Free Safe Harbor by Tymber Dalton

him. At least, not that morning. Not while she still looked like hell. He imagined she would want to visit Tad.
    An hour later, he drove her to Tad’s and walked her inside. He stayed for a moment to say hi, then left her with a promise to return in two hours.
     
     
    * * * *
     
     
    Uncle Tad smiled as he draped a frail arm around her shoulders.
    “You have no idea how glad I am to see you’re safely back, sweetheart.”
    She inwardly cringed. “I thought you were friends with Mac and Sully?”
    He looked startled, then laughed. “Honey, I trust them with your life. I meant you’re back in Tarpon.” She loved how he said it, like the old local he was, pronounced “Tar-pawn” instead of “Tarpin” as others said it.
    It finally sank in that she’d made it home.
    An angry glare shadowed his face. “How bad did the asshole hurt you?”
    She blushed and looked away. “I’m okay, Uncle Tad.”
    He snorted in disgust. “You don’t need to wear makeup on my account. I talked with Sully about it yesterday. You kids think I’m gonna pop a gasket if I get excited or something. You’re as bad as those boys are.”
    He leaned back on the couch and muted the TV. “Let me tell you something. Maybe I’m not as strong or fast as I used to be, but there’s not a thing wrong with my mind. If you even so much as think about leaving Sully and Mac, I’ll hunt you down and kick your ass myself, little girl. Do I make myself clear? Promise me you’ll stay with them.”

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    The heat in her face blossomed to supernova proportions. “Yes, sir. I promise.”
    He laughed. “Good. Glad to see you still listen to me. You have breakfast yet? What am I saying, of course you did. Mac woulda made you eat something.” He sighed. “Wish I could give you a better homecoming, little girl.”
    She didn’t mind the endearment. It was what he and Aunt Karen had both called her, because they didn’t have kids of their own.
    They talked most of the morning until a soft knock on his door interrupted them.
    “Come in, goddammit!” he hollered.
    Clarisse giggled, glad to see her beloved uncle’s spirit still firmly intact even if his body failed him.
    A young woman opened the door. “Mr. Moore? I’ve got that paperwork ready for your niece to sign. Can I borrow her for a few minutes?”
    “Hi, Cindy.” He poked Clarisse’s shoulder. “Go with her. They’ve got the forms ready adding you as my next of kin and stuff. I’ll be here.”
    Clarisse followed the friendly, chatty clerk down a series of hallways to the administrative wing, where Cindy led her to a cubicle and indicated the chair in front of her desk. She pulled out a sheaf of paperwork and showed Clarisse where to sign. Some of the paperwork had to do with guaranteeing payment. Clarisse noticed Sully had already filled out and signed some of it.
    Clarisse blushed. “Can you explain this to me? What happens if his insurance or whatever runs out? I’m not working yet. Is there a government program or something that would pay his bill?”
    “Oh, I doubt that’ll be an issue. It’s mostly a formality.”
    “You don’t know my luck.”
    Cindy frowned. “I figured Mr. Nicoletto discussed this with you already.”
    “Discussed what?”

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    “Your uncle’s insurance pays only a portion. Mr. Nicoletto pays the rest. He paid the apartment lease fees up front when your uncle moved in, and he takes care of the difference in expenses every month.”
    Clarisse’s hand felt numb as she shakily signed the paperwork.
    “He does?”
    “Yes. Oh, and he asked us not to tell your uncle that. Mr. Moore is under the impression his insurance and Medicaid pays for it all.”
     
     
    * * * *
     
     
    Mac returned for Clarisse a little after noon. She’d already eaten with her uncle, had fixed them both BLT sandwiches while she struggled to hold a conversation under the weight of her new knowledge. She had asked Cindy for a look at her uncle’s records, since she was being