DAHLIAI waited anxiously for him. I pretended I wasn't keeping my ear to the ground, listening for any knock on the door.

None yet.

I tried to busy myself with making coffee, just to calm nerves. I was just serving myself a cup when he appeared in the doorway, looking tired.

How had he managed to get into the house without me hearing?

"Hi." I greeted, ignoring the increased buzzing in the pit of my stomach, taking a cup from the cupboard, rinsing it and pouring hot, dark beverage into the ...