Page 48 of The Secrets We Built Together

Amelia let out a sharp squeal, her tiny legs kicking excitedly as she spotted a shaft of sunlight dancing across the floor.

"Someone approves of your renovation skills," Blake said with a laugh, leaning down to stroke Amelia's cheek. “Why haven’t you told anyone else about this though?”

“I don’t know. At first I told myself it was because I wanted to do it on my own, and then I didn’t want the pressure of opening the practice again if I decided that wasn’t what I wanted. But I think… if I’m completely honest with myself, I came here when I was a mess. I didn’t want anyone to see me like that.”

It was a confession I’d never have dared to voice to anyone else, but it was somehow so much easier when it came to Blake.

Then she gave me a strange look, her head tilted slightly as if she was trying to figure me out. She straightened up and grabbed my hand.

"Come with me."

"Where are we going?" I asked as she tugged me back outside.

"You showed me yours, it's only fair that I show you mine," Blake answered cryptically.

Blake scooped up Amelia's carrier, and I quickly locked the door behind us. She shifted the carrier to her other arm as we headed down the street.

"Want me to take her?" I offered, seeing Blake adjust the weight.

"I've got her," she said, but handed me the diaper bag instead. "But you can be the pack mule."

"I'm honored."

She pulled me toward Books and Beans, which seemed to be our destination. As we walked in, Daniel looked up from behind the counter. When he saw Blake, he rolled his eyes, but when his gaze landed on me—and the baby—his expression shifted to something more curious.

"We're just heading upstairs," Blake called to him casually, like she owned the place.

Daniel nodded but kept watching us with narrowed eyes as Blake led me through the back room and up a narrow staircase I hadn't even known existed.

"Are we supposed to be here?" I whispered, carefully navigating the stairs with the diaper bag while Blake carried Amelia ahead of me. "That guy was giving me a weird look."

"Daniel? He's harmless. He just likes to pretend he doesn't adore me," Blake said over her shoulder. "Besides, I paid a very meager rent for this space."

"You what?" But before she could answer, we reached the top of the stairs, and Blake pushed open a door.

The room was flooded with natural light from a large window. An easel stood in the center of the space, and paintings were propped against the walls, some hung, others stacked carefully. Blake set Amelia's carrier down gently by the door, then stood next to the easel, looking suddenly uncomfortable, like she'd made a mistake bringing me here.

Amelia cooed softly, her little hands reaching toward a splash of vibrant color on the nearest canvas.

I was awestruck. The paintings were incredible—vibrant landscapes that seemed to pulse with life, abstract pieces that somehow conveyed emotions I couldn't name, portraits that felt like they could start speaking at any moment. One in particularcaught my eye—a lone figure standing on a cliff edge, looking out over a tumultuous sea, the sky bleeding shades of purple and orange as the figure tried to reach out for them.

"Blake, these are... I thought you weren't painting anymore."

"I'm not," she said quietly, kneeling to adjust Amelia's blanket. "These are old. The ones that aren't good enough."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Not good enough? Blake, these are incredible."

She shook her head, moving to stand beside one of the larger canvases. "This one has no depth. The perspective is all wrong in that corner. And this one," she said, pointing to another, "the colors are flat. It doesn't evoke anything."

Amelia squealed, apparently disagreeing with her assessment, and Blake smiled despite herself, reaching down to tickle the baby's tummy.

"Well, I don't know much about art," I admitted, walking slowly around the room to take it all in. "But I think they're beautiful."

I wasn't going to tell her she was wrong. That wasn't what she needed. Instead, I turned to her and asked, "What do you want them to be like?"

Blake looked surprised by the question, her brow furrowing as she considered it. She picked up Amelia from the carrier and held her against her shoulder, swaying slightly as she thought.

"I don't know. I just..." She trailed off, then suddenly started pacing around the room, Amelia nestled securely against her shoulder, her tiny head turning to follow the colorful paintings.

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