Page 9 of Finding Solace
Bella:YES!!! I thought you'd neverask!
When I read her reply,I shake my head and chuckle. I'm betting Bella knows exactly why I want to meet. She has probably already heard the news of me being Reid's home care nurse from Quinn since he was at Reid's place yesterday. I bet she's been dying to talk to me and was waiting for me to say somethingfirst.
I couldn't ask for a better friend than Bella. A couple of years ago before she met Logan, she started working at the grocery store in town. I had started working there about a month before her, and we became instant friends. She has Logan and the club now, and I don't feel right taking up too much of her time. When I do need a shoulder to lean on, or someone to talk to, Bella always drops everything to be there forme.
Gathering my keys and my purse, I walk out of the house I've shared with my grandmother for the past few years and make my way to my car. I drive to the coffee shop, which is only a few miles away. When I pull up, I can see Bella through the front window of the store. She watches me get out of my car with the biggest smile on her face.Yep, sheknows.
Pushing the shop door open, I see she already has my coffee waiting for me. I barely take my seat at the table across from her when she speaks up, "Anythingnew?"
Rolling my eyes, I take a sip of my coffee, "Like you don't alreadyknow."
"Of course, I know. Quinn told me. Don't let their cuts fool you, those men gossip like a bunch of fifteen-year-old girls," she softly laughs. A mental picture of a of bikers sitting around gossiping like a bunch of housewives makes me giggle right along withher.
"Alright," Bella says looking serious. "Jokes aside, are you okay with being Reid's caretaker? Quinn said he was a bit difficult. I promise you, Mila, that's not how Reid normally acts. He's having a hard time," She raises her hand, stopping me before I protest, "I know it's no excuse for his behavior, but I just want you to know that. And how did all this happen? Are you not working at the hospitalanymore?"
I wave my hand at her, "I don't take his attitude personally. I deal with patients like him all the time. I know it's not me he's angry with, it's his situation. I promise you, I can handle Reid." After Bella studies the sincerity of my response, I continue to tell her about losing my job and my boss giving me Reid'scase.
"You know I'm a firm believer that all things happen for a reason." Bella utters from behind her mug. She has a wicked gleam in her eyetoo.
"Bella Kane, don't you go getting any ideas in that head of yours. It's just a job. Nothing more." I can tell by her secretive smile she won't be letting this go. The last thing I want is Bella playing matchmaker. If the constant sneer Reid was sending my way yesterday was any indication, he's not the least bit interestedeither.
Thirty minutes later, Bella and I part with plans to meet up again in a couple of days. I already feel so much better. Sometimes all you need is a good friend to lean on and someone to tell you everything will beokay.
Later that day, I have mine and Ava's things packed and in my car when I go to pick her up from preschool. We are now on our way to Reid's. The drive to his place is short as I listen to Ava jabber in the rear seat about herday.
"Is dis it, Momma?" Ava asks pointing out thewindow.
"Yeah baby girl, this is it." Getting out of the car, I open the back door and unstrap Ava from her carseat.
"How ya doin', darlin'?" A deep voice says from behind me, making me jump, and I bang my head on the roof of mycar.
"Damn it!" Ishout.
"Oh, shit, sweetheart. Didn't mean to scareya."
When I turn around, I see Quinn standing behind me holding his hands up and wincing. "I saw you pull up. Thought I'd come down and help you carry your stuffup."
"It's okay, Quinn," I tell him while rubbing the knot on the top of my head. "And some help would be great, thanks." Leaning back down in the car, I lift Ava out of her seat and set her down on theground.
"Momma, you say a badword."
"I know baby, I'm sorry. Now come on, let's get our stuff inside, okay?" Doing as I ask, she walks around to the trunk of my car. When my daughter sees Quinn standing there, she stops in her tracks and looks up at him. "Hi," she greets not acting shy atall.
"How ya doin'kid?"
She studies him for several seconds before opening her mouth as saying what I knew was coming. "You says a bad word too." Quinn looks to me for guidance. I offer him a shrug. He turns back to Ava, and I watch as he opens and closes his mouth a few times at a loss for words. He takes his wallet out of his back pocket and pulls out a dollar. "Sorry kid, here ya go." And hands her the money. With a sly smile, my little girl takes the offered dollar and stuffs it in herpocket.
"I forgib you." When I look back at Quinn, he has a huge smile plastered on his face as if he's won. When he looks back at me, I shake my head at him. "Big, bigmistake."
His smile quickly turns into a frown. "What?"
"Oh, you'll see," I tell him patting his arm as I walk by. The three of us walk side by side through the entrance on the ground floor. Stepping onto the lift, Quinn presses the button that takes up to thetop.
"Dis is so cool," Ava gushes. "We get to lib here,Momma?"
"We sure do," I say trying to sound excited for my little girl, only I'm not the least bit excited, I'm nervous as hell. Stepping off the lift, I peer around the room looking forReid.
"He's in his room," Quinn informs me. "He'll probably be out in a bit. Until then, let's get you settled in your room," he motions down thehall.
