Page 7 of Deck the Fire Halls

He smiled and nodded slowly. “Right. Yes, patience.”

I fixed the nail with two quick taps and stood back. “Okay, I’ll let you do the honors of hanging your diploma.”

He rolled his eyes, but with a deep breath, he hungthe simple black frame and straightened it. “Done. Thank you.”

Then I read it.

Robinson O’Reilly.

“Robinson,” I murmured. “When you said your name was Rob, I just assumed your name was Robert.”

“Everyone does.”

“I like the name Robinson,” I said, not sure why. I mean, not sure why I told him that.

His eyes met mine, those blue eyes a little less guarded.

“Hello?” A soft voice called out.

We both turned for the door and I knew who it was before I saw her. Katie stood by the reception desk in her blue slacks and purple cardigan. She held her handbag nervously.

It was pretty clear that Rob hadn’t met her yet. “Hello,” he said gently. “Can I help you?”

“My name is Katie Hawkins. This is my workplace. I work here. Today is your first day and I was told to be early.”

She was nervous, poor thing. So unlike her.

“Hey, Katie,” I said warmly. “This is Doctor O’Reilly. I was just helping him hang up his frame in his office. Doctor, Katie has worked here for years and she keeps the whole place running. Dontcha, Katie?”

She gave a nod. “Hello, Soren.”

“Well, Katie,” Rob said with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m glad you’re here and if you know how everything works, then you’re in charge, okay?”

She smiled at him. “I need to turn my computer on,then I’ll go buy the milk. I get the milk on Mondays. You didn’t turn the heat up. Doctor Humphries turns the heat up.”

Rob smiled again, a more natural one. “Perhaps you can make me a list of all the things I’m supposed to do.”

“After I buy the milk.”

“Of course, yes.”

Katie nodded and turned the computer on, then pressed a button on the thermostat so the screen came to life. “You just press Day, and don’t touch it after that,” she said.

“Understood,” Rob said.

Then we watched as she put her coat back on and went out the door.

I don’t know why it made me happy that his first interaction with Katie was so wholesome. He was a doctor, after all, and I should expect nothing less, but some people treated Katie’s Down syndrome as a weakness.

“I better get back to work or Doug will come yelling,” I said. I went to the door and pointed my hammer at the thermostat. “Don’t change the temperature.”

His eyes met mine, warm and filled with humor. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I went outside into the brisk air, smiling at the blue sky and the warm sunshine on my face.

I had a real good feeling about him. I dunno how or why, because he was certainly not my type, but there was something—something—about Robinson O’Reilly that made my heart take notice.

Doug met me in the doorway, standing with his armscrossed. “Is two minutes different in your world than it is in mine?”

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