“This is silly,” Daisy grumbles.

“Would you rather spend another day in the office of the store?” Noah counters.

She looks away which is answer enough for Noah.

“You’re doing me a favor,” I put in. “It gets so boring during the day.”

She frowns but manages to do it sweetly, which is a skill. “You’re only saying that.”

I sit down next to her. “I’m not.”

She looks back at Noah. “You all worry too much.”

He smiles down at her. “Wonder where we got that from?”

She smirks but doesn’t argue. Noah motions for me to follow him. Before I get up, I pat her arm. After she gives me a small smile I stand up and move to where Noah is waiting for me.

“Don’t let her guilt trip you.” Noah pulls me close.

“She’s not going to guilt trip me,” I argue.

He gives me a look and I don’t tell him that guilt trip only really works on direct family members.

“Thank you for letting her stay with you,” he says, kissing my forehead.

“It’s no trouble.” I tilt my chin up so he’ll kiss my lips instead.

He takes the hint and drops his lips to mine. I hope this feeling never goes away. That’s the part that’s scaring me the most about my relationship with Noah. People change. Allen did.

I’m not sure I could recover if Noah ever did. As much as I love him, and I do, I’m still holding a piece of my heart back from him.

“Go get some work done,” I order.

He kisses me again before saying, “Call me if she gives you any trouble.”

His mother was released from the hospital two days ago. After she was admitted, the doctor determined the blood thinner was not taking care of the blood clot as they had hoped it would.

They did a procedure to break it up. The blood thinner worked a bit too well afterward and she had issues bleeding. While they straightened out the dosage, she remained in the hospital. She was there a week, Mr. Thompson slept in her room each night.

She went home after her release and promptly told Mr. Thompson he’d make her a murderer and a widow if he didn’t stop hovering. He believed her enough to try and bring her to the store with him the next day.

There, both Mr. Thompson and her oldest fussed over her. She refused to go back which is why she’s here with me today. Technically, she’s well enough to be home by herself but it seems to be a Thompson trait to worry. Since I work from home, I offered to let her hang out with me.

She can camp out on the sofa and watch TV or nap while I work. The kitchen and bathroom are close to the den. She’s supposed to move around a bit but not do any stairs.

I watch him from the door, waving as he pulls away. Closing the door once he’s out of sight, I lean my back against it and pull in a breath. Allen’s mom never liked me. Mrs. Thompson, or Daisy as she’s told me to call her, seems to like me but that’s how Allen’s mom was in the beginning too.

“You can do this,” I murmur to myself.

Stepping into my office I log into my work computer. It’s on the slow side so I like to putter around in the morning while it gets going. It’s a laptop so I can work from the den.

“Up for company?” I ask. “I don’t want you to think I’m fussing but I was thinking about working in here today if that’s okay with you.”

She smiles. “Of course I’d love your company. It’ll give me a chance to get to know you better.”

“I’m boring,” I admit.

She shakes her head. “That’s not what Noah thinks.”

My cheeks redden as I wonder what he’s told his mother about me. “He’s wonderful.”

She smiles outright. “I’m happy you think that.”

I motion to the kitchen. “Can I get you anything to eat, to drink?”

She shakes her head and I say, “I’m going to grab my computer. I’ll be right back.”

My boss knows Daisy is with me so I’m off of phone duty today so I leave my headset on my desk.

The steamer trunk I cleaned and painted is a much better resting place for my laptop than the old crates I used before.

“So, what would you like to do today?”

She tilts her head to the side and I know instantly that’s where Noah picked that up. “I’d like to know more about you.”

I fight back a cringe but must not do a good job of it when she laughs, “I’m not going to bite.”

“I’m sorry,” I giggle. “I feel like I’m fifteen again meeting my first boyfriend’s parents.”

“Were they awful?” She inquires. “Leave you scarred for life?”

I shake my head. “No, they were great.”

She lifts her chin. “See, nothing to worry about.”

She has a point. “What would you like to know?”

Leaning closer to me, she gives my knee a squeeze. “Everything.”

“Oh geez,” I laugh. “If you wanted to take a nap you could have just said so.”

She grins. “Don’t be silly.”

“Well, where should I start?” I ask.

“Noah said that before you moved here, you had never worked on a house before. What gave you the courage to tackle this house?”

Before his dad dropped off his mom, Noah started a fire in the den. My eyes dance around the room. I live here, I work here, and some days it still feels like a dream.

“My marriage wasn’t a happy one but the divorce still rocked me. I didn’t know which way was up. One day I watched this show. You may have seen it. It’s a husband and wife from Texas who transform houses.”

“Shiplap,” she exclaims, making me laugh.

“Yes, they sure love installing or uncovering those wooden planks on walls,” I agree.

“It’s a great show. The houses they fix up always look so pretty in the reveal,” she murmurs.

I nod. “I needed to escape the reality of what I thought was going to be my unhappily ever after. That show struck a cord deep within me. I felt like I was living in the before and if I could fix up a house I could fix up myself along the way.”

Her eyes move over my face, assessing me before she asks. “Did it work?”

For some reason her question makes me want to cry. I suck in a breath.

“I think the house is now in better shape than I am.”

“Noah told me you’ve been a bit blue,” she confesses.

One thing I like about Noah is the fact that he’s close with his family. I remind myself of this to stop from worrying what his mom thinks of me for crying over my ex the way I did.

My nose starts stinging and I get up to grab a tissue. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m crying.”

When I sit back down she pats my knee. “I’d be more concerned if you weren’t.”

I gulp and dab at the corners of my eyes. “But we’re divorced.”

She shrugs. “A divorce does not erase a marriage. You were so focused on all this work you’ve done you weren’t able to mourn its end. Now you are.”

I nod.

She gives me a gentle smile. “Give yourself time.”

“I will,” I promise.

Changing the subject so I can work and not spend the day crying in front of Noah’s mom, I ask, “I’m sure I can find the house show on demand, would you like to watch some?”

She agrees and I get the show going. Deciding to make a plate of food for both of us, I head to the kitchen. I figure this way if she’s hungry she doesn’t need to ask if it’s already within arm’s reach.

She likes coffee so I refill my mug and pour another for her. Once I’ve got the spread laid out, I focus on getting some work done.

Every so often, I sneak a glance at the food, pleased when I notice a muffin missing.

I try not to baby her each time she gets up. She’s supposed to be taking it easy but she isn’t on full bed rest. It’s important for her to be moving around.

Knowing this doesn’t stop me from worrying she’ll fall or have some sort of relapse while I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on her.

“I think this one is my favorite so far,” she says.

“Oh yeah?” I ask. “What part do you like best?”

“The built in with all the mugs. I might ask Asher to make one of those for me.”

“I love the giant mantels. Someday I want to do something to these.”

My eyes move around the room. “Noah showed you pictures, right? Of what this house looked like before he helped me renovate it?”

She nods. “We questioned his sanity at first, until Abby mentioned how he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

For some reason that has me blushing while I mentally kick myself for not catching on. “Even after months and months of work, this place is still such a blank slate. I have floors, walls, plumbing that doesn’t leak, appliances, and furniture. Every time I start to think about changing paint colors or hanging pictures on the wall my mind goes blank.”

“There’s no rush dear,” Daisy replies. “When Noah’s dad and I were first starting out, we didn’t have much. Over time, as pieces caught our eye, we decorated.”

“You don’t think it looks bad do you?” I press. “All these empty walls?”

She shakes her head. “Absolutely not.”

We start another episode. Her eyes are on the screen. From the corner of mine, I watch her, liking her more and more.

Before she catches me staring at her, I get back to work.

“Hello,” Noah calls, surprising both of us as he comes in through the kitchen door.

“Hey,” I reply, smiling broadly at him.

“Are you checking up on me?” Daisy accuses.

“Yes I am,” he admits with a smile and then lifts a bag. “And I brought lunch.”

Her eyes move to the bag. “It smells good. What is it?”

His brows go up. “First, am I forgiven?”

She smirks but after a moment nods.

“I picked up your favorite soup and turkey bacon sandwiches from that place on Fifth Street.”

Her eyes drift closed as she inhales. “You’re too good to me.”

“You can admit it. I’m your favorite,” he replies.

She waves her hand at him and she shakes her head.

I stand. “Leave her alone and help me serve.”

As soon as we’re in the kitchen and out of eyesight of his mother, he sets the takeout bags on the counter and leans down to press his lips to mine.

“That’s better,” he murmurs after thoroughly kissing me.

“Stop mauling her so we can eat,” his mom jokes from the den.

I laugh, pressing my face to his chest.

“I’m not mauling her,” Noah argues.

She makes a noise of disagreement but doesn’t argue further.

“How’s she been?” Noah asks as we plate the food he brought.

“She’s been great. We’re having a TV marathon.”

“I can’t thank you enough for letting her hang out here.”

“It’s no trouble,” I say. “She’s great company.”

His head tilts to the side in the way his mother did earlier. “Have you been lonely here during the day?”

I can’t lie to him. “Not all the time.”

He kisses me again. “We can’t have that.”

I smile up at him. “You already have enough to worry about.”

He shrugs. “We’ve already established the fact that I love you, right?”

Unable to dispute that, I nod my head.

“It means I’m going to worry about you no matter what,” he explains.

“Can we talk about it more later?” I ask, remembering his mom is not only within ear’s reach but waiting for her lunch.

After we eat, once Daisy is back in the den watching another home makeover, Noah pulls me upstairs.

“Your mom is in the house,” I warn, not sure why we need to have our conversation in my bedroom.

He closes the door behind us. “I know.”

“Noah,” I plead.

He grins at me. “I’m not going to do anything.”

My nerves start to relax and he keeps talking. “I wanted to check on you where you wouldn’t worry if she could hear you.”

“Oh,” I say, surprised. “You didn’t have to. Honestly, she’s been sweet. All we’ve done is watch TV.”

His eyes hold mine. “We should probably get back downstairs before she tries to sneak clean your kitchen.”

“My kitchen is clean,” I argue.

“Then she’ll rearrange your spices.”

“Why on earth would she do that?” I ask.

He laughs, leaning down to kiss me so his laughter ends against my lips.

When he’s done kissing me, he says, “We’ve never been able to figure out why.”

He opens the door for me and holds my hand as we make our way back downstairs. At the mouth of the den I look left, expecting to see her on my sectional.

She isn’t there.

“Daisy?”

“In here,” she murmurs from the kitchen.

I look right and watch as she closes the cabinet door below my sink.

Noah shakes with restrained laughter next to me. “Were you looking for something?”

She dusts her hands and mutters something unintelligible as she moves past us and back into the den.

“Did she move anything around?” Noah asks as I cross the kitchen to look under my sink.

“She did,” I quietly laugh, pointing to the box of trashcan liners.

His head turns in the direction of the den. “I should have warned you.”

“I don’t mind.” I laugh.

Ignoring the fact that his mom is in the next room, Noah pushes me against the counter and kisses me hard. I coil my arms around his neck and hold on, letting him overwhelm me.

“Now go, so I can get my work done and so you don’t embarrass me in front of your mom,” I order, after coming up for air.

“We’re finishing what we started later,” he promises.

I feel a full body tingle at his words, my eyes moving to the time display on my microwave. His gaze follows mine and when he sees what I’m looking at he gives me a wicked grin.

“I need to say bye to my mom before I go or she’ll have my head,” he says, turning me toward the den.

I can’t argue since my mom is the same way.

She pauses the show when we walk in, using the remote I showed her. Noah leans down the kiss her cheek.

“Is dad picking you up later?”

She nods. “I think so.”

“Have you talked about what you’re doing tomorrow?”

Her eyes move to mine. “I think I’ll be fine at home tomorrow.”

“How about you and dad talk it out and let us know tonight?”

“You’re welcome here anytime,” I add, meaning it.

He squeezes my hand in a silent thanks.

“I’ll sort it out with your father,” she agrees, and then smiles at me before saying, “I have enjoyed getting to know you better.”

Noah drops my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulders, tucking me close. “I knew you would.”

She shakes her head. “Now you get back to work so Finley and I can get back to our show.”

He turns, looking at the paused TV. “I know this show. You don’t know how many clients ask for shiplap after watching it.”

Daisy and I look at each other and burst out laughing.

“What did I say?” Noah asks, confused.

“Inside joke,” I laugh, moving to my spot on the couch.

His eyes move from his mom to me and back to his mom before saying, “I’m not even going to ask.”

“Good idea,” I joke.

“Either of you need a fresh drink or anything before I go?”

We shake our heads. “No thanks.”

I watch him go, noticing how the room dims as soon as he’s gone.

“I like this.”

“The show?” I ask, not sure what she’s talking about the show or how Noah and I are together.

She shakes her head. “You look at my Noah the way I looked at his father in the beginning.”

I gulp, not sure how to respond.

“You’re a sweet girl for keeping me company today. It’s been a long time since Noah showed any interest in a woman. It seems he was waiting for one who would be worth his time.”

Wow.

“He’s great,” I start but she cuts me off.

“And he has excellent taste.”

That has my cheeks reddening but I hold her gaze.

“Now, let’s see how these two transform this house,” she says, changing the subject and unpausing the TV.

I’m grateful for it, grateful for everything actually, her words and now the relief I feel from hearing them. It’s as if by turning our attention back to the show she’s given me the privacy to mull over what she said.

We lapse into a companionable silence, the show and the taps of my fingertips against my keyboard the only noise. She seems focused on the show while I’m less so.

My thoughts are only partly on the work I’m doing as well, luckily it’s just electronic claims filings, the busy non-phone related work I could do in my sleep at this point.

No, my thoughts are on Noah and on my own fears at what our future holds.