Page 88 of Home With You

"I'll give up privacy to not sit by the bathroom," Miles says, smiling back. "We'll take the table up front."

She clears her throat. "Of course. Right this way."

We follow her back to the table. She sets the menus down, then quickly walks off.

"She knew," I say to Miles as I open the menu. "That's why she put us back there."

"I know." He picks up his menu. "But I fixed it so we're good."

"She's telling the waiter," I say, watching her whispering to him.

"Just ignore them and figure out what you want to eat. They have really good lasagna. I usually don't get it because of the carbs but I think I'll splurge tonight."

"Watching your weight?" I ask in a teasing tone.

"I don't watch my weight but I watch what I eat. I work out a lot and I don't want my diet ruining all my hard work in the gym."

I assumed he worked out to get a body like that but I don't know when he has the time. He's always at work or hanging out it in the alley with Gladys and me.

Gladys. I almost forgot to check on her.

"Can I use your phone?" I ask Miles.

"Sure. Who are you calling?"

"Zoe. Oh, wait, I don't know her number."

"I do." He scrolls through his phone, then hands it to me.

"Hello?" Zoe answers.

"Zoe, it's Raine. How's Gladys?"

"Much better. I've been giving her hot tea and my homemade chicken soup." She laughs. "The girls love her. I keep telling them to let her rest but then find them in her room. I might have to hire Gladys as their new nanny."

"Is she getting any sleep?"

"Yes. She napped when the girls did. When she woke up, she had dinner in her room and then read a book to the girls. You should see her with them. It's really amazing how quickly they bonded. They're going to be sad when she leaves."

"When is she coming home?"

"I'd like her to stay until she's better, which could take a week, maybe longer."

"That long? And she's okay with that?"

"I haven't asked her yet. I'm sure she'll argue with me but I don't want her going back out in the cold until her health has improved. Truthfully, I don't want her going back there at all but I don't know what to do. The shelters are full and I promised my husband this was only a short-term stay. I was thinking maybe I could put a request up at my church. See if someone would let her stay with them, at least for the winter months."

"Meaning she wouldn't be coming back? But I—" I decide not to argue with her about it because having a warm home to stay at is better for Gladys than being on the street. But I'll miss her terribly and don't know what I'll do without her. She's what's been keeping me going all these months. She's like family to me and I don't want to lose her.

"Raine, I know you don't want Gladys to go but—"

"She can't stay out in the cold. I know. I'll just miss her."

"What about Miles?"

"What about him?"

"I'm sure he'd let you stay with him for more than a night or two. He really cares about you, Raine. We had a talk and well, I don't want to share too much but you need to know he really does care about you. He might even love you."

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