To Forgive & Hold Safe (The Broken Men Chronicles Book 4) by Carey Decevito Page B

her?” I asked.
    “You can all go right in if you want.  Be mindful that she really should be getting some rest.  As simple as the procedure was, she’s still healing from the accident.”
    I nodded.  “Right.”
    “Thank you, doctor.” Adam shook the physician’s hand.
     
    After Hannah’s procedure, I checked up on her.  With her reassurances that she was okay, Hannah sent me off on my way, thanking me for being there.
    I went back to Fairfax to finalize my orders and tend to a few bills that required approval and payment.  I worked on payroll, signed some cheques, and dropped them in their respective employee slots for pickup.  All this before I headed back to the hospital for the dinner I promised Hannah.
    “Hey,” the woman in question said as I came in with a large brown paper bag filled with food for us.  She pushed herself to sit upright with a slight grimace.  “What have you got there?  It smells great.”
    “I own a pub,” I said.  “I figured that I’d bring something from there.  After my accident, I remember the lackluster menu options and the hankering for a good burger and fries.”
    Hannah laughed, but just as sudden, her face lost all of its humor. “I don’t eat meat.”
    I froze at her statement.  “Oh…” Well this was awkward!
    Just as my discomfort began to show on my face, Hannah burst into a belly laugh.  My eyes narrowed right then. “I’m just kidding!  It’s like you read my mind, actually.”
    I shook my head at her.  I’d been had.  “I have a feeling that no one gets bored around you, do they?”
    “Not that I’ve witnessed first-hand, no.”  She winced as she attempted to lean forward and pat the mattress of the bed.  “Sit.”
    Instead of sitting on my usual chair, I sat at the foot of the bed, my legs crossed as if we were having a picnic.
    “I wasn’t sure what you wanted on it so I brought everything on the side.” I began to pull out everything.  “So what’ll it be?”
    Her eyes widened when I finished putting her burger together and handed it over.  I grabbed my ready-made one and set the container of fries with its separate containers of ketchup, mayo and one of gravy between us.
    Her laugh was light.  “What, that’s it?”
    “I had to cover my bases, but I can’t say that I’d be shocked that you wanted something that I-”
    She put a hand on my knee. “Still kidding, Ben.  Thank you.  This is great.”
    I shrugged my shoulders.  “We’ve got to eat, right?”
    “So tell me about that place of yours,” she said, while lifting her burger to her mouth.

Chapter 1 8
    I was delighted to find out that Hannah had a penchant for cooking… well, baking, really – an art in itself that I lacked talent and patience in, but I did enjoy its consumption.
    It was serendipitous that she and I had crossed paths numerous times over the last few years without even realizing it until now.
    As it turns out, the bakery that was a few blocks down from Fairfax was hers!  For the life of me, I had no recollection of ever seeing her in there before, and I’ve been there often.
    What I’d noticed though, was that business had been good for her. Within the first year she had expanded, taking over the place next door.  The café had a library, where customers were able to come in and checkout various literary works.  On a few nights, throughout each month, she also had live entertainment.  Every time I’d been in there, it always hit me how refreshing and homey the place felt.  There was something there for everyone, making her business sense impeccable… not to mention her desserts – they had you coming back for more.
    “Lee thought that I was crazy for starting Cake It Up ,” she blurted between bites.  “I guess he forgot that I was one of those women hell-bent on proving anyone who thought my notions ridiculous that I could do it.”
    “What did he say when you expanded within the first year?”
    “You noticed?” I