Page 43 of Second Chances

“I’m going to apologize right now about the state of the house. I’d like to blame it on the sick kid, but…” She shrugged. “Just having a kid is the real reason my house looks like this.”

He smiled. “I’ve spent the last few days tearing out all the carpet in my place. I think I can handle a little mess from a six-year-old.”

“You’ve been warned.” She motioned for him to follow her into the living room. Simona was propped up on the sofa, watching a movie, looking a little pale. She had a mop bucket sitting next to her. “She’s thrown up two more times since I took her out of the bath.”

He walked over and set the soup and muffins on the kitchen countertop, which was filled with coloring books, papers, and toys. He moved over to sit next to Simona on the sofa.

“I heard you were sick?” he asked.

Simona nodded slightly. “I threw up on Mommy.” He glanced over at Olivia, who sighed and nodded.

“Are you feeling any better now?” he asked Simona.

She shook her head slightly and then groaned. He saw what was going to happen before it did and thankfully managed to get the bucket under her just in time. Olivia rushed forward and started to rub her daughter’s back as she mouthed, “Sorry,” over her head.

When Simona was done, Olivia picked her up and disappeared down a hallway. He could hear them washing up and Simona getting sick again.

Worry for the little girl outweighed everything else in his mind. How could so much come from such a small thing?

He took the bucket to the front door where he’d seen a hose out front and rinsed it out and brought it back inside.

“Oh,” Olivia said as she came out of the back. “I thought…” She shook her head and relaxed.

He smiled. “A little puke isn’t going to scare me away.” He held up the bucket. “It’s all clean.” He handed it to her. “Simona?”

“Lying in bed. She says the TV is giving her a headache.” Olivia took the bucket from him.

“Should she go to the doctor or something?” he asked.

“No, she’s not running a fever.” She leaned against the counter. “And I received a text from Kayla letting me know that the stomach bug was going around after yesterday’s event. CJ is stuck in bed today too.”

“Oh,” he said, glancing around.

“I’ll just take this back to Simona.” She started down the hallway.

He watched and waited until she returned. He could tell she was feeling slightly frazzled and embarrassed about the state of her house. But as he’d mentioned, his place currently was a wreck. He couldn’t even use his kitchen, as most of the furniture from upstairs was piled in it.

The only room that was somewhat put together now was his bedroom, only because it had had hardwood floors instead of carpet in it to begin with.

When she came back out, she sat down at the table and picked up her coffee cup.

“It’s probably cold now.” He sat next to her. “If you want…”

“It’s fine,” she said after taking a sip. She grabbed a muffin from the box of sweets he’d brought along. “Mmm,” she groaned. “I hadn’t realized I was this hungry.”

They took a moment to enjoy the muffins and the lukewarm coffee.

“If you want, I can help you clean up?” He motioned to the stack of clothes in a bucket that she’d no doubt just pulled from the dryer.

“Oh god, it’s that bad, isn’t it?” She moaned and laid her head on the table.

He chuckled. “Seriously, you really should see my place now. I understand not everyone can be tidy all of the time.” He took her hand. “I’m just here… offering a hand if you want it.”

She glanced up through her hair and sighed. “If you’re offering and really want to spend time with me, then I guess you can keep me company while I fold the clothes.”

“I can help…” he started to say, only to have her give him a look. “Fine.” He held his hands up.

He watched her fold towels on the kitchen table and talked to her about what he was working on around his place. How he’d pulled all the furniture from each of the rooms to yank out the carpet and discovered that several rooms had amazing hardwood floors under them. He had rented a sander to clean up the floors but wasn’t due to pick it up until Wednesday. Which meant he was going to be living in a disaster zone for a few more days, possibly a week, since he planned on staining and sealing the floors once he was done.