Melissa: A Hathaway House Heartwarming Romance by Dale Mayer (good book club books txt) 📕

“Did I ask for space?” she demanded.

“No, you didn’t,” he admitted. “But you also don’t ask when you need help or speak up when it’s too far gone or when something needs to stop.” He watched her wince at that. “So I’m just giving you a chance, without trying to upset you, to give you a bit of distance.”

“Well, I don’t like it,” she snapped.

He nodded. “Can’t say I like it either.”

“Then stop it,” she ordered. “Immediately.”

He faced her, then started to laugh and laugh.

She stood here with her hands on her hips and said, “Why? What’s so funny?”

“You,” he said, “because, honestly, when you make up your mind about something, you’re quite adamant. But, until you make up your mind, you’re insecure about it.”

“I think everybody is,” she said.

“And I agree with that,” he said. “I think most people are insecure, until they make up their mind, and then they’re right there. I just hadn’t really seen it blossom before in you.”

Color washed up her cheeks at his words.

He smiled gently and said, “And I like it.”

Somebody called out from the doorway. He turned to see his next patient.

“And you, my dear, need to head back to whatever you’re up to next.”

She groaned. “I think it’s more lab tests.”

“Good,” he said. “I’ll be interested to see how they turn out.”

“Meaning that my nutrition might be getting better?”

“I think that all the supplementations—and those lovely green drinks that I know you don’t like—should be helping. This will give us a marker to let us know for sure.”

She nodded agreeably and, moving carefully but upright, she headed for the door.

As she got there, he whistled and said, “By the way, it’s looking really good.”

She tossed him a cheeky smile and said, “So are you,” and disappeared around the corner.

He was still smiling to himself as Arnold walked in. “Well, I don’t know what medicine you’re giving her,” he said, “but I want some too.”

At that, Shane burst out laughing. “Same medicine as everybody else,” he said. “Just lots of hard work.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Something pretty special seems to be going on between you two.”

“I hope so,” Shane said. “It’d be nice if I would get that lucky.”

“Ah, so now we’re talking about lucky,” Arnold said, a twinkle in his eyes.

Shane shook his head. “I’ve watched a lot of relationships form in this place over the last year,” he said with a smile. “I just didn’t think it would ever happen to me.”

“It’s always hard being on the outside, isn’t it? Everybody else doesn’t always realize just what it’s like to watch all those around you have a stroke of good luck, and you’re sitting here wondering when and how your world will ever get a break. And then, boom! Just like that, it’s changed.”

“Something like that, yes,” he said. “And I really didn’t think it would change anytime soon for me. But surprise, surprise.”

“I like her. She’s nice,” Arnold said.

“Have you had much to do with her?” Shane asked, curious.

“No, but she’s always around. She’s always polite and friendly. She’s always got a smile, you know? And I don’t care how beautiful a woman is or how much a woman does to make herself beautiful, but, when a natural smile comes from her heart, … it’s more beautiful than anything they could ever do to their face.”

“I agree with you there. I don’t think she really sees that inner beauty.”

“And that just adds to it,” he said. “You’re not always dealing with her ego then.”

“And yet there’s often an insecurity issue,” he reminded Arnold.

“And that just means that she’s insecure about where she stands. Make her feel better about that, and you’ll see her really blossom.”

Arnold’s words stayed with Shane for a long time. He knew, in theory, that was quite true. He’d seen it time and time again with self-confidence in other patients. And he wasn’t sure just what the core issue was with Melissa, but he wanted to be there to see that same blossoming in her. And he wanted it to happen because of him and because she wanted to be with him.

“Which isn’t asking for much,” he muttered to himself. And truly maybe it wasn’t, but it was something that mattered. And that meant he had to do something about it.

Chapter 12

Melissa had meant what she had said to Shane, to Dani, but still that weird disconnect continued on around her. She didn’t like it one bit. Finally a few days later, she debated whether she should even go into the dining room for lunch. She felt … out of sorts. Then she realized she needed food because it’s the only way she would build up enough strength to move herself out of here.

Just the thought of leaving Shane dropped pain into her heart. As she walked with her tray, she frowned at the food.

“Uh-oh,” Dennis said, “I don’t like the look on that face.”

She looked up in surprise, then shrugged. “I was just thinking about taking something and going outside with it,” she said. “I’m feeling a little bit closed in.”

“In that case,” he said, “if you’re up for some sandwiches or some hot pot pies, I’ll make up a picnic basket that you could take outside.”

“Oh.” She tilted her head at him. “Is that possible?”

“In my kitchen, anything’s possible,” he said.

She smiled. “I’d really like that. I’d like to spend some time with the animals.”

“Be right back then,” he said. He disappeared into the kitchen, even with other people in line behind her.

She looked around a little worriedly, but another woman came from the kitchen and took his place, proceeding to help everybody else in the line. Melissa stepped aside. As long as she wasn’t holding people up, it was all good.

Dennis came back a few minutes later and walked around the buffet, so he was out of the kitchen area, then gave her a wicker basket. He said, “Try this for size.”

She lifted it and said, “It’s