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Chapter 1
“THIRTY MINUTES,” LENA murmured “That has to be a record”
Lena Clark stared at the Cascade Mountains, the postcard-perfect backdrop to the backyard barbecue on the verge of turning into a full-blown party Hero, her golden retriever, sat at her feet by the h the cleared field behind the sprawling tiest tion, could hardly be classified as a “yard” Inside the Portland city limits, where she’d lived on and off for the past six years— and deployrassy areas behind their homes
But she’d escaped Portland And landed in Independence Falls, hoping to find her way to normal Now she was thirty minutes closer
“I talked to half the people here,” Lena continued, her fingers brushing her dog’s golden fur Hero’s ears perked up, his head cocked to one side in what she’d co expression A stuffed yellow duck, the doggie toy she’d bought to keep hiled without running away and hiding”
She hadn’t shaken a single hand, and Hero had been by her side the entire ti victories At twenty-eight, she kneas not won overnight It took time, bravery, and deters Even if she had lost more than she liked to adet close to her
“Hey, Lena Are you OK?”
She turned at the sound of Katie Suathered on the blue stone patio “Fine I just needed some space from the party”
And a chance to talk to her dog
OK, so maybe normal was still out of reach
“Georgia toldfor a place to stay,” Katie said
“Just for a night,with a job and her equilibriu as Nate is visiting his grandmother”
“You think they et down and dirty on the kitchen table while the three-year-old is out of town?”
“Yes I do” Lena looked up the hill Eric stood behind Georgia, his arainst his body Georgia held a beer in one hand, her other reaching back, brushing against Eric’s leg as if she had to touch hi for those two—if their houest who hts, and more than a week later, still hadn’t left
“The apart as you need it,” Katie said
“Your brothers won’t mind?” Lena slipped her hands into the hidden pockets in her long halter dress Katie still lived with her three older brothers on their faest of the three, was in the hospital right now recuperating fro accident that had landed hi out the aparter Lena hadn’t met Chad yet, but she knew the family was close and the brothers were protective of their little sister
Liaia’s older brother and the ht not like the idea either “And you don’t need it?”
“Liam and I have other plans,” Katie said “Far away from my brothers’ watchful eyes There is a spare key under a rock to the left of the door Once you’re inside, ht and take the key upstairs with you That is the in-use signal”
“But Hero—”
Katie’s expression turned serious “Lena, I would never ask you to leave Hero behind He’s welcome in the apartment too”
Lena felt a rush of relief The thought of leaving her golden retriever outside, even for a night, sent her barreling toward panic “Thank you”
“You’re welco to take a hike Nothing crazy I made her promise”
“Sure” Lena knew all about Georgia’s need for adventure, the drive that had followed Georgia home from a war zone And Lena understood it too Probably more than most, even if she didn’t share the same pull PTSD refused to follow a linear, predeteria Those symptoms were on Lena’s list, but anxiety topped the chart