Page 56 of Hiding Rose
Chapter Sixteen
“You can put it right over there,” I said, pointing at the table near the wall.
The delivery guy set the box down and waved as he left the room. I put my hands on my hips and sighed. The room was wall-to-wall boxes and I didn’t seem to be making a lot of progress in unpacking. I would have to call in some help or I wasn’t going to get anywhere.
When we got back from Honolulu last week the rooms were nearly complete with paint and carpet. We spent the next two days getting the kitchen finished with counter tops, plumbing, and electricity before Sawyer installed all the appliances with the help of the contractor.
I still don’t have my brace, which means I have to be careful and not overdo it. Thankfully, Sawyer is taking me to pick it up later this afternoon. The massage therapy twice a week is helping with the spasms, and the added medication has too, but it’s made me extremely tired. Most nights I’ve been asleep by the time Sawyer gets done in the kitchen. I had Lei make him a swipe key to my apartment. He wakes me and we share dinner before we fall into bed, either to make love or sleep. Today, I felt better and more energetic, which probably meant my body was getting used to the dose increase. I was glad. I have too much to do to be exhausted. I grabbed my phone and dialed a number, waiting while it rang.
“Hello,” she said. “You okay, Rosie?”
“Hi, Kate,” I answered. “I’m fine, but I was wondering if you have any spare time to help with the daycare center? There are boxes everywhere here. I don’t even know where to start. If you can’t, I understand.”
She laughed happily. “I can help! Let me get some toys together for Hope and we’ll be around.”
“Thank you so much, Kate. I’m drowning in here. If you want you can drop Hope off at the daycare; they’re short a toddler today. They have plenty of space.”
“Better yet! Hope misses her time there. See you in a few.”
She hung up and I laid the phone on a box. Last week the first words out of my mouth when we left the boat were ‘what’s wrong with Kate?’ Gideon chuckled and reminded me she can get a cold and it doesn’t mean she’s dying. I reminded him I’ve been taking care of Kate for years before he came into the picture, and even though I gave the job to him, I still worry about her. Thankfully she’s better, because I need her organizational skills.
My phone beeped a text and I thought it was Kate. I grabbed it quick and opened the text. “I love you.”
I smiled and typed back. “I love you, too. Kate’s coming to help me with some boxes, but I can’t wait to see you this afternoon.”
“I’m working on a surprise for you; do you feel up to dinner tonight? I thought we could go out after we get done at the clinic.”
“A surprise?” I typed, my heart pounding.“I love surprises, well, most surprises,” I typed, thinking about Jarrett for a heartbeat.“I’m feeling much better today. I think your food is helping my fatigue.”
“I have a huge smile on my face now. I’ll see you at two.”
“Love you,” I typed as there was a knock on the door.
I looked up and Kate stood in the entry.
“Hi,” I said, laying the phone down and hugging her. “You were crazy fast.”
She pointed backward. “Hope and I were in Gideon’s office. He forgot his computer, so we walked it over. Glad I did now.” She glanced around the room and shook her head a bit. “Boy, you aren’t kidding. You’re drowning in boxes.”
I did the palms up. “I am, but the good news is, this is everything. Once we get it all organized on tables, when the shelving is installed the job will go quickly.”
“When are the shelves being installed?” she asked, her attention focused on the new space.
“Tomorrow, which is why I need all these boxes emptied. There’s no floor space for the workers. I hate to have to unpack them today onto tables, just to move them to the shelves tomorrow, but there’s no choice. The shipments arrived earlier than expected. The infant room is essentially done, so we can put the infant toys in there as we unload them. Other than a few rockers I need to buy, we’re set for the little ones. I’m going to get the chairs local since they’ll have to be replaced often.”
“Why?” she asked, digging into a box of toys.
I took the trains she handed me and set them on the table near the wall, limping back. “We need glider rockers. They’re the only kind of rocker safe for little fingers. I want to sit in them and try them out versus ordering them and finding out they’re uncomfortable. Also, if one breaks or wears out, I can get another one quickly.”
She tapped her chin. “How many will you need?” she asked and I thought about it for a moment.
“I think two is enough. They’ll get a lot of use, but three would take up too much space.”
She stopped and broke down the first empty box. “I know a guy who makes koa wood platform rockers. They’re beautiful, and functional. Would you consider ordering two from him?”
I nodded eagerly. “Without a doubt, but I need them yesterday. Don’t furnituremakers work on special order?”
She grabbed her phone. “Usually, but he does it for a hobby and usually has a few finished and displayed at his home for sale. I’ll call him later tonight and ask.” She showed me a picture of one of his chairs on her phone and I reared back, staring at her.
