~31~
Sheridan whirled around at the gentle, hesitant touch of a hand on her arm.
Fancy's blue eyes were soft with kindness. Over her shoulder, Hank's brown eyes mirrored her expression. "It's time to go."
Stepping around Fancy, Hank held out his arm and nodded to the carry-on Sheridan shouldered. "I'll take that. It's the least I can do since you ladies so graciously invited me along on your trip."
Through the red haze of her sadness, a tiny smile tugged at the corners of Sheridan's mouth at Fancy's disbelieving eye roll; Hank had all but invited himself. "Thanks, Hank," she murmured, letting him take the bag.
"For you, Beautiful?" Hank lifted Sheridan's chin with his fingers, offering her an encouraging smile. "Anything." Pressing a kiss to her hair when she surprised him with a hug, he met Fancy's wide blue gaze over her shoulder and raised his brows. Hank let the bag slide from his arm and wrapped his arms tight around Sheridan. "You think I'm kidding?" he squeezed her shoulder in emphasis. "Use me. Abuse me. I'll like it," he winked, causing her to laugh and Fancy to roll her eyes again as she handed the bag back to him with a barely perceptible nod.
"Just remember," Fancy warned, threading her arms through Sheridan's arm and gently pulling her from Hank's embrace toward the gate, "you asked for it. Right, Aunt Sheridan?"
"Right." The light of gratitude shone in Sheridan's tearful blue eyes as Hank hurried to fall into step beside them, and Fancy filled her ears with excited chatter about cute little purses and to-die-for shoes. When she would have looked back, Hank's firm hand at the small of her back gave her strength even as her feet betrayed her and refused to move forward.
"What's that saying?" His brown eyes were still kind but filled with an iron will that brooked no argument. "How does it go again? If you love someone…"
With a determined step forward, Sheridan finished for him, her voice but a faint whisper.
"Set them free."
Hmm.
Just what are Hank and Fancy up to? Also, how do you like them as allies?
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Thanks so much for reading!