The Noel Bridge

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Noel

A licia’s new apartment was down the hall from Evelyn, which she loved. When she’d come back to Noel to do a walk-through, this unit had been a no-brainer the minute she’d looked out the living room window. She was certain it was the perfect home, when from the window she had a view down Main Street and the turn that led to the bridge. It was a reminder of how far she’d come since first arriving in Noel.

She didn’t like to be alone anymore. She relished having her friends around. And Leo. She’d told him that.

“I’ve gotten so I can hardly stand the silence when I’m here by myself. Maybe I need a pet or something,” she’d said.

“Just call me. I’ll be here in a flash,” Leo said.

What began as one day of unpacking had turned into weeks of him showing up at her apartment throughout the day to help her. He’d ring the bell at the crack of dawn and she’d open her door to find his smiling face behind two cups of coffee. Other days, he’d swing by after he’d finished work. His face showed his exhaustion, but he’d have spent hours with her if she’d asked him to. She never did, though, because she didn’t want to take away from his time with Dean.

She’d started work at St. Francis West. Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Rose had gotten her a cake on her first day and the whole staff had celebrated with her. And over the last month, she’d felt the same warmth from the staff, with or without cake.

“You’re the best!” Tabitha said, dancing up beside her on the way to the cafeteria.

“I hope this is a good lunchtime?” Alicia had arranged their schedules so they could eat together.

“It’s perfect.”

Earlier, Leo had asked for her keys so he could hang her curtain rods for her while she was at work. When she walked in that night she gaped.

“What did you do?” she asked.

She took in the newly painted white walls and the soft drapery in a muted cotton that complemented the light beige of the sofa that she’d chosen so she could sprinkle navy accents around the room.

He put his hands in the pockets of his paint-speckled jeans. “You said you wanted them painted.”

Once her job had started, a few weeks after she was in Noel for good, her unpacking and organizing had slowed down a bit, but she hadn’t expected Leo to do this.

He went over to the corner of the room and pulled a blanket from one of the boxes, laying it on the empty floor.

“What’s that for?” she asked.

“I made dinner. It’s in the kitchen. And since your furniture hasn’t been delivered yet, I figured we could eat here. ”

“You didn’t have to do that,” she’d said, dropping her bag by the door.

“I know. But I wanted to. I feel lucky every day I get to see you, and I want to celebrate that.” He walked over to her and pushed her hair behind her shoulder, kissing her neck, her stomach erupting in butterflies.

There was no denying that he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her days with.

“I’m the lucky one,” she whispered into his ear before he leaned in and kissed her.

An odd scratching sound pulled her attention toward the closed bedroom door.

“Do you hear that?”

A knowing smile spread across his face.

“What?” she asked.

“You said you didn’t like to be alone.”

“Yeah…”

A whine came from the other side of the door.

“I figured we could eat first, but someone is demanding that I spill the beans.”

Alicia went over to the bedroom and opened the door. On the other side sat a curly, red-haired puppy with brown doe eyes, floppy ears, and a giant red satin bow around his neck. “Who is this?” she asked, scooping up the ball of fur.

“Her name at the shelter was Milly, but you can call her anything you’d like.”

“I love the name Milly.”

The puppy put its paws on Alicia’s face and licked her all over, making her laugh.

“I figured she could keep you company when I’m working, and I can help take her out while you’re at the hospital.”

Alicia sat down on the blanket and stroked the puppy’s soft fur, forgetting all about dinner .

“Do you like her?”

She nuzzled the dog’s face. “I love her already.”

“Your days of being alone are over in every way.” Leo put his hand on her face, his thumb caressing her cheek.

As she looked at her new little family that was forming, she knew he was right.