LUXURY KNEW HER NAME AGAIN

ANNA

Enoch left twenty minutes later. Anna spent the next hour doing nothing.

She made more coffee. Stared out the window. Sat on the couch and scrolled her phone without reading anything.

Then she wandered around like she was in a museum, touching his things while she imagined she was touching him. The books on the shelf were way more novels than she expected. She saw photos from family events, none with her in them.

She looked at the view from every window. Then decided to unpack.

Her suitcase sat in the corner, untouched. She opened it and stared at the clothes she'd thrown in during her panic-packing. Just looking at them made her tired.

But the wardrobe was right there. It'd be rude not to use it.

She pulled the doors open.

"Oh my God," she whispered.

It wasn't empty. It was full.

Dresses in silk, linen and soft wool hung in rows with colors that made her breath catch. Blouses on one side. Trousers on the other. A whole section of casual clothes that looked like clouds.

Below them: shoes. Rows of shoes. All her size. All perfect.

She touched a sleeve. Then pulled out a simple deep green dress. Held it against herself.

It would fit. The dress was exactly what she'd pick with unlimited money.

She tried the shoes next. Nude heels. Walked to the mirror in her lounge pants, and dream shoes.

And laughed.

There was a note on the top drawer. She hadn't seen it before. Too distracted by the clothes.

For your new start. Welcome home.

She pressed it to her chest. Couldn't name the feeling in her chest.

Her phone rang. She grabbed it without looking, still dazed.

"Anna? Are you in a fashion house?"

Anna pulled the phone away. It was a video call and her back camera was on. Maya's face filled the screen, eyes huge, mouth open. She had seen the wardrobe and all that impossible luxury.

She fumbled for the switch. Her face appeared.

"Maya."

"Don't you dare, turn the camera back." Maya's voice shook with excitement. "Was that your room? Tell me that was your room."

Anna laughed, slightly hysterical. "It seems so."

"It seems so? Anna!"

"He brought me here. The room is mine. Everything in it." She turned the camera back for one second, just to hear Maya scream.

Worth it.

Maya bounced on screen. "Your crush has exquisite taste. Wow."

"He's not my crush," Anna said, rolling her eyes at Maya. "He's my cousin, Maya."

"Your cousin who looks like your last glass of water in a desert when you've been walking for days."

Heat flooded Anna's face. "He does not."

"Uh-huh. I believe you."

She gave up on Maya's sarcasm. "Fine. Want a tour or not?"

"Yes. Slowly. Tell me everything."

Anna walked through the apartment, phone in hand. Maya made sounds of awe and jealousy at everything. When they finished, Anna collapsed on the couch. Maya was in her office, leaning back in her chair.

"So," Maya said. "Your crush is loaded."

"Stop calling him that."

"Your cousin whom you have a massive crush on is loaded. Better?"

"No." Anna laughed.

"Too bad." Maya's grin faded. She said quietly, "I can tell you like him."

"He's my cousin, Maya."

"Distant. And you didn't answer."

Anna opened her mouth to lie. The doorbell rang.

"I have to go," she said, grateful. "Someone's at the door."

"Text me later. Love you." Maya blew kisses and hung up.

Anna got up and went to the door.

A woman stood in the hallway, holding a bag that smelled amazing. She smiled.

"Miss Wade? Mr. Wade asked me to bring you lunch." She handed over the bag. "There's a note."

Anna took it, stammered thanks, and closed the door.

Heavy cardstock. Same as before. She opened it.

I suspect you'd forget to eat. I added a bowl of ice cream the way you like.

She opened the bag. Inside were dishes from her childhood. Food her mother made on Sundays. Her signature family recipes.

She lifted the lids one by one. Steam rose. Her mouth watered.

She sat on the floor and ate straight from the containers.

The rest of the day blurred.

She ate too much. Tried on more clothes just to feel them. Took a bath in the huge tub with salts from a pretty jar. Then lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

For the first time in days, she felt something that wasn't pain.

But Enoch kept creeping in. The way his kindness was undoing her.

Evening came and exhaustion hit. She curled up on the couch with a blanket and a book from his shelf. She watched the grey light fade to dark.

Anna meant to stay awake. Thank him properly. Ask her questions.

But her eyes were heavy. The blanket was soft. The book slipped.

She woke to being lifted. Strong arms under her knees and back. The world tilting.

Warmth against her. His scent. His breath. Her awareness came back slowly. She found she was in Enoch's arms. Being carried like a child.

"Dearest," she murmured, half-asleep. The word slipped out.

He paused. Arms tightened slightly like he didn't want to let go. Then kept walking, through the apartment to her room, laying her down gently.

Covers came up and the light dimmed. She heard footsteps moving away.

"Enoch," she whispered.

He stopped at the door.

She sat up slowly. "Thank you. For today. For everything."

Silence. Had she imagined him?

Then, softly in the dark: "Sleep well, Anna."

The door closed. She was alone.

She pressed her face into the pillow and smiled in the darkness.