ticking. They’ve had over a day to start moving. I should be back at the cottage