Chapter Thirty-Four
I finish rinsing the paint out of the brushes and then walk back to the
nursery to admire the mural. I spent most of yesterday and all of
today painting it.
It’s been two weeks since Ryle came over and put the crib together.
Now that the mural is finished and I brought in a few plants from the
store, I feel like the nursery is finally complete. I look around and feel
a little sad that no one is here to admire the room with me. I grab my
phone and text Allysa.
Me: Mural is finished! You should come down and look at it.
Allysa: I’m not home. Running errands. I’ll come look at it tomorrow, though.
I frown and decide to text my mother. She has to work tomorrow,
but I know she’ll be just as excited to see it as I was to finish it.
Me: Feel like driving into town tonight? The nursery is finally finished.
Mom: Can’t. Recital night at school. I’ll be here late. I can’t wait to see it! I’ll
come by tomorrow!
I sit down in the rocking chair and know that I shouldn’t do what
I’m about to do, but I do it anyway.
Me: The nursery is finished. Do you want to come look at it?
Every nerve in my body springs to life as soon as I hit Send. I stare
at my phone until his reply comes through.
Ryle: Of course. On my way down now.
I immediately stand up and begin making last minute touches. I
fluff the pillows on the loveseat and straighten one of the wall
hangings. I’m barely to the front door when I hear his knock. I open
it and dammit. He’s wearing scrubs.
I step aside as he makes his way in.
“Allysa said you were painting a mural?”
I follow him down the hallway toward the nursery.
“It’s taken two days to finish,” I tell him. “My body feels like I ran a
marathon and all I did was walk up and down a step ladder a few