“Let’s just say that when I returned, I wasn’t sure Alliez was the place for me. Ox made me see the light.”
“I’m sure Cass may have persuaded you as well.”
Isaac laughed. “You don’t know how accurate you are. Now”–he stood and held out a hand–“how about I show you where all your stuff is and then you can shower. I’ll order some Chinese, and then I can tell you the story of Cass and me and how I ended up at Alliez.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
She placed her hand in his and together they walked to the guest room which was a couple of doors down from the living room. A queen bed took upmost of the space and was covered with a pretty rose patterned comforter. There were a couple of throw pillows with the same pattern as well.
The whole room looked out of place with the rest of his house.
“Huh?”
Isaac’s reaction told her everything she needed to know. “I take it this isn’t how you left this room before you came to my place?”
“You would be right. I mean the bed was there, but the comforter was blue and there were no frou-frou pillows.” Isaac picked up one, examining it before tossing it back on the bed.
“Frou-frou pillows?” Marie snort-laughed. “Tell me you’re a heathen male without telling me you’re a heathen male.”
“I suppose it does look better and more welcoming for you,” he grumbled, walking over to the dresser and picking up the bowl that had some potpourri in it.
“I think it’s lovely, and I’m sure it would’ve been just as comfortable even without the extras.”
“Now you’re just appeasing me. This is the nicest room in my house. It feels like a house should. Eveline has to be responsible for this. I didn’t ask her to do it, but she knew you would need something warm after having to leave your own space. How it was before wouldn’t have been very welcoming at all.”
There was something about the way he stood in the middle of the room, as if he was lost, that called to her. Her earlier thoughts about how stark his house was came back to her, cementing her opinion that he always had a foot out the door. That he couldn’t relax because someone, or something, always came up. “I guess it’s hard to get used to being in one place and making it your own after having to move around a lot.”
“Yeah. Anyway”–he tossed her a smile and pointed to one of the doors–“there’s a bathroom through there, and I figure that Eveline’s probably added personal touches there too.”
“Do you mind that she did this to your house?” That was something she wasn’t sure she could be comfortable with, someone coming in and changing her décor. Or adding things that wouldn’t normally be added.
Isaac shrugged. “Eveline didn’t do this to put me down or anything. She’s not like that. She did this because she knows what it’s like to have to move into a place on short notice and not have all your belongings around you.”
“Sounds like there’s a story there too.”
“Yep, there is.”
Marie wanted to probe him a little more about it, but she had a feeling he’d probably mention it when hetold her about him and Cass. Then again, maybe it was more Eveline’s story to tell than his and he wouldn’t say anything. “Right.”
They stood there for a few seconds, and Marie felt awkward for the first time since they’d met. As if he sensed it as well, he nodded at her. “I’ll go order the Chinese. Anything I need to avoid? Any allergies?”
“Nope, no allergies, and the only thing to avoid if you can, if not I can pick it out, is corn. I’m not a fan of it.”
“Got it. No corn. Take your time. There’s no rush.” He closed the door, and Marie sat on the edge of the bed wondering how complicated her life had gotten in the last few days.
Chapter Nineteen
“Here you go.”Isaac tossed Marie a fortune cookie, and she caught it with one hand.
“Thanks. Now what is this going to say.” She cracked the cookie shell and pulled out the slip of paper. Isaac had yet to open his, wanting to see what Marie’s said. “Okay, it says, ‘Trust that things happen for a reason’. Hmm, what sort of fortune is that.”
“No idea, let’s see what mine says.” He never believed that the messages were prophetic, it was all a bit of fun. “Right, prepare to be dazzled by my amazing fortune. ‘The future is yours to take’.”
“That’s better than mine.” Marie crunched the cookie.
Isaac leaned back in his chair, studying the piece of paper. “I don’t know; put them both together and the message is a pretty good one.”
“How so?”
