I nodded. “Yes, I do.” Somehow I had ended up on the other side of the room. I’d been backing away from him without even realizing it. This shit had to stop.
“I’ll install the internet hub right here, as well. It’s a small house. You should get a signal on a laptop pretty easy, probably even out on the porch.”
He turned back to continue working, and I decided that I’d been reading evil intent into sagging, sallow features.
By the time I’d finished taping off the trim, he was done. He walked me through how everything worked, demonstrated the remote, and gave me the instructions and passwords to get on the internet. He handed me the work order to sign and looked around again, noting the new TV and the bags on the bed.
“You’ve got a lot of nice stuff here. Is it just you?”
I quickly walked him downstairs, wanting to have a locked door between us. He stopped, his eyes raking over me again.
I leaned forward and turned the knob, opening the door.
He reached out for my arm and had opened his mouth to say something when we heard a voice call out from the back of the house.
“Katie? You home?”
Whatever Joe was going to do or say dried up as we heard the back door close. Joe’s mouth snapped shut and he took off, pointedly not rushing.
Turning to meet Mr. Cavanaugh as he came out of the kitchen, I leaned against the closed door, trying to appear more comfortable and confident than I was.
“Say, the furniture looks nice in here, doesn’t it?” He assessed the rooms, nodding, before approaching me cautiously. “I’m sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have walked in like that. It was habit when Nellie was here. I’ll try to remember to knock first. In fact, you should keep the door locked, so even if I forget, I still can’t come in.” He smiled tentatively, waiting to see what kind of reception he’d receive.
I stepped forward and gave him a big hug, which I think surprised him as much as it did me. I was so relieved to have Joe gone and this man in his place, not to mention grateful for my furnished home, that I threw myself at him. He gave me a tight squeeze and chuckled.
“Well, now. This is a surprise. I can’t remember the last time I had a cute little redhead in my arms. I could get used to this. Forget what I said earlier. You leave that door unlocked for me.”
There was something about being surrounded by a strong, protective male that helped me relax. I tucked my head under his chin, his strong arms encircling me. I allowed myself to sink into the hug.
“Are you trembling?” He leaned his head back, trying to get a better look at me.
Muffled by his chest, I said, “Nope.” I’d never understood young women who married septuagenarians. I’d assumed it was for money, but maybe not. Maybe it was for this—strength and warmth and concern.
Another car pulled into the gravel drive and I flinched. Mr. Cavanaugh rubbed his hands up and down my back. “It’s just Aiden.”
I knew I’d have to step away in a second but not yet.
The steps slowed on the porch. A strange stillness enveloped us all, two on this side of the door, one on the other. The beveled glass panels in the front door didn’t offer much privacy, but it wasn’t the hug that needed to be hidden. It was my need for it. I felt movement behind me and the front door quietly opened.
I stepped back, not looking at Aiden. “Thank you for all the beautiful furniture, Mr. Cavanaugh. It feels like home now. I’ll just, um, go get some coffee started.” As I left the room, I heard the low rumble of concerned male voices.
When the men walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, they were wary and observant. Aiden sat at the kitchen table and Mr. Cavanaugh came over to me. “Can I help with the coffee?” He put his arm casually around me, as though we did this all the time.
“Nope. Almost done. You guys want some dinner? I can throw something together.” I still hadn’t turned around, hadn’t looked at Aiden. Did he always have to be around when I was falling apart?
“Sure. I love rice. We might need to heat it up, though,” Aiden said.
I glanced over, looking at my abandoned meal. “I forgot about that. The cable man interrupted my paint break.” I gave Mr. Cavanaugh’s hand at my shoulder a quick squeeze before I walked across the kitchen to check the refrigerator for dinner options.
He leaned against the counter, a smile playing over his lips. “Cable, huh? Does that mean you bought a TV today, too?”
Nodding, I started pulling items from the refrigerator. “Yep. I’m not letting a little thing like no job get me down. I’m going to do some home improvements while I look for work. I may need to go off the island to find a job, but I have a car.”
Aiden shifted in his chair. “Wait. Paint break? What are you painting?”
Hunting through the fridge drawers, I found a chicken breast. I could whip up a skillet fry for dinner. “I got some new bedding and a gallon of paint. I’m starting in the bedroom.” I checked Mr. Cavanaugh’s reaction to that. “You don’t think Gran would mind my changing things, do you?”
He was staring at the floor, lost in thought. At Aiden’s quiet throat clearing, he looked up and beamed at me. “Sorry, just missing my Nellie. I think she’d be very happy that you were making her home all your own. It’s what she wanted.” His nod and smile were bittersweet as he took a seat at the table with Aiden.
