Free Yearning for Love by Alexis Lauren Page B

employee role. If that’s not confusing, I don’t know what is. By the way, how is your dad?”
    “Improving, thanks. He’s in a rehab facility in El Paso, getting the therapy he needs so he can speak again,” I tell Brenda.
    “Listen. I’m going to be blunt with you. She’s in love with you, but won’t say anything. more about it to me. She’s hurting, especially after your ‘personnel’ remark at the hospital. Nate, you screwed up big,” says Brenda.
    I hang my head. She’s right, and I know it. Sure doesn’t make me feel any better, knowing that.
    “You’re right. Knowing that I was tied up in knots about my dad doesn’t excuse how miserably I treated her. I have some work ahead of me.”
    Brenda nods emphatically. “Yes, you certainly do. Now, it’s getting late, and we need to get those sandwiches made.”
    In the kitchen, I get to work, allowing myself to work on autopilot, while I think about what Brenda and I just talked about. After chopping the vegetables, I heat the griddle for the sandwiches and assemble them. Brushing melted butter on the bread, I grill them and stack them on a heated plate.
    “Lunch is on!” I call out. We have coffee because it’s insistently cloudy and still threatening to snow. After lunch, I continue making small repairs as I come across them. These old houses are very well-built, but they do need to be maintained constantly. As I work, I think about my situation with Corey. She still wants to resign –   and move up here. That is not good. From there, my thoughts move to us –   married and driving up here every few weeks to spend time with Corey’s mom. In my imagination, there’s a cute little baby sleeping in a car seat in the back. She has her mother’s vivid green eyes and curly auburn hair.
    I smell the delicious scents from downstairs – roast beef, I believe, with potatoes and some kind of vegetable. I smell something chocolatey for dessert. Man, when I leave here, I’m going to have to lose some serious weight! My stomach pulls me downstairs. I can continue looking for and making repairs tomorrow –   even on New Year’s Day.
    Downstairs, I find Brenda and Corey bringing, yep, roast beef with roasted potatoes and corn to the table. The food is simple, but very well-made. After dinner, I offer to bring in several loads of wood. The storm that’s been threatening all day long has finally arrived. I load the wood holders next to both fireplaces, while Corey cleans the kitchen, and loads the dishwasher. Again, Ashleigh sits with her in the big armchair, and Corey welcomes the child with a wide smile. I’d love to talk to Corey.   In fact, it’s killing me not to talk to her! But I want her to realize on her own that she loves me as much as I love her.
    Seeing her cuddle and giggle with Ashleigh makes me return to my fantasy about Corey as the mother of a sweet, dimpled baby with auburn, curly hair and big, green eyes.
    We drive up to the B&B with the baby snoozing in the car seat strapped into the center of the back seat. As we pull up, I get out and unsnap the baby seat from its base, as Corey gets her diaper bag. I know she’ll want to check the baby’s diaper and change it, if need be. She opens the front door and smiles at Brenda with her arms wide open.
    “Oh, you two look wonderful! Let me see that little one. She needs Grandma to hold her.   Will she cry if I take her out of the seat?” Brenda asks
    “She’ll stretch, then fall back asleep,” Corey says. “Before you take her, I need to check her diaper and make sure she’s not wet or dirty. That’ll wake her up, so as soon as I’m done, I’ll bring her back downstairs, okay?”
    Five minutes later, Corey’s back with a freshly changed four month old heartbreaker, who gazes around her with large, solemn eyes. Brenda melts, and takes the baby from Corey.
    “Hey, Natalia, it’s Grandma! Did you like your trip? You did? You slept the whole way? Well, let’s hope you sleep