“You and your brothers can stay here. I’ll stay downstairs with Jim. So go ahead and have a look around.”
She seemed shocked by the offer. Had she thought I would stay with her? I wanted to kick myself. Was it too late to take it back?
Before I could say anything, her scent sweetened with excitement, and she nodded and stepped through the door.
Damn.
Jim grinned knowingly at me. I gave him a light shove and stepped inside to follow her.
The main door led to a living room similar to Nana Wini’s. Unlike Nana’s place, no wall divided the kitchen and the living room.
“I decorated,” Jim said with false pride. The humor wafting from him made me want to groan as I eyed the battered sofa and the lamp that was on the floor beside it.
“Where’d you shop?” I said under my breath. “A dumpster?”
Michelle glanced at an old tube television that sat on a worn breakfast cart with wheels, then moved on to the kitchen. There wasn’t much to look at. The area had a breakfast bar with two mismatched stools, a fridge, a stove, and a microwave. The trio quickly moved down the hall.
The first room had a new queen-sized bed.
“I made the master bedroom into a weight room combination office,” Jim said with a huge grin.
“I bet.”
Michelle’s expression was priceless when she saw the free weights on the floor and an office chair in the corner. Nothing else.
I laughed and shook my head at Jim.
“We’ll get better furniture soon,” I told her.
“No, everything’s perfect,” she said.
Her steady pulse told me she really believed her words. Where had she come from that this was perfect?
“I’ll run down and get your things,” I said, pulling Jim along with me.
Jim waved good night to the boys, who stood staring at us.
I purposely left the door open as we left and almost regretted it.
“She’s hot,” Jim said in a normal voice.
I tried to hit him, but he dodged and took off down the stairs. I followed, almost catching him at the landing.
“I would think the two of you would have something better to do than chase each other,” Winifred said from her living room.
“Yes, Nana,” Jim said innocently and without stopping.
He and I reached the truck at the same time.
“So how’d you meet? Any more like her?” Jim said, leaning against the truck as I went to the back to lift my bike down.
“The same day I called you, I stopped at some little diner. She and her brothers came in as I was eating.”
“And was it like Dad said? You just knew?”
I set the bike on the ground and nodded.
“Yeah. One look and I knew. Then her scent...it was like I’d found home.”
“Wow. That’s really sappy.”
“Shut up.” I took the car seats out of the truck bed next.
“Want me to put the bike in the garage for you?”
“I don’t want you touching my bike.”
“Want me to bring Michelle her toothbrush?” he asked, reaching in the bed to grab the plastic bag
“I want you to go steal us some cookies and change the sheets on your spare bed.”
Jim laughed and sauntered away.
After I parked the bike in the garage and stowed the car seats, I brought the bag to the apartment. The door was still open but there weren’t any sounds coming from inside. I tapped on the door as I looked in.
They were just standing in the center of the room, studying the place like it was a palace.
I need to get them decent furniture, I sent to Winifred.
I agree. However, I don’t think you should purchase any for that apartment. The one across the hall is bigger and will work better for a growing family.
The one across the hall isn’t finished.
Do you have something better to do with your time?
She had a point. Now that Michelle and her brothers were here, I didn’t want to leave them every day to go work with Jim. Not until they were truly settled in.
“Here are your things,” I said when Michelle turned to look at me.
“Thank you, Emmitt.”
She came to take the bag from me and our hands touched briefly. It was lightning to my gut. I wanted more. But, she turned away to hand the bag to Liam.
“Can you put these in the bathroom?”
When I had her attention once more, I could see the weary set of her shoulders.
“Good night, Michelle. Come downstairs if you need anything.”