Page 30 of Connected By Souls

My dream felt so real. I can still feel his hands on me. Breathing deeply to try and steady my heartbeat, I fall back asleep with one question running through my mind. Why did it feel more like a memory than a dream?

* * *

Friday flies by at work.I spend the whole day helping Miss Sylvia add to our children’s book section. The storage room is finally all cleared out, and a fresh coat of paint is on the wall thanks to Miss Sylvia’s grandson, who owns his own painting business.

After work, I swing by a thrift store and find the perfect desk for my writing. It’s a white desk with two drawers on either side and one in the middle with curving details on the legs giving it a coastal look.

Since moving here, the children’s story ideas are flowing to me. I’m excited to get my first draft going. I think part of me has been putting it on hold because I’ve been doubting that I can do this. I think Tyler’s lack of support and discouraging comments did a number on me that I wasn’t aware of until now. But being here, I feel free and more confident than I’ve been in a long time, and I’m looking forward to going through all my notes and ideas that I’ve been jotting down for months.

By the time Monday rolls around, I’m refreshed and energized. I spent the weekend working on my first draft. I even started doing yoga again on the deck. I need to keep up my practice, especially since I’m meeting the girls this Thursday for a class. I haven’t heard from Noah all weekend, but I know he’s giving me time to process my emotions and get used to the idea of whatever this is between us. My dreams of us haven’t stopped—if anything, they’ve become more intense. I wake up almost every night with a deep need for him.

Focusing on work, I continue to enter the new inventory into our system. “Hi, Emma.” I look up and see Maya. Smiling, I get up from the desk and walk over to her.

“Hi Maya, It’s so good to see you again. How’ve you been?”

“I’m doing good, thanks. I hear your house is coming along nicely, and you’ve made some home improvements.”

“I have. I’ve got both bathrooms painted and updated and spent a day planting flowers on the back deck. I’m hoping to get the front porch sanded and painted this week. I’m looking forward to seeing it all done.”

“It’s going to look beautiful, I’m sure. I hear Noah did a good job fixing the railing. I’m glad he’s been able to help you. He’s quite handy to have around.” She grins at me, her eyes alight with…joy?

“He did a great job on the porch. He’s very talented.” Why is she grinning so big at me? Did everyone hear about the hardware incident and assume we’re together?

“Are you still coming with us on Thursday for yoga and drinks? I told Sophia you’re coming, and she and Bella are excited to meet you.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I pulled my mat out this weekend and started back. I forgot how good it feels.”

“At my age, I can definitely tell if I haven’t done it in a while. I’m more tired and sore without it,” she says, laughing. “It keeps me young.”

“Well, it’s working. You look great.”

“And you just became my favorite librarian. I better let you get back to work. I just wanted to stop by and make sure I didn’t have to drag you out with us on Thursday.”

“No dragging necessary. I’ll be there.”

“Good. We can’t wait to get to know you better.” She grins at me and walks away.

Why do I get the feeling that everyone is pushing Noah and me together? I guess the bigger question would be, why doesn’t it bother me? Shaking my head, I head back to my desk and return to work.

* * *

Droppingmy bag on my kitchen table, I walk into my bedroom to change into something more comfortable than the skirt and blouse I’m wearing. I throw on a white tank top and grey shorts before grabbing a snack in the kitchen. Walking by the kitchen sink, I step in water. What the…? I get a dish towel in the drawer and mop it up, realizing it’s coming from under the sink. Opening the cabinet, I notice a steady leak coming from the pipes where they connect. Maybe it just needs to be tightened.

Looking through my dad’s tool kit I kept, I grab a wrench. Getting on my hands and knees, I try to tighten the pipe when the whole thing busts. Water sprays everywhere, drenching me. Shrieking and holding up my hands to stop the spray, I quickly grab another towel and wrap it around the pipe, trying to stop the flow. I get it secure enough to stop the spray, but the water is still steadily coming down. Grabbing my phone on the counter, I call Noah. He answers on the first ring.

“Hey beautiful, I was hoping you would call me. I’m trying to give you your space, but this is killing me,” he teases.

“Well, I was actually calling to see if you were home and could come by real quick. I seem to have a busted pipe under my kitchen sink and could use a little help here.” I laugh and run my fingers through my wet hair.

“Not really the reason I was hoping you would call me for, but I’ll take it.” I hear him laugh. “I’m between jobs and came home for a bit, so I’ll grab some tools and be right there.”

“Thank you.” I hang up and bend down to check the leak and get more towels to soak up the water. I hear Noah come in a few minutes later when I have my head under the sink. “I’m over here.” My voice muffled from the cabinet.

I hear him walk over as he starts to laugh. I look up at him with an annoyed look. “I tried to fix it by tightening it, and the whole thing came apart. I’m trying to stop it from spraying with these towels, but I’m not having much luck.”

“Here, let me take a look.” I stand up, and he takes my place.

“The piece that holds it together broke. I have some in my tool bag.” He gets up and looks for what he needs. He grabs the part and a tool. “If this ever happens again, all sinks have a shut-off valve underneath, so the first thing you want to do is shut the water off.” He shows me where it is, and I watch him as he turns the water off. “Do you have a bowl I can use? Sometimes there’s a lot of water in the pipes, and I need something to catch it.”

---