way.”
“You’re in trouble, all right,” Cammie confirmed. “But it’s a good kind of trouble. Come on, Julia, it’s time you moved on in your life.”
Julia flattened her hand against her forehead and it wasn’t to check for a temperature. “I know but this complicates everything.”
“It does, but you’ll figure it all out. Have you…you know, told him about the blog?”
“No! Cain is…is…”
“Is what?”
“I don’t know…he’s Cain. It’s complicated.”
“Tell me when anything is ever uncomplicated with you,” Cammie demanded.
Her friend had a point.
—
Julia was sick and Cain blamed himself for that. He tried to get her to stay away, but the woman was nothing if not stubborn. The truth was, and it took him time to admit it, he’d been happy to see her. The fact that she’d first brought him the soup and then disinfected his apartment was above and beyond anything he would ever have imagined. She’d even walked Schroeder.
It’d been a long time since he’d felt this strongly attracted to another woman after Dani. His coworker had nearly destroyed his trust; it’d taken him five years to be willing to make himself vulnerable again.
Julia made him want to open his heart, and while he was wary, he felt alive and happy. He found he couldn’t wait to see her each morning, wondering what she had up her sleeve.
Even his grandfather had noticed a difference in Cain. He hadn’t mentioned Julia, but the old man laughed and said it must be a woman. Cain didn’t confirm or deny.
All Cain could say was that life was better than it had been in a good long while.
Julia’s Blog
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
December 20
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
----
----
For those of you who suggested I should have drawn a line in the sand when it came to nursing Ebenezer, I want you to know you were right.
Despite getting a flu shot weeks ago, I came down with the same bug and in fact have spent nearly the entire day visiting parts of a toilet that no one should examine that closely.
From the first, I’ve made no secret of how I feel about my neighbor. I didn’t like him when I started this twelve days of kindness. He was annoying. Still is.
He’s still unreasonable, too.
And exasperating.
What I didn’t expect is that he is also surprisingly caring and thoughtful and funny. Turns out Ebenezer has a sense of humor. Who knew?
When I say caring, I’m not exaggerating. He stopped by this morning and called me twice during the day and then brought me soup. He stayed with me and watched television and didn’t even complain about the program I chose.
This morning, he tucked me into bed and kissed my forehead. I know he was probably feeling guilty that I’d gotten the flu, but still…
I haven’t even told my best friend this—not because I wanted to keep it a secret but because I’m unsure how best to process what’s happening.
Tell me, dear readers, what does this mean? What’s happening to me? To Ebenezer?
Julia felt decidedly better in the morning. Weak as overcooked pasta but able to function. She didn’t dare stay in bed another day, not this close to Christmas. She woke to a text message from Jeremy.
U better?
Much, she replied, balancing the phone on the side of the bathroom sink while she applied her makeup.
Last practice is tomorrow. U OK for that?
I’ll be there. Promise.
Thanx. Take care.
Will do.
The holiday program wasn’t the last of her volunteer responsibilities, either. She had yet to fulfill her obligation to the Red Bucket Brigade. She’d signed up to ring for an hour and was scheduled for that very afternoon.
Grabbing her phone off the sink, she collected her coat, gloves, and purse and was just about to head out the door when Cain knocked. When she appeared fully dressed and ready for the day, he seemed surprised to see her up and about.
“You’re going to work?” he asked.
“I can’t stay home,” she said, gently attempting to ease her way around
“You’re in trouble, all right,” Cammie confirmed. “But it’s a good kind of trouble. Come on, Julia, it’s time you moved on in your life.”
Julia flattened her hand against her forehead and it wasn’t to check for a temperature. “I know but this complicates everything.”
“It does, but you’ll figure it all out. Have you…you know, told him about the blog?”
“No! Cain is…is…”
“Is what?”
“I don’t know…he’s Cain. It’s complicated.”
“Tell me when anything is ever uncomplicated with you,” Cammie demanded.
Her friend had a point.
—
Julia was sick and Cain blamed himself for that. He tried to get her to stay away, but the woman was nothing if not stubborn. The truth was, and it took him time to admit it, he’d been happy to see her. The fact that she’d first brought him the soup and then disinfected his apartment was above and beyond anything he would ever have imagined. She’d even walked Schroeder.
It’d been a long time since he’d felt this strongly attracted to another woman after Dani. His coworker had nearly destroyed his trust; it’d taken him five years to be willing to make himself vulnerable again.
Julia made him want to open his heart, and while he was wary, he felt alive and happy. He found he couldn’t wait to see her each morning, wondering what she had up her sleeve.
Even his grandfather had noticed a difference in Cain. He hadn’t mentioned Julia, but the old man laughed and said it must be a woman. Cain didn’t confirm or deny.
All Cain could say was that life was better than it had been in a good long while.
Julia’s Blog
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
December 20
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
----
----
For those of you who suggested I should have drawn a line in the sand when it came to nursing Ebenezer, I want you to know you were right.
Despite getting a flu shot weeks ago, I came down with the same bug and in fact have spent nearly the entire day visiting parts of a toilet that no one should examine that closely.
From the first, I’ve made no secret of how I feel about my neighbor. I didn’t like him when I started this twelve days of kindness. He was annoying. Still is.
He’s still unreasonable, too.
And exasperating.
What I didn’t expect is that he is also surprisingly caring and thoughtful and funny. Turns out Ebenezer has a sense of humor. Who knew?
When I say caring, I’m not exaggerating. He stopped by this morning and called me twice during the day and then brought me soup. He stayed with me and watched television and didn’t even complain about the program I chose.
This morning, he tucked me into bed and kissed my forehead. I know he was probably feeling guilty that I’d gotten the flu, but still…
I haven’t even told my best friend this—not because I wanted to keep it a secret but because I’m unsure how best to process what’s happening.
Tell me, dear readers, what does this mean? What’s happening to me? To Ebenezer?
Julia felt decidedly better in the morning. Weak as overcooked pasta but able to function. She didn’t dare stay in bed another day, not this close to Christmas. She woke to a text message from Jeremy.
U better?
Much, she replied, balancing the phone on the side of the bathroom sink while she applied her makeup.
Last practice is tomorrow. U OK for that?
I’ll be there. Promise.
Thanx. Take care.
Will do.
The holiday program wasn’t the last of her volunteer responsibilities, either. She had yet to fulfill her obligation to the Red Bucket Brigade. She’d signed up to ring for an hour and was scheduled for that very afternoon.
Grabbing her phone off the sink, she collected her coat, gloves, and purse and was just about to head out the door when Cain knocked. When she appeared fully dressed and ready for the day, he seemed surprised to see her up and about.
“You’re going to work?” he asked.
“I can’t stay home,” she said, gently attempting to ease her way around
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