The Marry-Me Wish by Alison Roberts

choices about something I’m totally ignorant about. I couldn’t pick a colour or a wallpaper pattern to save myself.’
    â€˜But I could.’
    David’s new forkful of food hovered in mid-air. ‘Why would you want to?’
    â€˜Distraction. My mind is mush. I’d enjoy a project that would keep me busy until I’m well enough to go back to work.’
    He was frowning now.
    â€˜I’m not suggesting I stay here for weeks, don’t worry. I can spend the next day or two thinking and planning and maybe getting fabric and paper samples delivered. It’s not that far to my place. I could come over while you’re at work and supervise what was being done.’
    David was listening now. ‘What about the garden?’
    â€˜One of my neighbour’s sons comes in to do any heavy stuff I need. He’s a student and will be on summer break by now. If he hasn’t got a job, I’m sure he’d jump at the opportunity.’
    â€˜I wouldn’t know where to start in telling him what to do.’ David was staring at Anne now. ‘Would you?’
    â€˜Maybe. I’d like to give it a go.’
    â€˜But…why?’ There was something dark in his gaze now. Wariness, if not mistrust.
    Anne took a deep breath. She needed to choose her words carefully and she wasn’t entirely sure what it was she wanted to say exactly. It had something to do with the analogy that she’d picked up on when he’d said he was planning to sell the house. That you had to let things go to move on.
    â€˜You want someone to love this house, don’t you? To make it a real home again.’
    His nod was terse.
    â€˜Right now it’s not at its best. You might get someone who can’t see what it has to offer. Can’t see past the…damage, I guess. If you could fix it up and maybe make it even better than it ever was before, you’ll find someone who will love it for what it is , not what it could be.’
    She held her breath. There was no need to hammer the analogy. If there was anything left of that old connection, David would know exactly what she was talking about. What she was offering. A chance at friendship. To repair the damage their relationship might have left them with. Closure perhaps.
    Peace.
    â€˜Damage does haunt, doesn’t it?’ he said at last. She could see the movement in his neck as he swallowed. ‘We could give it a try, I guess. See how it goes.’
    Anne could only nod. She didn’t trust herself to speak for a moment. Even if David was prepared to try repairing something more than what their conversation had ostensibly been about, she couldn’t afford that tinyspark of hope reigniting. The one that had flared when he’d said come home with me .
    â€˜I’ll call in the troops,’ was all she said finally. ‘First thing tomorrow.’

CHAPTER SIX
    L EARNING that the removal of damaged floorboards from her cottage had revealed piles in dire need of replacement should have been a cause for dismay.
    â€˜I can’t move home yet,’ she told David. ‘Half my floor’s been ripped up.’
    â€˜Are you in a hurry to get home?’
    No. Not if he wanted her to stay…
    â€˜Not really. But I didn’t intend imposing on you for so long. I could move to a motel or something.’
    â€˜You’re hardly imposing.’ But David shoved his fingers through his hair, unconsciously revealing that the idea of her staying longer might be disturbing. Then he gave her a searching look. Anne said nothing, allowing him time to see whatever it was he was looking for. It only took an instant.
    â€˜Seems to me like you’ve become a project manager in the last few days,’ he said. ‘For a job I couldn’t have tackled to save myself. I should be paying you a lot more than room and board.’
    â€˜Don’t be daft. I’m having fun.’
    Smiling, she waved a hand at