Page 10 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

Braxton was such an easygoing guy. Fun to talk with and he didn’t treat her like she was an invalid. He did treat her with care and there was a vast difference. Would the other guys be as understanding about her lack of sight? Would that bother them? She wasn’t naïve or stupid. She knew her blindness was considered a disability to others, but all she needed was one great chance to prove herself and she’d show them just what an asset she could be. Sophie and Braxton were giving her that chance.

He’d said to trust him, but she didn’t take that action quite so easily. Trust was earned and sometimes even then it wasn’t foolproof. First thing she’d wanted to do was get settled into Haven and she’d gotten a good start with her new house. Once her job was in place, she could start thinking about growing more roots, making friends, and having a social life.

And then she would think about the position in her family’s company. She couldn’t just walk away from it, but she needed a break until she knew if she wanted to sell her shares or . . . well, the other option made her cringe. CEO or CFO or any other title that came with running a multimillion-dollar company just didn’t appeal to her.

Cora stepped into the house, the cool air hitting her as she came in from the hot Georgia sun. Heidi kept moving forward at a slow pace because she too was taking in her new surroundings.

“Stand right there and I’ll give you the layout,” Braxton told her. “The entryway is open and the stairs to the second floor are straight ahead about eight feet. They’re wide and curve up toward the left. Sophie has plans to put the biggest Christmas tree she can find in this spot.”

Cora could practically see in her mind this beautiful, historic home all decked out in garland, wreaths, pinecones, and live trees. The true spirit of the South at Christmastime would shine through and make every guest feel the warmth of the season.

“To the left of the base of the steps is the hall leading to the kitchen and dining area, plus a half bath and dressing area. It’s actually across from a large room, which I think we will use for your space. Any questions so far?”

“Sounds great.”

“You guys can follow me.”

When Heidi maneuvered in front of Cora, Cora turned to her left.

“Does she always do that?” Braxton asked.

“Do what?”

“Get in fr

ont of you like that?”

“Oh, yes. That’s how I know when to turn,” she explained. “She keeps me from running face-first into walls.”

“You’re quite a team.” The smile in Braxton’s tone had her smiling as well.

“She’s my best friend.” There was no other explanation. Eric never understood the bond between Cora and Heidi. There was a level of trust there that Cora knew she’d never have with anyone else. But being with Heidi hadn’t always been easy. They had to get to know each other and Cora had to get used to actually putting all her faith into Heidi . . . that was the hardest obstacle to overcome. Now Cora couldn’t imagine her life without Heidi. No walking stick could give her the sense of security that Heidi did.

As Braxton led her into another room, the smell of fresh paint and a hint of sawdust hit her. Heidi led her around and Cora noted quickly how spacious the room was and that it was absolutely empty.

“We haven’t bought any equipment yet,” he explained from behind her. “We wanted to wait until we hired someone and could get what they specified. We did just finish painting and getting the crown moldings back up to keep that Southern charm this house already had. Even though we’re throwing in some of the Paris themes, we wanted to keep this old house as close to the original state as we could. There’s too much history here to ignore.”

“I’m really impressed with how much you all have done and how much you’ve thought things through. You’ve catered nicely to the feminine clientele.”

Braxton laughed, his shoes echoing in the room as he walked across the wood floor. “Don’t be too impressed. Chelsea had nearly everything mapped out. Apparently, she’d been planning this for some time. But what she didn’t have notes on, the guys and I asked Sophie. There’s no way we could come up with half this stuff.”

Cora smiled as she turned toward his voice. “That’s a smart move. In terms of equipment I will need, I actually have several things already at my house. I was keeping them there for now, but I’m more than happy to move them here. With having a real job, I won’t need them taking up my spare bedroom anymore.”

“Let me take you to the surprise and then we can talk more,” he suggested. “Follow me.”

Follow me. He said the simple words, knowing Heidi would follow and Cora would be right there with her. She couldn’t get over how he treated her, how he saw her need for independence and kept her wishes by letting her do things on her own. She wanted to hope this new start for her would be just what she needed. Yes, she was still young. Yes, she had a handicap according to society, but she was a regular person and she wanted to live as such with a few modifications.

By the time Heidi came to a stop, Cora could tell they were still on the left side of the house. “Are we in the kitchen or dining room?” she asked.

“The kitchen. I have a bowl of water, some food, and a pad for Heidi to lie on. Will she let me give you the tour and stay here?”

Shocked at the abrupt request, Cora gripped the collar tighter. “Um . . . you set up a space for my dog?”

“Well, yeah.” Braxton’s tone almost sounded as if her question was absurd. “I wanted to be the one to show you, to guide you, but if you’re not comfortable with that, Heidi can stay. I just thought we’d give her a break and I could be your guide.”

Cora bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. Eric had always wanted to be the one to do everything for Cora, as if her depending on him gave his overinflated ego another boost. He never liked Heidi in his car, his house, his life, basically. Her parents had never been keen on the idea of a “smelly, furry animal” in the office building. If Heidi was going to be a problem here, maybe this wasn’t the place for Cora, either.

“It’s fine if you want her to come with us,” Braxton stated, breaking into her thoughts. “I just figured I’d do something for her. We can wait until she’s done with the snack if you want her with us.”

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