“And they are?”
“You get to either rest until it’s time to check your vitals again . . . or let the person who’s been sitting outside your room for the last hour come inside to visit.”
“Someone’s been waiting out in the hall for me?” It didn’t make any sense. Her parents would have told her about Dr. and Mrs. Ross. She’d been their children’s nanny for years. Or perhaps it was Joanne, another longtime friend.
Actually, they would have ushered any of her friends in the door.
Unless . . .
With both a sense of foreboding and excitement, she whispered, “Trudy, who has been sitting out there?”
“A very handsome firefighter named Rob.”
“Rob is here?”
Trudy’s smile turned into a wide grin. “Aha! I knew there was something between the two of you! Are you two close friends?”
Once, they were. Once, they were so much more than that. “I don’t know.”
Some of the excitement that had been shining in Trudy’s eyes dimmed. “Well, he came to see you. Do you wish to see him? You don’t have to, you know.”
Nine months ago, she’d broken his heart. Nine months ago, she’d told him they didn’t have a future. And after he’d turned around and walked away, she’d realized she’d made the biggest mistake of her life.
“Jah, I do,” she said softly, looking at the door. “Please, send Rob on in.”
Chapter 3
The petite firecracker who was Hannah’s nurse ushered Rob into the room with a far more subdued air than five minutes before. “If you’ll come this way?” she said very properly.
Walking behind her, Rob wondered what Hannah had told the nurse about him. Obviously, it wasn’t anything good. Was she still determined never to speak to him again? But if that was the case, why had she agreed to let him visit?
Maybe it was so she could tell him to leave her alone.
Just the idea of listening to those words brought forth a fresh wave of confusion and pain. Just as it usually did. No, just as it had from the time she’d broken up with him.
Unfortunately, he feared that had become their new normal. Around Hannah Eicher, he never knew the right way to act. It was crazy, really. Most people considered him to be an okay guy. Maybe even a catch. He was well-off, made a pretty good living writing mysteries, and now spent thirty hours a week as a fireman. That job had transformed his body. Made him stronger, bigger. The job had also changed his whole perspective on life. Risks were always involved, but even in the worst circumstances, it was possible to see blessings.
Yep, for pretty much everyone else, he was someone to be respected or at least to be friends with.
With Hannah? He was reduced to being completely unsuitable. He’d tried to avoid her at all costs because of that—up until last night, he hadn’t even known where she lived.
The moment he caught sight of her, he simply stopped and stared. How could a woman who’d just survived a fire still look so beautiful?
“You may stay ten minutes,” Trudy announced in a stern tone before casting a meaningful look in Hannah’s direction. Then, with her chin held high, she left, leaving the door open about six inches.
Presumably so Hannah could call for help.
Looking back at Hannah, he smiled tentatively. Her eyes were as wide and innocent looking as he remembered. And, just like always, he found himself marveling at how very blue they were. “Hey.”
“Hello, Rob.” She seemed to focus on him for a few more long moments before looking down at her bandaged hands.
Okay, then. She felt that awkwardness, too. But at least she wasn’t yelling at him. Walking to her side, he pointed to the chair. “May I sit down?”
“Of course.” Sounding shy, she continued. “You don’t have to ask something like that.”
“I didn’t want to impose.”
To his surprise, she didn’t look all that pleased about his hesitancy. No, she looked almost pained. What was going on?
“You . . . you aren’t imposing.” She waved a hand. “Sit down now.”
He finally did, leaning forward and resting his hands on the metal bars on the side of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. Stunned? Frightened?” More faintly, she murmured, “Pained.”
“I imagine all of those things are normal.” He’d seen many survivors of devastating fires who were so shaken up, they were hardly coherent.
She pursed her lips.
He placed two fingers on his temple. “How is your head doing?”
“They told me I received ten stitches.”
“Ouch.”
A faint light of humor entered her eyes. “I’m thankful that it’s nothing worse.”
“Your wound looked bad. I asked the staff when I arrived if you had a concussion. They said no.”
She blinked. “What do you mean it looked bad?”
Did she not realize he’d been on the scene? “Well, I . . . ” He swallowed. “I was one of the firefighters who was called to your apartment.”
“You were there, Rob? At my apartment? Truly?”
It was becoming impossible to figure out how she was feeling. He’d come to visit even though he’d realized there was a real good chance that she’d refuse to see him. He’d entered the room prepared to be either ignored or firmly put in his place.
But neither of those things had happened. In contrast, it seemed as if she was feeling uncomfortable around him. As if she was the one who was harboring regrets.
How could that be?
“Well, yes,” he finally replied. “I was on shift when the alarm came through. Then, when we got there, your dog was barking like crazy. My captain is a little skittish around dogs, so I volunteered to go in first.” Already hating to recall the scene that he was sure would stay with him the rest of his days, he continued. “When we broke down the door, your dog was standing guard over you, looking scared but determined to protect you no matter what.”
The first hint of a smile appeared on her lips. “Jah. That sounds like Daisy.”
“She seemed like a good dog, Hannah. Daisy is very loyal.”
“Is she all right? I assumed my parents had her.” Pressing a hand to her forehead, she grimaced. “Oh my word. I was so irritated with my parents, I forgot to ask. I didn’t even think.” Her bottom lip trembled; then she tried to catch herself. “Rob, did my Daisy die in the fire?”
“What? No. Oh no.” He leaned forward. Reached out a hand before he remembered that she wasn’t his to touch anymore. “I took her home.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Well, she had to go somewhere, and Rose is old now. I figured she wouldn’t mind the company.” Hoping to alleviate her stress, he decided to give Hannah a sunnier version of what had really happened. “After we doctored Daisy up and wiped her down with a warm rag, we gave her some food and water at the firehouse.” He smiled. “She ate everything without a problem. Then, when I got off shift, I took her home and introduced her to Rose. They did a little bit of circling and sniffing but seemed to get along well enough.”
“Daisy is a friendly sort. I’m glad she isn’t in a kennel or shelter.”
“I wouldn’t have done that.”
“Danke.”
“You’re welcome, but I was glad to do it. It . . . well, it was the least I could do for an old friend.” He almost bit his tongue for saying something so . . . so meaningless. Hannah Eicher wasn’t simply an old friend to him.
She would always be something more. From the first time he’d met her on the street and escorted her to the Rosses’ house, he’d been smitten.
And “smitten” had been the operative word. She’d been adorable and so fresh. He’d been sure she was naïve and innocent and guileless—but she’d set him straight about that in short order.
He’d soon realized that she was as strong as any woman working in the center of New York City. Only far more attractive than any other woman he’d met in a
long, long time.
She sighed. “I don’t know what we are anymore.”
“We don’t have to talk about that now. You need to get better.” He sat down again. Gripped the edge of the wooden chair so he wouldn’t do anything stupid, like reaching for her hand or smoothing a lock of hair from her face.
“Rob?”
“Hmm?”
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course. You may ask me anything you want.”
“Would you please take care of Daisy for a few days? I know it’s an imposition, but the doctors seem to think I might be here one more day.”
“Of course I will, and it’s not an imposition. She’ll be fine.” Wondering why Hannah didn’t want her parents to watch the dog, he said carefully, “When you’re ready for her, you can send word to the firehouse and I’ll bring her to your parents’ house.”
“Nee.”
“Okay.” So, she didn’t want him anywhere near her family. Hurt coursed through him again before he firmly pushed it aside. “How about this, then? You can pick Daisy up from my house as soon as you are ready. Maybe the Rosses can let you know when I’m around?”
“Jah. I can do that. Would you be able to leave me your phone number? I’ll call you when I know what I’m doing. I need to find a place to live . . .”
As each word registered, a dozen questions filled his head. Why? Why wasn’t she going home to her parents? Why was she all alone? Why did she want to have him watch Daisy? . . . Did she really not have anyone else in her life she could trust?
But instead of badgering Hannah, he stood up and crossed the room to the little desk by the window. Picking up the pen, he scribbled his cell phone number and the number of the firehouse, in case she changed her mind. Knowing that his neighbors were going to be concerned about her, too, he wrote down their numbers, just in case she didn’t have Melissa’s and York’s numbers memorized.
Then he carried the notepad to her and placed it on her bedside table.
“I’m going to let you rest. Do you need anything before I go? Water, food? Are you in pain? Is it time for more painkillers?” He gestured to the door. “I can go get the nurse again. . . . ”
“I don’t need anything more, Rob.” Her eyes looked tired now. The lids were almost at half-mast. “Thank you for coming here to see me.”
Unable to stop himself any longer, he gave in to temptation and brushed away a lock of her fine, silky blond hair. His fingers brushed her cheeks. Felt her soft skin.
He bit back the wave of longing he suddenly felt.
“Good-bye, Hannah.”
She stiffened before nodding slowly. “Good-bye.”
He turned before he said anything else. Before he did another thing that would make her never want to see him again.
When she didn’t say anything as he closed her door, he counted that silence as a sign of success.
After all, he already knew what it was like to be told that she didn’t want to see him again. To be informed that everything he’d thought they’d been was mostly one-sided.
Yep, he knew exactly how it felt to be rejected. It hurt and sliced and made him feel ashamed for even imagining that he’d found love.
It wasn’t something that he ever wanted to experience again. And he wouldn’t, not if he could help it.
Chapter 4
“And this, obviously, is a new robe and slipper set,” Melissa Ross announced as she pulled a pale pink quilted robe out of a shopping bag.
Hannah reached out to touch the slick, cool satin and almost gasped, it felt so wonderful. No doubt, it would feel deliciously sinful against her skin.
On the heels of that reaction was a burst of embarrassment. Where in the world had such a thought come from? She hastily folded her hands on her lap.
Mrs. Ross noticed. “Hannah, do you not care for it?” Placing the robe on her own lap, she eyed it in concern. “Is it too worldly looking? If so, I’ll get you something different. Maybe a sturdy robe in white or navy terry cloth?”
“Nee!”
Melissa’s eyes widened. “Oh. All right.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ross. I know I’m not making sense.” She cleared her throat. “I think the robe is beautiful and soft. I will enjoy it very much and can’t think of another one that I would like better.”
“Are you sure? Because I don’t mind going back to the store. . . . ”
“Please don’t.” She not only loved the robe—perhaps too much—but also knew the Rosses didn’t have a bit of extra time. Melissa Ross was a bank manager and her husband was a doctor. They both worked a lot and now, with her gone, Hannah could only imagine the chaos that was ensuing at their usually well-organized home. Christopher, their son, was almost three and Dot, their baby, was nine months old.
“Okay then. I won’t.” She smiled, but her expression was tight. “Hannah, are you sure you’re okay? I mean, besides your injuries?”
She was tempted to fib and assure Melissa that she was but ended up shaking her head. “I’m really not. Practically everything in my apartment is gone. It’s going to be hard to start over.”
Of course, what she really meant was that it was going to be hard to go back home with her family. She worried that her well-meaning parents were going to do everything they possibly could to persuade her to fit back into the mold they’d tried so hard to shape her into. The mold where she was a gut Amish woman who still mourned for Paul.
She would be cautioned against working for any more Eng-lischers and be told that perhaps the Lord hadn’t liked her living on her own.
Melissa crossed her legs and put the other gift bag she’d been holding on the floor. “Hannah, about that . . . ”
“Yes?”
“Well, um, I’ve been thinking. I mean, York and I have.”
“Oh?” It took effort, but Hannah attempted to look interested instead of scared to death. What was she going to do if they fired her?
She really couldn’t lose her job now, too.
“Well, York and I came up with an idea, though now that I’m sitting here, talking to you? I must confess to being a little worried.”
Hannah bit the inside of her lip so she wouldn’t interrupt.
Melissa breathed in deep. “I mean, I don’t want you to feel obligated or feel that we’d want you to work all the time. . . . ” Her voice drifted off again.
Work? “Maybe you could simply tell me what is on your mind?” Maybe even as soon as possible?
Melissa pressed a palm to the center of her chest. “Of course. I’m rambling, aren’t I?” She laughed softly. “I don’t know what it is about you, Hannah. At work, I never hesitate. But with you? Well, there’s something about you that makes me want to weigh my words extra carefully.” Looking a little embarrassed, she shook her head. “Goodness. I mean, what I’m trying to say is that I have a real soft spot for you and I never want you to think that we aren’t putting your needs first.”
“Mrs. Ross, what have you and Dr. Ross been discussing?”
“Oh! I guess I haven’t told you, have I? Um, what I’m trying to say is that we want you to move in with us, Hannah.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. You know that storage room in the basement?” Before Hannah could do more than nod, she continued. “Now, I know you are probably thinking that you don’t want to live in a storage room, but there’s a window and it’s been built to code.”
“Code?”
“Yes. I mean, it’s safe in emergencies. It’s also carpeted and is completely finished. We’d make it nice for you, too. Put in a bed and a chair and a light.” She waved a hand. “You know, all the sorts of things that one would expect in a room.”
It sounded wonderful. Wunderbaar. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind me being there?”
“We want you there.” Melissa stood up, fussing with the tote bags she’d brought. “We’d give you privacy, too. I’d tell the kids that we have to leave you alone on your off times so you can be free to come and g
o as you see fit.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh! I almost forgot. I know there is only a half bathroom downstairs, so you can use the shower off the laundry room. It’s not the most convenient, I know, but at least your sink and a toilet is downstairs—”
“Danke,” she said quickly. “I accept.”
Just as Melissa looked about ready to dive into another long speech, she sputtered to a stop. “Thank you? Does that mean you’ll do it?”
“You are making it sound like I am doing you a favor instead of the other way around. But yes, thank you for the offer. Yes, I would love to live at your house for a while.”
“You are welcome as long as you want. Oh, I can’t wait to tell York. He’s going to be so excited! We’ll get to work on your room tonight. When will you be released?”
“The doktah said I’m free to go tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Looking much more like her usual confident self, Melissa sat back down. “York and I will look at our schedules and figure things out. Don’t you fret, though—one of us will be here to pick you up when you’re released.”
“Perhaps I could call for a driver?”
“No, don’t do that. I think Rob said he could watch the babies for us,” she mused, then looked at Hannah in shock. “Oh. My. Word. Rob. You’re going to have to see him even more. I didn’t even think about the Rob Factor.”
“The Rob Factor?”
“Yes. Well, um, York and I really like Rob. He’s a good neighbor, and York and he get along great.”
“Of course you do. Rob is a good man. So is York.”
Melissa smiled quickly before her pleased expression disappeared. “Thank you, dear. But what I’m trying to say is that with Rob, we’ve set some perimeters.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“Boundaries. For example, we told him we wouldn’t discuss what happened between the two of you. Well, I mean, I wouldn’t. I have a feeling he and York have had some discussions. Rob was pretty hurt.”
Which made her feel even worse. “I imagine.”
“Oh dear. We also asked him not to bother you when you come to our house. We didn’t want you to have to worry about him talking to you whenever you were there.”
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