1822 (6:22 p.m.)
Madison Residence
Lebanon, Vermont

Harm double-checked the directions in his hand, then turned left onto a long, winding driveway. He reached over and gently shook Mac’s shoulder. “Mac, wake up.”

Mac groaned and opened her eyes. “We’re here already?”

Harm nodded.

Yawning, Mac sat up in her seat and studied the two-story house they were approaching. It seemed different from the last time she’d seen it, somewhat gloomy. With a small sigh, she unbuckled her seat belt.

Harm pulled up to the house and turned off the ignition. Turning, he gazed at Chloe as she slept in the backseat. Almost reluctantly, he reached back to gently tap her leg. “We’re home, sweetheart.”

With a low moan, she shifted and woke up. Rubbing her eyes, she grabbed her backpack and Walkman and prepared to get out of the car. Before she opened her door, her eyes met Harm’s. They were filled with pain, worry, and anguish. She tore her gaze away and pushed the car door open.

Mac inserted her key into the house’s front door, and opened it slowly. She was immediately greeted by Jingo, who nearly knocked her over in his excitement. “Hey, buddy.” She rubbed the dog’s head affectionately, then picked up her suitcase and entered the house.

It was so quiet. And it was dark. The blinds were closed, and the lack of light made the house seem eerie. Mac hurriedly turned on a lamp, then set her suitcase down next to the coffee table.

She heard footsteps behind her, and turned to see Chloe march past her to the staircase. Without even a word to Mac, she climbed the staircase and shut her bedroom door.

Harm walked in from the hallway just in time to watch the incident. He glanced over at Mac and saw the hurt expression on her face as she stared at the closed door. He stepped over and put an arm around her. “It’ll be OK, Mac. Just give her time.”

~*~*~*~*

Later On
2213 (10:13 p.m.)

Harm closed the novel he’d been reading and rubbed his eyes. Turning off his bedside lamp, he settled back against the pillows.

He was nearly asleep when he heard the noise. At first, he thought maybe his ears had deceived him. After a few minutes without another sound, he relaxed and closed his eyes. It wasn’t long before it came again. He sat up, listening intently. When he heard it a third time, he crawled out of bed and left the guestroom. The sounds were becoming more frequent now. He followed them down the hall, and they led him to Chloe’s room. He put his ear to the doorjamb, and heard the unmistakable sniff of someone crying. Quietly opening the door, he walked into the bedroom.

Chloe was sitting on her bed, staring out the window. She was hugging her knees to her chest, and tears were streaming down her face. She didn’t even look up when Harm entered the room.

He sat down beside her, and she immediately scooted away from him. Sighing, Harm looked down at his hands. “Chloe, why are you shutting Mac and I out?”

“Because…” Chloe’s voice was hard and bitter. “You don’t understand.”

“Yes, we do, sweetheart.”

“No, you don’t!”

Harm took a deep breath. “Chloe, I lost my father when I was six years old.”

Chloe swiped at her eyes. “I know.”

“It was the hardest experience of my life.” Harm paused, mustering the courage to go on. “I felt confused and alone. But, thankfully, my mother was strong enough to comfort me despite her own grief. She’s the one who helped me through it all. She was willing to listen to me.” Harm turned to look at Chloe. “I felt so much better when I was able to talk to someone.”

Chloe finally met his gaze. “I can’t.”

“Why?” he asked gently.

“Because every time I trust someone, they die.” Chloe’s eyes squeezed shut as more tears fell, and she began to sob.

“Oh, Chloe.” Harm reached out and took her into his arms, pulling her onto his lap. She buried her face in his shirt, her tears soaking the fabric as he gently ran his fingers through her light brown hair. “I know why you feel this way,” he told her. “I was the same after my dad died.”

After a few minutes, Chloe’s crying subsided. They sat in silence for a while. Then, when she spoke, it was almost in a whisper. “I just wish I could’ve said goodbye…” she began.

Harm wrapped his arms around her as she started to pour her heart out to him.

~*~*~*~*

Next Morning
0728 (7:28 a.m.)

Harm woke the next morning to the sound of birds singing outside the bedroom window. He tried to reposition himself and go back to sleep, but the chirping persisted. “Stupid birds,” he muttered, opening his eyes. But when his gaze fell upon the young girl sleeping in his arms, all thoughts of the cardinals vanished.

He was resting against the headboard of the bed, and Chloe was situated alongside him. Her head was resting on his chest, and for the first time since Saturday, her face wore a peaceful expression.

Usually, Harm would’ve immediately gotten out of bed and gone for a morning run, but today he was in no rush to get up. He leaned his head back against the headboard and turned to look out the window. What he saw nearly took his breath away. The view was gorgeous. Horses were grazing in the spacious pasture, and snow-capped mountain peaks rose in the distance. The sky was a brilliant blue, with fluffy white clouds dotting the horizon.

Harm sat staring at the scenery until Chloe stirred. He instinctively placed a soothing hand on her back, and she soon relaxed again.

His thoughts drifted back to last night’s events. He and Chloe had talked for hours, eventually falling asleep a little after two a.m. She’d told him everything - her emotions, her fears. Listening to her, he’d come to realize just how alike they were. As she’d revealed the reason behind her fear of trusting others, he’d discovered that he felt exactly the same way.

His father’s death had placed a permanent scar on his heart, and for years he had avoided relationships, petrified that if he did come to love and trust another person, he or she would die, forcing him to endure his emotional torment all over again.

But then he’d met Diane, and everything changed. She was unlike anyone he’d ever known, and in her own, quiet way, she’d persuaded him to open up his heart. He had, and as they’d grown closer, he’d begun to believe that he could love someone without the relationship ending in tragedy. Wrong again. She was murdered, and his whole world was shattered. Overcome with grief, he’d built a wall around his heart, determined to protect it from more agony.

And Mac. From the day she entered his life, he knew there was something different about her: something mysterious, yet special. As they’d begun working together and grown to know each other better, they had helped each other overcome emotional demons and developed a strong mutual trust. It was a connection that, though put through rough times and strenuous disagreements, could never be broken. And now their friendship was finally turning into something more, and he knew, deep in his heart, that loving her was worth the risk of losing her. He wasn’t afraid anymore.

He looked down at Chloe again, and smiled softly as he moved a strand of hair away from her forehead. It was amazing: after years of trying to figure out his emotions to no avail, a thirteen year old girl had accomplished it in a single night - without even trying. “Thanks, Chloe,” he whispered. All he got in response was a soft snore.

His gaze drifted around the room. Horse pictures and N Sync posters covered the walls, along with a full-size USMC flag. A “Girls Rock” T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and two tank tops were strewn on the floor close to the closet. A collection of photos took up the top of the dresser. His favorite from the group was one of Mac and Chloe, taken a few Christmases ago. Mac was in her flannel cowboy pajamas, and Chloe was wearing an oversized “Semper Fi” T-shirt (a birthday present from her big sister), and a pair of plaid shorts. Each had an arm around the other, heads close together. But Harm’s favorite feature of the photo was that Chloe had reached up and held two fingers above Mac’s head, giving her ‘bunny ears’ as the picture had been shot. The mischievous grin on Chloe’s face was priceless.

Harm had to smile as he gazed at the photograph. Despite the pain that Chloe was suffering right now, she would eventually be able to move past it and enjoy the rest of her childhood with Mac. The close bond between them guaranteed that. And the thought that Mac had invited him to join in their lives warmed his heart. Even though he hadn’t made a decision yet, he had a hunch about what it would be.