“Mr. Snell, I told you I really don’t need your help.” He pushed through her door with the duffle he’d just about pulled from her hand in his effort to help.

“Candace, I asked you to call me Bertram.” She couldn’t help it, she grimaced. She realized it was probably a family name and he couldn’t avoid it but why in this day and age would he not just use Bert? Mostly she just wanted him gone. He was always a pill but after spending so much time at Jameson’s, Bertram really grated on her nerves.

“Bertram,” she huffed in a breath to keep from laughing, or screaming, it was a toss-up really. “Thank you for helping me with my stuff but truly, right now I’d like to be by myself.”

“Your boyfriend isn’t coming over?” The little hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Jameson would have told her to pay attention to that but she was tired and wanted to lay in bed and cry. And Jameson was the reason.

“He’s not my boyfriend.” But really what business was it of his anyway.

“So then you are free for dinner tomorrow night?” Her whole body shivered. Maybe she really was coming down with something?

“No, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well.” Actually just the thought of food was making her ill.

“Well what about the day after?” Sweat beaded on his forehead and upper lip. He wiped it away with the back of his hand and then wiped the back of his hand on his pant leg.

“Bert…” His eyes shot to hers and she was sure she needed to get to bed. “Bertram, please! I’ve had a very bad day, on top of a horrendous week. I’m still upset about Mr. Lombardi. Right now I just really want to get into bed and sleep for a week.” She was half tempted to get her key back from him but she just wasn’t up for another discussion. She tugged the duffle bag from his hand. The bag and Bitsy’s crate made her feel overwhelmed and unwieldy but at this point she would swim the English Channel if her bed and sleep were on the other side.

“Candace, why won’t you go out with me?” She considered just bursting into tears on the spot. Right now if it would get him out of her presence, she might even tell him she would. Luckily she didn’t have to say anything at all. When she turned around he was already on his way out the door.

She dropped the duffel with her clothes on the floor of her bedroom and got Bitsy from the crate. The poor little dog looked around for Jameson. She scratched under his chin to soothe him, or more likely her at that point. “He’s not here, sweetie. This is our home now. Just you and me. You’re the only guy I need in my life.” If she could pretend long enough the statement was true, maybe she’d believe it. He’d said he loved her. And she should have been thrilled but how could he love her? He loved the fun adventurous her, not this shadow person who didn’t want to do anything, this person who was getting everything wrong. It’s all a waste of time. It’s pointless so why try.

She just about collapsed on the bed and Bitsy, intuitive creature that he was, licked her nose a few times and then curled up between her hands and her chest. She’d set up his food and water later, right now she just needed to lie down for a bit. She was so tired, tired of fighting off the whisper in the back of her head when the depression told her she could just end it.