Page 44 of Lee

“Maybe tomorrow you could ask her if she’d take it if we offered her something.”

Lee flipped the sandwiches over in the pan. “I’ll ask her if I have the opportunity.”

“Make the opportunity,” Charli said. “I don’t like the idea of anyone struggling because they don’t have a way to get furniture for themselves.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Lee replied. “But if she chooses not to reveal what she needs, I can’t force her to tell me.”

“Do you know where she’s living?”

He shook his head. Up until that moment, he’d tried to limit how many personal questions he asked Rori. Apparently, Charli wasn’t going to let that continue.

“You haven’t asked her?”

“We’re co-workers,” Lee reminded her. “I don’t know where Alys lives. I don’t know where Cheryl lives.”

“Maybe you should become her friend.”

He did actually consider them to be friends, but it was very early in their friendship. It didn’t feel like he was in a position yet to push her the way he would a friend he’d known for longer.

“I’m going to be inviting her to more things,” Charli warned him. “So be prepared.”

“I don’t have a problem with that.”

“Good,” Charli declared. “Because I’d do it even if you did.”

Lee gave a huff of laughter. “Of course you would.”

“We’d better get going, babe,” Blake said.

As Lee transferred the sandwiches from the pan to a plate, Charli and Blake left the kitchen. He heard Charli call for Layla and Amelia, and then a couple of minutes later, quiet fell over the house. And with the girls gone, Elsa came searching for him.

He put some food in her dish, then sat down at the table with his grilled cheese. Bowing his head, he gave thanks for the food, and then tacked on a prayer for wisdom on how to approach Rori. He really did want to help her if she needed it, but he wouldn’t force her to accept his aid.

The next day, as he drove down the road to the clinic, Lee spotted a familiar figure walking along the sidewalk. Pulling over, he climbed out and rounded the hood of his car.

“Good morning, Rori,” he said.

She looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. “Hey. Hi.”

“Did something happen to your car?” he asked.

“No. I just prefer to walk when the weather is nice.”

“Well, let me give you a ride the rest of the way.”

She glanced down the street to the clinic. “For half a block?”

“Well, I’d feel really bad getting back into my car and leaving you behind.” He gestured to the car and then did what he’d said he wouldn’t. Try to cajole her into accepting his help. He should probably feel bad about it, but he didn’t. “C’mon. Let’s go.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

Lee opened the passenger door and waited as she settled into the seat before closing it again. He wondered if she really did enjoy walking, or if there was another reason she didn’t drive to work.

“I’m sorry if you felt like I abandoned you yesterday.”

“I didn’t feel that way,” she said, and it sounded like she really meant that. “Besides, I was busy taking pictures.”

“So I heard. Did you enjoy that?”

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