Page 27 of That Time in Venice
Chapter9
The house wasquiet.
Reed turned out the kitchen light but paused for a moment to survey the work that had already been completed. Anika had been right. The new open floor plan was much better than what he had before, and allowed more light into both the kitchen andtheden.
The painters had arrived today and the house smelled like…well, it smelled like paint. Brielle complained, but he assured her the odorwouldn’tlast.
He climbed the stairs and stopped at his daughter’s bedroom door. Cracking it open, he peeked in. The mermaid light sprayed purple color against the wall and Brielle slept peacefully, tonight holding Teddy in the customarychokehold.
He went down the hall to his office and kept the door open so he could hear if she woke up. Anika had recommended some other colors to lighten up the dark décor of chocolate walls, chocolate built-in shelves, and a chocolate desk—incorporating tan chairs, a new light fixture, and Roman shades. He’d requested she not wait to have the items delivered, and their presence gave the room a lighter feel but maintained the cozy atmosphere he needed toconcentrate.
Reed logged into the system at work, but as he did so, a thought came to him. He hadn’t talked to Anika since Friday when she helped him with Brielle. He wanted to hear her voice, but not to discuss furniture patterns or colorswatches.
He needed to properly thank her, as promised. Although he admitted to himself that calling to thank Anika was an excuse, he picked up the phoneanyway.
He’d been wound up the past couple of days at work and had remained in his office to keep from snapping at staff. Brielle tended to be rather cautious around strangers, but she’d taken to Anika right away, and seeing Anika with his daughter—the way she’d handled her with gentleness and care, and the way Brielle had taken to her—had done something to him. It planted a seed that sprouted a litany of ideas he couldn’tshake.
Anika answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
He held his breath for a second. He couldn’t control the automatic way his body reacted to her every single time. There was a loosening in his chest, as if his heart had unfurled from atightknot.
“I hope I didn’t call youtoolate.”
“Not at all. I’m working on an idea for Brielle’s room, and I’ll have something to share with you soon. There’s just one piece of information that I’m waiting on. What can I doforyou?”
So polite. So professional. When what he wanted from her was anything but politeness andprofessionalism.
“Actually, it’s what I can doforyou.”
Pause. “Oh?”
He imagined a curious expression on her face. “Don’t sound so worried. I just want to thank you for helping me with Brielle last week. When she throws a tantrum, it can be overwhelming.” He walked over to the window overlooking the front yard. From here he had a good view of the neighborhood. The family across the street had smoke winding up the back of their house. Probably cooking out again. They did that all hours of the day ornight.
“I’m fairly certain you’re not the only parent who feels overwhelmed at times. You’re doing the best you can, and you love your daughter. That’s half of what being a good parent is allabout.”
“What do you think the otherhalfis?”
“Keeping an eye on them so they don’t burn the house down,” Anikaquipped.
He smiled, leaning a shoulder against the window. “Are you talking from experience? Wereyouthatkid?”
“I plead the fifth.” Anika giggled. Man, he loved the sound of her joy. “Was there something else?” He heard her movingaround.
“Actually, there is.” He’d gone from wanting to hear her voice to desperately needing to see her. “I’d like to take you to dinner and show you how much I appreciateyourhelp.”
She stopped moving. “Dinner?”
“Yeah, dinner. You know, that meal you eat at the end of the day, often between six and eight.” He kept his voice light even as tension permeated every cell ofhisbody.
“I know what dinner is, smarty pants.” Pause again, this time longer. “You don’t have todothat.”
“I want to, and I’m not taking no for ananswer.”
“So if I decline, you’re going to do, whatexactly?”
“Drive over to your office andkidnapyou.”
She laughed. “Oh really? You really want to show yourappreciation,huh?”
