Page 101 of Power
With my head still lowered and concealed by my hand, she’s managed to make me smile. “I can’t believe you said that.” Hope scolds her.
“Pffft,” May tsks.
I look up at them with tears in my eyes from being overwhelmed and grateful to both May and Hope for their support. “Thank you,” I whisper as the tears finally fall.
“Eeeek, crying. I’m not good with crying.” Hope awkwardly pats me on the back. “Here, here,” she says as she angles away from me. “I’m sorry, I’m not the emotional one.”
It’s in that moment I burst into laughter at Hope’s terror-filled features. My tears are falling for a plethora of reasons, but May and Hope make me feel like I shouldn’t allow this to completely defeat me.
“The poor girl is terrified of you, Hope. Don’t you have something to fix?”
“Ah, yes.” Hope lifts her hand and points upward. “You asked me to change the showerhead in the retreat, and then I saw food, so...you know? Food.” She stands and lifts her plate. “Are you okay if I go in to replace the showerhead?” she asks as she glimpses at me.
“Sure.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
Hope walks out, leaving May and me alone. “You know you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you like.”
“Thank you, but I will eventually have to go back and face the media and everyone else.”
“People will want to know your side of the story. Have you even had a chance to catch your breath and think about what you’re going to say?”
“Not even for a moment.” I pick at the rest of my breakfast.
“I’ll say this, I have a lovely bathtub you can use, and a few good bottles of wine too. Emily and I will be fine together.”
May has the largest and kindest heart. She’s totally accepted me without any judgement. “I’m truly grateful to you, May.”
“Good.” She casts an eye over the table. “You can clean up then.”
Standing, I begin to clear the table and hear the front door open again. “It’s just me,” Hope calls. She finds May and me still in the dining room. “I changed the showerhead, but the whole bathroom needs some work. Let me know when it’s okay for me to get a crew out here to tear it out, so we can put it back together again.”
“Um.” My eyes widen in fear while my heart beats so quickly it feels like it’s rising to the back of my throat.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the crew doesn’t even know you’re here. So either you can hang out at my and River’s house for a couple of days, or May can move you in here for the duration. Either way, no one is going to know you’re here.”
I instantly exhale a relieved breath. “Thank you.”
“I got you.” Hope smiles. “Right, I’m out of here. I’m looking at two houses this morning over in Mulberry Point. And, I need to get out to the fire station because one of the brothers wants me to do something on his house.”
“It wouldn’t be Dean. His and Joanne’s house is new.”
“And I built it, so I know there’s nothing wrong with it. Nah, it’s Alec. He and Serena are looking at extending their house so I have to talk to him about it.”
“Those three brothers are good kids.” May nods, giving her approval of three guys I’ve never heard of.
“Right, I’m out of here.” Hope walks toward the bedroom, knocks once, then says, “See ya, kid.”
“Bye!” Emily calls happily.
Hope walks back into the dining room and gives May a kiss on the cheek. “Let me know.” She pointedly looks to me. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“Thank you.” Hope leaves, and I quickly clear the table. I fumble around the kitchen, trying to find a container to put the leftover breakfast in, and I rinse everything before stacking it in the dishwasher. Once done, I head back to the dining room, only to find May sitting on the sofa, nodding asleep. “May?”
“Yes.” She opens her eyes and looks to me.
“Thank you for breakfast, I’ll get Emily so we can let you have a nap.”
