Page 113 of Without You

“Katie. What’s going through your mind? Are you mad? What’s happening here?”

She shakes her head, which tells me absolutely nothing.

I let her get out more tears before I can’t stand it any longer and I move her so I can see her face. Using my thumbs to wipe away the wetness from her cheeks, I kiss her lips that are soaked with her tears.

“Sad? Mad? Happy? What is it?” Normally I can read her so well but this time, I have no clue.

“Happy,” she finally says and I blow out a breath.

“Thank goodness.”

“You did this?”

“I did. It’s yours.”

“I don’t know…” She trails off, looking at the building in front of her in awe. “Brody Redding, you’re the most amazing man in the world, you know that?”

“No, I’m not. It’s just easy to be good to you.”

“Agree to disagree then. Will you show me around?”

“Of course. Like I said, it’s yours. If there’s anything you want changed, you just have to say. Chad’s ready to make changes if you want.”

“Chad helped?”

“Of course. Who else would I hire to build your future?”

“My future.” She starts crying again and I jump into action, opening the door and walking her inside.

“Welcome to Benton Wellness Center, Katie.”

“Brody…”

“You like it?” I ask her, looking around, trying to see it from her eyes. “It’s a blank canvas. Chad did all the major work so now all we need to do is the design stuff. Figured you’d like a hand in picking out the furniture and all that jazz. Paint colors are neutral, but each room can be changed.”

Katie walks around the building, soaking it all in.

“I can’t believe it. It’s real.”

“It is.”

“You did all this?”

“No. You’re the one who dreamed it, Katie. I just got it started. This isn’t me. It’s all you. The fact that you wanted to build a wellness center here in Benton is incredible and necessary.”

She sits down in the middle of the floor, crossing her legs and biting her lip. “I’m sitting in the main waiting area right now.”

“That’s what I figured, too. A reception desk here.” I walk to the side of the room, spreading my arms out. “I remember you saying that you wanted it to be open and welcome, not like someone has to check in right when they come inside.”

She nods and I help her stand up so we can walk around to the rest of the area.

“Here, I was thinking the therapy room or maybe for the aesthetician to do the facials you mentioned.”

“Therapy. Definitely. It has that south facing window and won’t let in glaring sunlight but will give us enough.” We walk to the next room and she announces before I can, “Yoga studio.”

“Yeah. Exactly. Chad said he can do something different with the floor if you need? Obviously we’re a little ignorant when it comes to yoga so that’s your choice.”

When we get to the smaller room across the hall, I explain, “So this would be the facial place?”

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