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Gabriel sat up straight, the polar opposite of Blair’s diminished appearance. He cleared his throat. “I’m endlessly thankful that in recent years my life has blossomed into something I can honestly say I am proud of. Thanks to Iris and her beautiful family, of course.” He gave a winning smile, and Iris’ mother squeezed his arm again.
Iris felt Blair shift uncomfortably next to her, and without consciously meaning to, her hand brushed his under the table. Her breath caught when he didn’t pull away.
She couldn’t have said what her mother and Evette had to be thankful for. Her mind was far away, her thoughts racing as she realized just how complicated her little chosen family had become.
When her eyes met Gabriel’s across the table and his smile faltered, she feared it was only about to get worse.
10
Absolutely not.” Gabriel’s pronouncement hit Iris like a slap across the face.
“He’s living in a hammock under a bridge, Gabriel! Where’s your humanity?” She clenched her hands around the back of one of their Scandinavian kitchen chairs, unrelenting.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s discarded by the roadside along with your sense of loyalty.”
“I called the church earlier, but they said they can’t house anyone for legal reasons. Would you really let him freeze to death when we have a spare bedroom? Is that the kind of people we are?”
Gabriel groaned, throwing his arms into the air. “He isn’t some stray you found on the street and can just take home for a pet, Iris.”
She gaped at him. “That’s not what I’m doing! You’re heartless.”
“And you’re foolish. You’ve only just met, and you’re willing to risk your safety, our safety—”
“Then please explain to me why you don’t trust him.”
He opened his mouth. Closed it again.
“Is it just because he’s homeless?”
Gabriel scrubbed his hands over his face. “No, it’s not that.”
“Look.” Iris softened, her voice taking on a gentler tone. “You were there for me when I was struggling. You didn’t even hesitate.”
It would be impossible to fully express how grateful she was to Gabriel for all he’d done for her, lessening so much of her burden with his help during the renovation. Before he’d turned up, Iris had been certain that it was only a matter of time before the cottage would collapse on top of her, burying her beneath the rubble.
“I’m just asking you to please not look the other way from someone else’s suffering.”
Gabriel’s jaw twitched. “This is different, Iris.”
The sound of tentative footsteps broke into their argument, and they turned to watch Blair enter the kitchen from the direction of the bathroom. He was still wearing his brown winter coat. They’d arrived home from Audrey’s place just ten minutes earlier, and Iris could tell Blair was afraid of overstaying his welcome.
“Blair,” Iris started, stepping over to him. “Would you like to stay with us? Just for a little while,” she added, eyeing Gabriel in silent warning.
Blair hesitated, glancing around the room as if seeking an answer in the drapery. “I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes, leaning back against the counter with his arms crossed.
“It wouldn’t be any trouble,” Iris assured him. “We can’t let you keep sleeping under that bridge. You’ll freeze.”
“A homeless shelter is always a viable option,” Gabriel quipped.
Iris grimaced. There weren’t any homeless shelters for miles, and Gabriel knew it. “Here, let me take that.” She reached for Blair’s coat and hung it on the rack beside her and Gabriel’s jackets. “Sit down, both of you.”
She must have looked quite stern, because they both complied without complaint. Neither spoke as Iris filled the kettle and set it on the old gas stove. She settled in at the table, elbows resting on her orange placemat.
“It’s settled.” She smiled at Blair, who returned the gesture hesitantly. “We’ll have tea, and then I can show you around, okay?”
Blair nodded. “Only if you’re certain it's not an imposition.”
