Page 21 of Timeless Valentine

12

LEO

Ialways try to understand what makes people tick. It helps me figure out which engineers and scientists belong in which position. It's not just about the work itself. It's about challenges, problems, and their own personal drives.

Sometimes people have things deeply ingrained in their psyches that can cause huge reactions when you least expect them.

I'm already pretty sure why Grace can't let herself trust me, or depend on me.

Her father deserted the family when she was young. Her brother has the means to help more, but doesn't. If Grace has had a string of jobs over the years, no doubt she's also had countless bosses who have taken advantage of her sweet, kind-hearted nature and exploited it in various ways.

Meanwhile her mother is ill, and needs full-time care. My poor, sweet darling.

Trying to go about my work is difficult, since my thoughts are only of Grace. I check Web News Kingsville for an update on the transit strike, and it looks like it will be at least a few more days before the two sides reach an agreement.

I wait until noon to send Grace a text.

I know you're angry, but please allow me to drive you from the office to the flower shop tonight? I can't stand the thought of you walking so far when you're already tired.

An hour later, she replies.

No.

That single word is a gut punch. I get that she is angry. Hell, I'm angry at myself for glancing at her mail.

But she is under so much stress from a problem that I can fix in less than five minutes and I hate that I can't just take care of it for her. For a second, I'm tempted to simply make a phone call and pay for an entire year.

No. Throwing more fuel on the fire is not the right plan at the moment.

Staring into my coffee mug, my fingers drum on the desk as crazy ideas run through my mind one after the other. Can I speak to all three of her bosses, and pay for her to get huge raises through them? Again, no. Grace would see through that in a heartbeat. Perhaps I can fake some sort of sweepstakes win? I don't even know if she plays games like that.

That's the problem. We've been together for such a short time that I don't know all those little details yet.

I know that she is proud. Independent. Smart. That she will instantly see through any of these haywire ideas if I try something, and then get mad that I tried to pull the wool over her eyes.

And she would be totally within her rights to be.

After ordering in lunch, I force myself to power through my actual work so that I can move onto a project that is personally much more important.

After a bit of research, I discover The Usher Residences, situated just a forty-minute drive outside of Kingsville. It's a long-term care facility that's designed like a small village, so that residents can receive more care on their bad days and can go out on their good ones with staff all around supervising, disguised as gardeners and other workers, and fellow townspeople.

It's a brilliant idea. It's also incredibly expensive, but that means nothing to me.

Once Grace knows that we're in it together for the long haul, I'm sure she will come around.

After sending a query email, I turn to the more immediate problem at hand.

How can I look after Grace during one of her busiest weeks of the year when she won't even speak to me?

13

GRACE

Thank goodness all the men in the office left early for the day. They have no idea I have other jobs, because I wouldn't want them to think they aren't my top priority, but just this once, I gather my things and prepare to close the office five minutes early.

I have to walk to the flower shop and I'll be on my feet for the entire shift, so I don't want to have to race there and waste energy.

After locking the office, I hurry outside where a fancy town car is waiting with a friendly, stocky man standing in front. "Miss Aldworth?"

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