Page 24 of Timeless Valentine

My mother only said that when I was a tiny child. In my teenage years, she became much more stoic. "Things will turn out the way they will turn out. Good, bad, it doesn't really matter. All we can do is work hard and be prepared for the worst, just in case."

Not exactly a very uplifting mental environment.

And now Mom barely knows who I am, and lives in a fog of old TV reruns and board games with a few of the other women in the home.

I want to let myself love Leo. Not just for the sake of knowing love, and having someone on my team. I truly love him for who he is — the most brilliant and open-minded businessman I've ever met, creative and spontaneous in new situations. Loving and tender and sensual. He's everything to me.

Yet I still can't change my schedule for him. If I knew that he really, truly had that fact lodged in his mind, and wasn't going to try to change me, maybe I could hope. Could I?

My phone buzzes with a text.

Leo:I'm sorry to bother you during work, and I'll try to make sure this never happens again, but may I please have your email address?

I'm impressed that he understands. After sending him the address, I tidy up the office and get ready to leave, then refresh my email.

He's sent me a file done in HourFlow. As it opens, my hand flies up to cover my gasp. It's a detailed schedule of myweek, color-coded with each job. He's even added stylish icons of a flower, a laptop, and a stack of books for each different workplace.

There is a blue free zone at noon on Mondays and Thursdays, with a comment that perhaps he could take me to lunch on those days. Another blue zone on Sunday afternoons and evenings, with another sweet comment: "Laundry, dinner and perhaps Leo could stay over?"

He has even marked the different transit times for if he drives me compared to if I take the bus. Which implies that he understands that he will not be driving me all the time. That is a huge relief, and gives me a prickle of real hope.

Then I see the notes section at the bottom.

"Hey, Grace. These blue zones are just suggestions, of course, and I am completely open to your thoughts. But I know you love this program, and I thought seeing everything in a clean visual style would help us both.

"I understand that you're not in a position to decrease your hours at any of your jobs right now. However, I think I have a solution that will ensure you don't have to take on anything else to afford your mother's care.

"How would you feel about continuing to use my delivery service for your weekly groceries? That way we could shop and do meal prep together every week. Plus, if I take you out to dinner once a week, and a couple of lunches, that will also keep your food costs down. I'd be happy to run the numbers with you, but I think that will probably be more than enough to cover the increase in your mother’s care bill.

"I am sure you know that I would love to pay more of your expenses, and maybe you'll be comfortable with that in time. I'd be happy to assess things once a month.

"I can't live without you, Grace. I will adapt to your schedule. I will follow your rules. Whatever time you have to give me would be a gift.

"All my love, Leo."

Tears are spilling down my cheeks as Councilor Richmond comes out of the kitchen with his Valentine flowers for his wife in hand. "Grace, are you all right?"

I nod, grabbing a tissue. "Sorry. Happy tears."

He gives me an understanding smile. "Good. Why don't you take off early?"

"Thanks."

I already know that Leo will be out front, standing in front of his car, so I take a few seconds to dry my eyes and fluff my hair. Sure enough, he is there, and seems relieved when I approach with a smile: "Wow, you're getting pretty comfortable with HourFlow, aren't you?"

Leo chuckles. "I have the very best teacher. Are you able to give me another lesson this Sunday at the laundromat?"

I step closer, but force myself to stop just out of arm's reach. "Ian responded to my email. He won't pay any more than fifty-fifty each."

I watch Leo's eyes carefully when I say that. He seems genuinely upset by my disappointment, rather than thrilled that this might make me dependent on him.

Somehow, that strips my last bit of hesitation away. Leo doesn't want me to be beholden to him. He doesn't want power over me. He just wants me to be happy.

"I'm so sorry, Grace." His voice is quiet and somber. "It must be hard to have a brother who isn't really a brother."

"Yeah."

He steps closer, a little cautiously. "You saw my plan to help your budget, with me paying for groceries?"

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