Page 16 of Running to You

“Starving.”

The three of them worked together on breakfast while she sat at the table like the Queen of Sheba.

She offered to help, even standing, before Sam shot her a look. “Don’t get up, Eliza.” His voice was…emotionless. “You’re hurt.”

Not that badly, but she felt like she’d used her daily energy stores just getting down the stairs. Maybe she’d feel better after she ate.

Sam set a mug of coffee in front of her. By the look of it, he’d already added the cream she loved. Probably the sugar too. He knew how she liked it.

He didn’t linger or give her a good-morning kiss. Just scurried back into the kitchen.

She sipped. “It’s perfect. Thanks, babe.”

He nodded, not meeting her eyes, and opened the refrigerator.

Within minutes, an egg casserole, a basket of biscuits, a plate of bacon dripping onto paper towels, and a bowl of fruit were on the table. Not to mention butter, honey, ketchup, and salsa.

What else could a body want?

Before anybody reached for the food, Daniel and Camilla held their hands out.

“Let’s pray,” Daniel said.

He held her fingers, careful not to hurt her wrist.

Sam took her other hand, his warm palm covering hers completely. The touch, gentle and familiar, brought a tingle to her eyes that had her bowing her head, thankful the prayer gave her an excuse to hide her face.

Daniel spoke simple words of blessing over the food and thanked God for protecting Eliza and bringing her there the night before. She’d never been comfortable with prayer in the past, but this one made her feel safe and welcome.

The prayer ended, and everybody dug in.

She took a tiny portion of eggs, a single slice of bacon, one biscuit, and a spoonful of fruit. At the first bite of eggs, she realized exactly how hungry she was.

Famished.

The others talked about nothing important—the weather, the leaves, which were starting to change. Which meant it was…September? October?

Okay, that felt right.

They talked about Zoë and Jeremy, Daniel and Camilla’s kids. Jeremy was starting at UNH in the fall, Sam’s alma mater. They were in town looking for a house but, apparently, lived in Oklahoma City.

Occasionally, one of them would try to draw her into the conversation, but she couldn’t add much. Nothing she wanted to say felt right, as if the three of them were living in one world, and she was living in a different one. A different world with different rules and different history, and…

What was wrong with her?

They seemed to realize her confusion and didn’t push.

Though the biscuit had looked delicious, her one bite felt heavy and uncomfortable on her stomach. She set it aside and finished everything else on her plate.

At a break in the conversation, she asked, “May I have more eggs?” Her voice sounded strangely small, like a little girl’s.

The three of them looked at her as if she were crazy.

“That’s okay,” she said quickly. “I’m full.”

“You can have as much as you want, Eliza.”

She squirmed under Sam’s scrutiny.