He nodded."I'm glad that it's gone then."
I still wasn't sure that I was going to be able to live upstairs, even without the smell.Only time would tell.
"We're doing the electrical in the entire building, and then we'll focus solely on the renovation downstairs.The apartment will be last.Did you want to go upstairs and see what it looks like?"
I smiled, but it felt more like a grimace."Not today.I'm more interested in the bakery for now."
"Updating the electrical is the most important part of the renovation."
"I agree with you there."
"You won't have to worry once it's updated, and I'll make frequent inspections to ensure everything is running smoothly."
"Do you normally perform inspections after a renovation is completed?"I asked him, curious if he was treating me differently from his other customers.
He looked away."No."
I frowned."Then why would you need to do it here?"
"You said one time it was your happy place, and I want it to be that again."
I let out a breath, my eyes stinging with unshed tears."I don't want you to go out of your way, but I'm not going to tell you not to either.I know that sounds a little crazy."
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his side for a hug."That doesn't sound crazy at all."
I pressed a palm over his heart, feeling the steady beat.I drew strength from him.I was going to be just fine.Even if I couldn't live upstairs, I could be in this space.I'd make it mine, and there wouldn't be any memories to tarnish my love for baking or this place."Thank you."
"No need to thank me.It's your insurance company that's making this possible."
I smiled against his chest at his joke because we both knew that he was the one who was making this easier on me.I knew he wouldn't cut any corners.He'd go above and beyond so that everything was safe, and I appreciated that.I suspected it didn't have anything to do with his promise to Tom.
He let go of me."I have to get back to work.What are you going to do?"
Even without his body pressed against mine, I was going to be fine.I wasn't replaying bad memories or feeling queasy from the smell of smoke.Instead, I felt excited about the renovation and the future.I had a feeling that it had a lot to do with Morgan and how he was handling my feelings with the renovation.
"I have some deliveries to make.Then I'll probably take a nap."
He winked at me."Don't sleep too long.I want to make dinner with you tonight."
The butterflies were in my stomach again.I couldn't wait to spend the evening with him.I tried not to think about what it would be like when I had to move out.Would I be able to sleep alone in my old apartment with the bad memories?
Fortunately, I didn't have to think about that yet.I was fine with my current living arrangement and had no desire to change it.
Chapter18
Morgan
Iwas worried about Reina and her ability to be in the bakery after the fire.I had no intention of inviting her to the space until the walls were closed and painted.I didn't want any bad memories of the fire to surface.
Instead, she was brave enough to come inside on her own.I was proud of her.She was tense at first but relaxed as I explained the timeline.She seemed interested in the renovations and progress without any worries creeping in.
The only concerning thing was that she wasn't in the kitchen when the fire broke out.She was sleeping in her apartment.I wasn't sure how she'd feel about moving back in.I didn't even want to broach the subject yet.
She might be okay working in the bakery, but upstairs was another thing.I didn't want to push her or make her feel like she should be further along in her healing process than she was.She was exactly where she needed to be, and I was proud of her progress.
I was more confident that she'd be able to get back into her kitchen and work again.I wanted her to focus on ordering the materials so that she didn't have time to ruminate on what happened.
I was looking forward to spending the evenings with her at my house.I wasn't sure how much longer we'd be living together, and I wanted to take advantage of the time I had.Everything would change once the renovation was complete.
