Page 21 of My Heart Before You

As quietly as he could, he picked up the two boxes and placed them outside his bathroom. Kate tip-toed in his room with a brimming coffee cup and silently closed the door. The coffee’s delicious aroma made him wish he’d grabbed a cup for himself. He started putting shirts on hangers when Kate’s evaluating hum prompted him to ask, “What?”

“I have a close friend who’s also an interior designer. She helped do our downstairs living areas and dining room. She’s laid back and really easy to work with. You just have to meet with her once for her to get an idea of your style, then after that maybe approve some choices over email. She’ll do all the rest.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think that’s for me.”

“Then let me take you to some of the nicer home good stores, so you can fill these empty walls. I get you’re a minimalist, but they need something.”

His eyes closed with an exhale. He knew Kate felt she was doing the right thing by forcing him to set up his condo, but he needed time to make those strides on his own—to decide for the first time in his life what he wanted home to look like. Leaning out of the closet, he saw Kate perched on the old wooden chair by the window, blowing into her mug.

“I think unpacking all the boxes is enough for one day.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, crossing her legs. “When you’re ready, I can get a discount at—”

Her sentence was interrupted by an unfamiliar ringtone sounding loudly from the kitchen followed by Owen’s piercing cry.

“Shoot,” Kate said under her breath and leapt from the chair.

After hanging up the rest of the clothes, he broke down the two boxes and entered the main area to find her strapping Owen to her back.

“I’ve got to head off. One of my mom friends is having an emergency.” She stuffed the blanket back into her diaper bag.

His chest buoyed, feeling an opportunity to help after she’d done so much for him. “Can I help?”

“Not unless you’re secretly a locksmith.”

His shoulders sank. “No.”

“That’s good because my locksmith, Ben, is the jealous type and doesn’t like competition,” she joked as she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Besides, you’ve got to finish organizing the kitchen and eat those muffins.”

Before he could argue, Kate gave him a quick hug and headed towards the door. “I’ll see you Tuesday for dinner.”

Simultaneously relieved and disappointed, he lifted a hand to her retreating form. “See you then.”

She paused and turned around. “If you need us, just call.”

“I will.”

Gesturing to the items on the counter, she lifted her eyebrows at him.

“Okay, okay.” He dutifully picked up a dish and put it away.

When the sound of his front door shutting echoed in his silent empty condo, his resigned sigh followed it.

?Chapter 9?

“Hey, Emilie. Can you do a dressing change on 514 for me?”

Her lips lifted at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. “No hosing out chests, right?” She flipped around to find Colin’s mouth curve upward in a slow smile.

“Not today.”

“Good.” Her grin widened.

Since their literal run in at the park a month ago, working with Colin had been something she looked forward to, though it didn’t happen every shift. At first, he’d poked at her by hiding his eyes in his hands when he walked by in the hall, and she’d have to stifle her erupting laughter. Other times, they’d chat a little bit before one of them was invariably pulled away.

“I’ve ordered silver impregnated gauze for the next change since his wound isn’t healing as quickly as I’d like.” He tucked his hands into his white coat pockets.

Being a heart transplant patient on immunosuppressants made Mr. Stowe more susceptible to infection in the laceration he acquired after he’d lost his grip on his tree shears.

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