“We’re at your house.”
“Oh.” She tried to sit up but it wasn’t happening quickly.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you, literally and figuratively.”
“Not a problem.” And it hadn’t been.
Ryan opened his door and got out before helping her out. He walked her to the door.
“What about my chest of drawers?”
“I need to fix the leg and build a drawer before you can do much with it anyway. I’ll just take it home with me. You could come to my house and work on it. I’ll do the paint stripping anyway. You don’t need to be around those fumes.”
“You’ve already done so much.”
Ryan put a hand under her chin and lifted it. “Hey, today was no hardship for me.”
She smiled. “I enjoyed it, too.”
With reluctance he stepped back. “You need to get to bed.”
“And you still have a drive ahead.”
“I do. I’ll see you in clinic Wednesday afternoon. Plan to come to my place afterward. I should have the leg on and the drawer done by then.”
“Okay.”
He liked the fact that she readily agreed.
“See you then.”
Phoebe made her way into the hospital and up to the clinic waiting room. She hadn’t been this nervous since her first visit. Her name was called and she was directed to an examination room. She was told to remove her trousers, sit on the exam table and place the sheet over her. Soon Sophia entered. “Well, have you made a decision on who you want to replace me?”
“Not yet. I hate to lose you. Are you sure you can’t put off the wedding until after this baby is born?”
“I don’t think Aiden will agree to that. You’re going to have to make a decision soon.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry that I can’t be there to deliver.” Sophia’s smile grew. “But love doesn’t wait.”
“I understand. I wish you the best.”
“So how’s it going between you and Ryan? I know your first meeting was a little rocky.”
Phoebe smiled. “That would be an understatement. It turns out he’s a great guy. He’s been helping me get the baby’s room together. I asked him to put the baby bed together and he volunteered to paint the room.”
“I’m not surprised. He’s the kind of person who keeps to himself and quietly goes about helping people.”
A few minutes later Sophia had left and Phoebe had just finished dressing when there was a knock on the door. “Come in.”
Ryan entered. “Hey.”
“Hi.” She sounded shy even to herself. She’d never been timid in her life.
“So how’re you feeling?”
“Fine.”
“Great. No aches or pains after our adventure on Saturday?”
She appreciated his friendly manner. “I was tired but no more than I’m sure you were.”
“I have to admit it was a long day. You mind waiting on me in the waiting room? I have one more patient to see.”
“Sure.”
She hadn’t been waiting long when he came out of the office area.
“You ready?”
She stood. “Ryan, I have to work tomorrow. I can’t be out late. Maybe I should just come by this weekend.”
“Don’t you want to see what I’ve done with the chest?”
Ryan sounded like a kid wanting to show off his new toy. He opened the door leading to the main hall. She went out and he followed.
“Sure I do, but I also have to get to bed at a decent hour.”
“I’ll drive you home.”
“I don’t want you to have to do that.”
He looked at her. Worry darkened his eyes to a granite color. “Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then stop arguing and come on. I’ll get you home for your regular bedtime. We’ll go to my place and then walk down to a café for dinner. Then I’ll take you home.”
“Okay. If you insist.”
“I do.”
Twenty minutes later Ryan unlocked the front door to his home. She followed him in. The place looked no different than it had the last time she had been there yet everything had changed. She felt welcomed where she hadn’t before.
Ryan dropped his clothes in a pile next to the door just as he had done before. “Are you thirsty?” he called from the kitchen area.
“No, but I would like to use the bathroom.”
“That’s right. Pregnant women and their bladders. You’ll find it off my bedroom. Sorry it isn’t cleaner.”
“I’ll try not to look.”
Phoebe walked to the only doorway she’d never been through. She stopped in shock. The most perfect bedroom suite she’d ever seen filled the room. The furnishing here was nothing like what was in the rest of the house. There was such a contrast it was like being in two different worlds. She went to the sleigh-style bed and ran her hand along the footboard, then turned to study the large dresser. The workmanship was old world with a twist of the modern. She’d never seen any like it. She’d give anything to have furniture like this.
“Hey, Phoebe—” Ryan walked into the room.
“These are beautiful pieces. Where did you get them?” She walked around the end of the bed to the bedside table. She couldn’t stop herself from touching it.
“I made it.”
She pivoted. “You did? It’s amazing. If you ever give up being a midwife, you could become a millionaire, making furniture. It’s just beautiful.”
A hint of redness crept up his throat.
“Thank you. I don’t think it’s that good. But I’m glad you like it. You ready to go downstairs?”
“Downstairs?”
“That’s where my workshop is.”
“I haven’t made it to the bathroom yet.”
“You go. The door to the basement is in the kitchen. I’ll leave it open.”
A few minutes later Phoebe gingerly descended the stairs. She was half way down when Ryan rushed over.
“Give me your hand and I’ll help you. I forget how steep the steps are.”
“I think I’ve got it.” She took the last three steps, then looked around. The area was immaculate. There was equipment spaced around the room that she couldn’t put a name to but there wasn’t a speck of sawdust on the floor. It was in marked contrast to his living area upstairs. He obviously loved and spent a lot of time down here.
Her cabinet stood near a wooden workbench. Ryan walked over to it. There was a look of
anticipation on his face. As if it really mattered to him what she thought. He moved from one foot to the other. The man was worried about her reaction.
“So what do you think?”
“About what?”
“The chest.”
“I know what you’re talking about, silly. I’m just teasing you. It looks wonderful.”
As if he’d been awarded a prize, his chest puffed out. She would have never thought that this self-assured man would be that concerned about her opinion.
“I couldn’t find a leg that matched the others so I bought four new ones that were as close to the original as I could find.”
“They look great. The drawer looks like it was made with it. I’m not surprised after I saw your bedroom furniture. Thank you, Ryan. It’s perfect.”
“I managed to strip some of the paint but it still needs more work. I was going to do some of it tonight but I promised to get you home.”
“You know I’d rather have that finished so I can work on it than go out for a meal. Why don’t I go down to the café and get takeout—?”
“While I work?” Ryan finished with a grin. “I think you could be a slave driver for a little bit.”
“You’re the one that said I shouldn’t be stripping it. I would have put it out in the backyard where there was plenty of ventilation.”
He propped his hands on his hips. “And just how were you planning to move it out of the weather?”
“I would have found a way. Ms. Rosenheim could help me.”
“That would have been a sight worth watching.”
She glared at him. “You don’t think we could do it?”
He threw up his hands. “I don’t think I would put anything past you two.”
“Good. You need to remember that. Now, I’m going to get us something to eat and you’d better get busy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
His chuckle followed her up the stairs.
Ryan was aware of Phoebe returning. Her soft footfalls crossed overhead. As she moved around in the kitchen, something about the sound made him feel good inside. When her eyes lit up at the sight of the chest of drawers he felt like he could carry the world on his shoulders. For so long he’d only seen the look in eyes of those in pain or life slipping away. He could do nothing to change it but this time he’d been able to help someone and see pure joy. It was the same feeling he had when he delivered a baby.