The ride from Longwood to Beacon Hill was too short for Doyle. Kasper kept talking about how glad he was that she hadn't broken anything. She looked out the window wondering what Gray was up to. Determining what Mick was doing would have been easier. The band should have been at a venue getting ready for soundcheck. She knew less about how Gray spent his time.

She sighed. Wasn't it a thing for a woman to fall for the guy who rescued her? Doyle hated to be cliche. As the car drove up the hill, she turned to Kasper. "What do they know? Is mother prepared for this?" She hadn't looked in the mirror yet and the prospect caused the juice in her belly to churn. The nurse had brought her graham crackers and apple juice, she felt five, but they had tasted good.

If she hadn't been so anxious, she might have looked forward to her own room, after a month with the band and, and nothing. Staying at Gray's had been peaceful with the ideal companion.

The car stopped, and she looked up at the building which had been her home her entire life. When the door opened, she had to step out. The hood hid her face as photographers appeared out of nowhere. Kasper quickly guided her inside the door held open by Percy.

"Miss. Doyle, welcome home!"

Percy hugged her, just as Tate, and Baxter appeared.

"Thank God." Baxter's words were simple, but his drawn face showed his concern. He hugged her tightly.

Tate joined in at Baxter's side adding to the embrace. "I love you."

"I know I love you too. The three of you."

"Jimmy showed mother the pictures of you. Hopefully, she'll be ready."

"I haven't seen myself. Let me go look."

Kasper grabbed her hand. "Let me go with you."

"No. I need to see it on my own." She stepped inside the powder room and held her breath as she slipped off the hood. She looked grotesque. A tear slipped out. Gray had called her beautiful. He had either been blind or lied. The puffiness around her eye kept it closed except for a slit. She had thought it might look better. The bruising from her eye to her jaw colored her face a swirl of black and purple.

When she woke on Saturday morning, she could have gone to each one of her siblings. They would refrain from judgment, but Baxter would have insisted on medical treatment. Tate would have associated Doyle trauma with her own just when she was finally happy with Jimmy. Then Doyle would feel guilty like she had since Tate's wedding. Tate was the family's victim, and Doyle didn't want to take her place. As much as she would have liked to call Kasper, he lived at home. She shut her eyes to hide her face. Kasper would look at her like she was a bird with a broken wing. Staying with Gray had seemed like the right choice, because she assumed her family thought she was with the band.

She jumped at a knock on the door. "Darling, are you okay?"

Big breath in and slowly out, she put on her hood before opening her door. Amelia stood looking like a woman she hardly recognized. Her red eyes looked tired, and she hadn't done up her face. Amelia never left her room without makeup.

The older woman embraced her daughter. "My baby. I was so worried you were hurt and alone or so much worse. We thought we lost you."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know or I would have called. I'm sorry."

"I'm just so glad you're alive."

Doyle felt the tears. Without Gray she might have died. "Thanks to a hero." She didn't want her mother to change her focus.

"Amelia, let me have my girl."

Doyle turned to her father. He looked like he aged. Once in his arms, she felt like a little girl, safe and protected. Guilt filled her for the worry she gave her family. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn't know."

Amelia cleared her throat. "Darling, Kasper said you haven't eaten. Whoever you were with should have fed you."

"It's my fault. I skipped breakfast and then Jimmy came before we had lunch."

"Come. Mrs. Moran has been cooking nonstop. Poor woman. None of us could eat." Amelia took control.

Doyle expected her mother to take time to dress, but she led the way to the dining room. Once seated, Doyle nodded at Ivy and Jimmy who were part of the family, but stayed in the background of her homecoming.

"Darling, take off your hood. We've seen what that man did to you. Thankfully, you will heal, but you don't need to hide from your family."

Speechless, she lowered her hood and waited for repulsion to reach their faces. Baxter and her father's jaw muscles tensed. Jimmy broke the silence. "Hopefully, the police will do their job and lock the animal up. Monty and I were discussing how to make sure he pays.

Ivy said, "Doyle can sue him."

"Princess, the goal is to take attention away from Doyle, not thrust her into the limelight."

"Stop. I don't need you to play your games. I just want to forget, but I admit to all of you I was stupid. Baxter, you warned me about the wrong crowd. You were so right. Tate, I'm okay and you're in love. Please be happy or I'll feel guilty again."

"Again? Why again?"

Blame it on the emotions. "Because I almost let you marry him. I saw them together the night before and I let you get in your dress and planned to let you walk down the aisle."

"Why?" Tate looked at her.

She shrugged. "Because you were happy for the first time in a long time and I didn't want to ruin it."

"Doyle, we were all glad to see Tate moving forward with her life." Philip put his hand on hers. She had purposely chosen to sit with her damaged side away from her mother.

Amelia added, "It's the only reason we agreed with her choice, but it's water under the bridge."

Jimmy chuckled. "I must be the bridge."

Baxter looked at his friend with a smirk, before frowning. "How did Whitby get involved in Doyle's disappearance?"

Kasper put his fork down. "His driver found her. She stayed with him."

"A driver!" Amelia was still Amelia.

Doyle felt like a cat with its back up. "Don't be like that. He saved me and he's more than a driver. He's family." She looked around suddenly feeling like it was the most important point she had ever tried to make. "He cares for the baby like she's his own."

"All I can say is Whitby's wife is a huge fan."

Doyle looked at Kasper, and he nodded. Thanks for breaking the tension. Anything for you. They communicated without words. As babies, they cried when put in individual cribs. They shared a room until age ten, but even after, they often had sleepovers. Doyle knew identical twins with less of a connection.

After their meal, Doyle went to her room. The maid had placed her bag on her bed. She took out the clothes Gray bought her, including the shirt she woke up in. Putting it to her nose, it had his faint scent. How could she miss a man she hardly knew? The cross was at the bottom of the bag. She couldn't believe no one had mentioned it.

When she went downstairs, Percy appeared asking if she needed anything. She shook her head. "Where is everyone?"

"They wanted to let you rest. Your mother has retired, but I believe your father is in his study."

As she approached the dark paneled room, the door was slightly open. He was talking. "I don't know what I would have done... I wish she were a child with a nanny watching her every move... I know... Thank you for caring like you do."

Doyle needed to walk away or knock. She knew who he was talking to. His firm voice beckoned, "Enter." His face relaxed when he saw her. Didn't he see the bruises?

"I wanted to return this. I know you must have been angry thinking I lost it."

He shook his head. "It is far less valuable than you. My only concern was your safety. I tried to trust your brother. You two are so connected."

"I shouldn't have taken it. I was stupid, and I should have stayed home after dinner."

"Did you kiss your rockstar?"

She shut her eyes and saw the girl on top of him and shook her head. "Thank goodness."

"Maybe you should fall in love on your own. After I determine he's good enough for my little girl, I'll give you the cross, so you can guarantee true love."

"Okay, Daddy."

He smiled. "Are you tired?"

She shrugged. She ached, but eating had helped her head.

"How about we take a sail, just you and me?"

"I'm not a good first mate."

He chuckled. "I don't need one."

Doyle nodded. On the water, she didn't have to worry about people seeing her. Some fresh air would be nice after a month on the smelly bus.

They sailed towards the islands, and when he dropped the sail, the sun was lowering in the sky. "We'll motor back. It'll be dark."

She sat and felt the breeze on her injured face and thought of Gray. Would he like to sail? Maybe he did. There was so much they never talked about. Hopefully, he wasn't mad at her for lying.

"Here, drink this. It always cheers me up."

She took the glass with clear liquid. "What is it?"

"Sambuca."

She tasted it. It burned going down. Gray was an alcoholic, and she promised she would stop doing drugs. That meant limiting her drinking, but one glass was fine. It warmed her chest.

Philip took her glass and put it next to his. "Doyle, I might not have the words, but I'm good at this." He took her in her arms and hugged her. Time froze as he didn't let go. She remembered when he used to hug Tate every day and Doyle had felt envious. Two daughters both had faced trauma, and he comforted them the same.

Eventually he whispered. "Watch. It's magical."

The orange sphere reflected on the water as it lowered it painted the sky shades of orange and yellow. "I wish I had my camera."

"Next time. Enjoy. Today, we celebrate that you are home and safe."

Doyle nodded. Except for those moments with Gio which were a blur, she hadn't felt unsafe. She couldn't tell her father another man comforted her and provided safety. She stopped her thought, because it might have felt like it, but he didn't give her love. Philip definitely did.

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