Page 43 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
He nodded. “Thank you.”
I turned to peer through a doorway in the bedroom. It appeared I even had my own private bathroom. I ached for a nice hot shower. “Would it be rude of me to take a shower right now?”
Cal chuckled and shook his head. “Not at all. Take your time. Everything you might need is in there. There’s a robe on the back of the door. Extra towels are under the bathroom sink. Just let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will.”
Cal went back out into the hall and paused with his hand on the door handle. “I’m happy that you’re here, Lina. I know the circumstances aren’t ideal, but we’ll get through this. I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“I appreciate it.”
He nodded and left, leaving me standing in the middle of a very beautiful room. I clasped my hands together and looked around. A couple candles had been left around. A box of matches sat on the nightstand beside the alarm clock. The artwork on the walls was sophisticated and simple.
Cal had done really well for himself. I was lucky to have him looking out for me, lucky to have a home like this to get my senses back.
As I padded down the hall to the bathroom, I wondered, dimly if I had a home like this somewhere. Was it waiting for me to return? To remember?
17
CALLUM
I heard Lina start the shower as I stopped outside Asher’s bedroom door and knocked. His little voice called for me to come in, and when I pushed the door open, I found him and my father sitting on his bed, flipping through one of his favorite books. They must have slipped upstairs while I was showing Lina to her temporary bedroom.
“Hey, guys,” I said, letting the door close softly behind me. “Thank you for making Lina feel welcome. This is a bit weird for her.”
“Why?” Asher asked, cocking his head to the side with curiosity.
“Well,” I said, running my hands over my knees as I sat down on his other side. My father and I locked eyes over his head. I sighed. “She was in a car accident, Ash. And she was hurt pretty bad. She doesn’t remember very much of her life before the accident.”
“Oh,” Asher said. He looked down at the carpet of his bedroom floor. “That makes me sad.”
“I know. Me too.” I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and pulled him gently into my side. “But the good news is she has us to help her find her way back. She’s going to stay with us for a little while, and it’s very important that we do everything we can to help her. She’ll help out around the house, I’m sure. And we’re going to have to pretend that she has spent time watching you before, Ash.”
“Like Grandpa?”
I looked at my father. I couldn’t read the blank expression on his face. “Yeah, Ash. Like Grandpa.”
“Okay,” Asher said with an affirmative nod. “I can do that.”
“I knew you’d say that,” I said, knuckling his head gently.
He swatted at me and giggled before sliding off the bed to sit cross-legged at mine and my father’s feet. My father nodded at me. “Can we talk?”
“Yeah. Ash, you good here?”
Ash nodded. He was already immersed in the toy trucks he had on his carpet. My father and I stepped over him and slipped out into the hallway, down the stairs, and to the kitchen.
My father leaned on the island and watched me grab a bottle of water from the fridge. I unscrewed the cap and drank. When I was done, I put it down and met his gaze. “You disapprove.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I wouldn’t say that, but I am worried. This is thin ice you’re walking on, Callum. Lina is not a part of your life anymore, and you’re bringing her in under your wing. This is probably not the best place for her. She should be where she has the most ties. The most chances to remember.”
I nodded. “She should be with Kelli and her mother. But Mrs. Rollins has her hands full with Kelli. It’s a mess, Dad. All of it. I’m just trying to help. This will be temporary. If I can’t help, then I’ll let her go.”
My father nodded. “You should go get her things. That way, she’ll have something that’s hers.”
“Yeah. Keep an eye on Ash? When she gets out of the shower, maybe make her a cup of tea? She likes it with milk and—”
“One sugar.” My father smiled. “I know. Go on. I’ve got it from here.”
