the parking lot?” Dunc grabbed Amanda around the waist. He attempted to shift her back to where she was sitting. It was an awkward move with the table in front of them. “Are you okay, Amanda?” She slid down on the seat next to him and lowered her head.

“I’m okay.” She whispered back.

“Amanda, you are going to have to teach me that one!” Sallie suddenly giggled, trying to break the silence. Dew turned bright red beside her.

Dunc almost quipped that they didn’t need any help in that direction but held his tongue. Instead, he dropped his hand to Amanda’s waist and pulled her to his side. She put her arm around him and leaned against him with a sigh. Dunc could feel her trembling again, but she hadn’t completely locked up.

“Let’s go,” Dunc grumbled after a few more minutes. He wanted to make sure that Joseph was gone and led the way.

***

“So, Amanda, did you get paid?” Dunc didn’t want to ask as he started his car. Amanda squirmed in the seat next to him, not wanting to answer. “Do you know when you will? I know how it is. Jerk clients are always out there.” Amanda clapped her hands together and began wiggling her fingers nervously. “Okay, going to the grocery store,” Dunc grumbled, putting his car into reverse. Some things were more important than pride, like making sure nobody starved in the house next to his.

Amanda did not say a word the entire time they were out. She would have stayed in the car if Dunc hadn’t opened the door and offered her his hand. They walked through the grocery store with Dunc trying to carry on a conversation with Amanda while Dew and Sallie ran around them, following Dunc’s instructions.

“I’m cooking dinner for you tonight at your house.” Dunc was trying everything he could to not make this embarrassing for Amanda. “That’s okay, isn’t it?” She was silent and wouldn’t look at him.

The cart was full in a short amount of time with Dew and Sallie’s help. They checked out, and Amanda watched as Dunc handed the cashier a card to pay more for groceries than she ever had in a month since moving in. The cashier swiped the card, and it was done.

***

Amanda would not talk. She had never been so embarrassed in her life, and that was saying something considering what she had done in the diner. When they got home, she went up to her studio and shut the door to send emails and work. Dunc chose not to bother her and went back to his own home to do the same. They spent the afternoon with Amanda refusing to look in the direction of Dunc’s house. He kept his chair turned to keep an eye on her the entire time.

There was no sign of any payments coming anytime soon. Amanda kept going over her finances. She was annoyed that there were several hundred dollars in her account that was supposedly spent. Yet, the bank never processed the charges. The most notable were all on the day that she had taken Dunc out for his birthday a week ago. She had money, but it couldn’t be spent because she knew she had finished it. Those charges would come out. That’s just how things worked.

Then she thought back to when Dunc took her out. His ‘discounts’ looked suspiciously like everyone gave him what he wanted. He had paid at the grocery store. She saw the card. Or was it all some elaborate show for appearances? She had paid with her card as well, and a week had gone by, and nothing showed up on her account. Amanda stared at her computer screen, trying to figure out what was going on.

A gentle knock came from Amanda’s studio door. “Amanda. Dinner’s ready if you would like to join us.” Then she heard him walking away.

“I’m coming, wait, Dunc!” Amanda got up out of her chair. She couldn’t keep this up any longer. “I have a question!” She opened the door to see him smiling at her, so happy to see her and completely forgot what she was going to say.

“Good evening, Love.” Dunc held a hand out to her. “What did you want to ask?”

Amanda took his hand and smiled. “I don’t remember, but ah.” She sighed. “I’m sorry for ignoring you today. I had a lot to think about.” She glanced back into her studio, and the disappointing email window opened on her screen. “I like that you want to take care of me, but I don’t want you to.”

“Not just you.” Dunc nodded. “You have two other people living in your house, Amanda. Aren’t you taking care of them in the same way?”

“Well, don’t take this the wrong way, Dunc, but they’re family.” Amanda stared up into his sad blue eyes. Then he smiled and lifted a hand to her cheek.

“Amanda. You’ve already asked me to be part of your family when you proposed to me yesterday.”

“You said no.” Amanda pouted more for show than intention. She leaned her head against his hand and laid her hand over his, sliding her fingers up his arm.

“Because I want to be the one proposing.” Dunc smiled, leaning down to kiss her. “Are you okay?”

“Other than living every moment in terror that Joseph is going to walk through a wall and try to grab me, yes, I’m okay,” Amanda smirked. “I had a lot of therapy to get over what he did to me. I’m better, but I’ve been told it will never go away. But if he goes away, that’s the end of the panic attacks.”

“I am going to do that for you.” Dunc slid his arms around her and drew her closer. “Then I’ll think about this whole proposing thing. I love you so much. You are my everything, Darling.”

“Is

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