held up her arm. “I’m mending like a champ, according to the doctor.”
“Great!” He gave her a quick hug, then marched back to Holly, who hadn’t budged. “You were on your way out when I stopped you?”
She nodded.
He breathed a little easier. At least she’d collected her emotions and didn’t look ready to burst into tears again. “May I walk you home?”
“What about your sister and niece?”
“They’re going out for goodies.” He was actually pleased at this turn of events. Not because Holly was hurting, but because it gave his sister and niece free time to explore without having to worry about inconveniencing him, which April seemed to always worry about.
“Oh.” She frowned. “Good for them.”
“What’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing, because I’m not blind.”
“Okay. I guess you could walk me home, then.”
He started toward the sliding doors and was pleased when she kept pace with him. Whatever had her down must be big, because he’d never seen her like this. Sure she was more serious now than when they were teens, but this was different.
They strolled side by side to the edge of the sidewalk.
“This is where it gets tricky.” He took her trembling elbow and guided her though a pile of snow on the side of the road. Good thing they both wore boots. “Holly?”
“Hmm?”
“When did you last eat?”
“I’m not sure. Why?”
“Just thinking about your blood sugar.”
“How’d you know about that?”
“You’re shaking, and you almost passed out at your parents’, remember?”
Her face fell, and she looked as though she might burst into tears.
“What did I say?” He dipped his head to look into her eyes. “I’d like to help if you’ll let me.”
“Okay, thanks.” When they reached her building she led the way to the stairwell that went up to her second-story apartment.
He followed and stopped at the top, waiting for her to unlock the door. “May I come in?” He didn’t feel right about leaving her alone. She needed someone, and by the sound of it, she needed food, too.
“Sure.” She slipped off her boots and left them beside the door. “I’m going to change. Be right back. Make yourself at home. There’s soda, water and milk in the fridge. Or, if you prefer, coffee is on the counter and the hot chocolate mix is beside it.” She headed to a bedroom and closed the door.
Matthew looked around the space and noted the small galley kitchen. He could at least make her a sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate. He preferred cocoa made from scratch, but this prepackaged mix stuff was okay in a pinch.
A loaf of whole wheat bread sat on the counter. He pulled open the fridge door and found cold cuts, sliced cheese, lettuce, tomato and mustard. The sight of the mustard brought to mind a memory from high school. Holly wouldn’t remember, but he’d once stood behind her in the lunch line and noticed that she’d grabbed packs of mustard and no mayo for the sandwich she’d purchased.
He pulled open cupboards until he found the plates, then slapped the sandwich together. He slid the plate across the counter to the seating area and waited. Why was it taking her so long to change?
“You doing okay, Holly?”
“Be there in a minute.”
He wandered to a window that looked out onto Front Street. The sidewalks below were clear of snow and a few shoppers wandered in and out of the businesses, which reminded him—he needed to get back to his bakery soon. He’d spent way too much time away from the place since his sister had come to town. Even though he was enjoying the time off and his staff was great, the boss needed to be there. But not for the first time he was thankful for George, his dependable baking assistant.
“Sorry for taking so long.”
He turned from the window and took in the vision before him. Perfectly fitting jeans covered her long legs, complemented by a purple sweater. Her auburn hair set off her green eyes and cascaded straight to
“Great!” He gave her a quick hug, then marched back to Holly, who hadn’t budged. “You were on your way out when I stopped you?”
She nodded.
He breathed a little easier. At least she’d collected her emotions and didn’t look ready to burst into tears again. “May I walk you home?”
“What about your sister and niece?”
“They’re going out for goodies.” He was actually pleased at this turn of events. Not because Holly was hurting, but because it gave his sister and niece free time to explore without having to worry about inconveniencing him, which April seemed to always worry about.
“Oh.” She frowned. “Good for them.”
“What’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing, because I’m not blind.”
“Okay. I guess you could walk me home, then.”
He started toward the sliding doors and was pleased when she kept pace with him. Whatever had her down must be big, because he’d never seen her like this. Sure she was more serious now than when they were teens, but this was different.
They strolled side by side to the edge of the sidewalk.
“This is where it gets tricky.” He took her trembling elbow and guided her though a pile of snow on the side of the road. Good thing they both wore boots. “Holly?”
“Hmm?”
“When did you last eat?”
“I’m not sure. Why?”
“Just thinking about your blood sugar.”
“How’d you know about that?”
“You’re shaking, and you almost passed out at your parents’, remember?”
Her face fell, and she looked as though she might burst into tears.
“What did I say?” He dipped his head to look into her eyes. “I’d like to help if you’ll let me.”
“Okay, thanks.” When they reached her building she led the way to the stairwell that went up to her second-story apartment.
He followed and stopped at the top, waiting for her to unlock the door. “May I come in?” He didn’t feel right about leaving her alone. She needed someone, and by the sound of it, she needed food, too.
“Sure.” She slipped off her boots and left them beside the door. “I’m going to change. Be right back. Make yourself at home. There’s soda, water and milk in the fridge. Or, if you prefer, coffee is on the counter and the hot chocolate mix is beside it.” She headed to a bedroom and closed the door.
Matthew looked around the space and noted the small galley kitchen. He could at least make her a sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate. He preferred cocoa made from scratch, but this prepackaged mix stuff was okay in a pinch.
A loaf of whole wheat bread sat on the counter. He pulled open the fridge door and found cold cuts, sliced cheese, lettuce, tomato and mustard. The sight of the mustard brought to mind a memory from high school. Holly wouldn’t remember, but he’d once stood behind her in the lunch line and noticed that she’d grabbed packs of mustard and no mayo for the sandwich she’d purchased.
He pulled open cupboards until he found the plates, then slapped the sandwich together. He slid the plate across the counter to the seating area and waited. Why was it taking her so long to change?
“You doing okay, Holly?”
“Be there in a minute.”
He wandered to a window that looked out onto Front Street. The sidewalks below were clear of snow and a few shoppers wandered in and out of the businesses, which reminded him—he needed to get back to his bakery soon. He’d spent way too much time away from the place since his sister had come to town. Even though he was enjoying the time off and his staff was great, the boss needed to be there. But not for the first time he was thankful for George, his dependable baking assistant.
“Sorry for taking so long.”
He turned from the window and took in the vision before him. Perfectly fitting jeans covered her long legs, complemented by a purple sweater. Her auburn hair set off her green eyes and cascaded straight to
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