Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Phillip

We've finished sketching the outline of the set onto all four wood panels in good time, now we can move onto cutting. I'm about to suggest we do just that but one look at Rose has me quickly re-evaluating my plans. She's bent over stretching out her back and takes longer than she should need to uncurl back to standing. She's obviously hurting and in need of a break. I'm not sure why she didn't say something sooner, but now I've noticed she's struggling in silence I won't ignore it.

"How about a coffee break?" Relief sweeps across her features at my suggestion and she quickly agrees, following me through to the kitchen. "Have a seat." Rose pulls out the same stool she sat on earlier but there's a stiffness to her movements that wasn't there before, almost like she's holding herself carefully to avoid pain. Is she injured?

"You can go through to the living room and sit on the sofa if that'll be more comfortable," I offer.

"Am I that obvious?"

"Maybe I'm just paying attention." She tucks the stool back under the counter with a sigh.

"I should have stopped for a break earlier, I just didn't want you to think I wasn't taking this seriously," she admits, tugging nervously at her sleeves. There's a weight to her words that tells me her concerns are coming from experience. Hot, irrational anger fills me on her behalf and I find myself wanting to track down whoever made her feel that way, but my anger is no good to Rose. What she needs from me right now is support.

"Why don't you get settled and we can talk about that in a minute." She bobs her head in agreement and I watch her walk through the open-plan space to the living area, noticing the wince she tries to hide as she gently sinks down onto the large tan sofa. I quickly finish making our drinks then join her.

"Here." I hand Rose's mug over and settle down on the sofa a respectable distance away but still close enough that her intoxicating honey-vanilla scent curls around me. Now is not the time. Before the elephant in the room can grow any bigger, I decide to just dive on in. "Anyone who thought you weren't taking a job seriously obviously wasn't paying enough attention."

"Thanks, but you barely know me. What makes you so sure?"

"Because someone who didn't care wouldn't take on a major project just to help out a friend. They wouldn't have come up with two amazing designs in such a short time and they sure as hell wouldn't agree to do extra work just so they could learn about a process they don't really need to know more about." Eyes wide in the wake of my impassioned speech she stops fiddling with her sleeves. "I know we don't know each other all that well yet, but we're going to be working together for a while. I don't want you suffering in silence because you're worried I'm going to be a dick about you needing a break. I want you to be comfortable working here. If there's something I can do to help with that, I hope you'll let me know."

She takes a fortifying sip of coffee before replying, "I appreciate that. Thank you." Just when I think that's all she's willing to share for now she continues. "If we could move one of your dining chairs out to the workshop that would be a big help."

"Consider it done."

Her brows raise incredulously. "Just like that? No questions?"

"No questions. If you want me to know, you'll tell me. I just want this project to be an enjoyable experience for both of us."

"Thanks." She bites her lip, debating sharing more. "I know it's not something I have to share, but I'd rather explain everything now just in case we need to work around it down the line. I'm hypermobile and have chronic pain and fatigue. I won't go into all the details but what having all that boils down to is I need to pace myself to help avoid a flare-up. They still happen even when I'm doing everything right, but not overdoing things helps."

"Thank you for sharing that with me. Would you mind explaining what a flare-up is?"

"They can differ from person to person, even when people have the same chronic illness there can be some variation. For me they range from an increase in my usual level of pain, to migraines, to fatigue so bad I can't stay awake."

My thoughts are racing and I take another sip of coffee to give me more time to formulate a response. I had not been expecting all that. I thought she might have a temporary injury we'd need to accommodate, but Rose is dealing with so much more. Suddenly something she said flashes through my mind like a neon light and the question is out before I consciously decide to ask.

"When you say more than your usual level of pain…?" I trail off unsure of how or if I should continue. Luckily Rose doesn't seem to mind the question. If anything, her weary sigh tells me she's used to it.

"I mean, I'm always in pain but the intensity can change from day to day depending on things like my level of physical activity and even the weather." Always in pain . I try to imagine what that might feel like but can't wrap my head around it.

"That… that must be incredibly frustrating." She shrugs one shoulder.

"I'd be lying if I said there aren't days I get pissed off when I find something difficult or need to ask for help." Her posture stiffens defensively. "I don't want you feeling sorry for me though. This is all normal for me and I'm perfectly capable of pulling my weight here."

"I don't feel sorry for you but I do have empathy for you. As far as the project's concerned, there's no doubt in my mind that you're more than capable." Her shoulders relax and I smile. "Now that I've not reacted like an arsehole, can we agree that going forward you'll pace yourself however you need to and you'll let me know if there's anything I can do to help? Not because you need my help," I rush to add, "but because we're friends. Or colleagues at least." My cheeks heat and I wonder how long it will be before I stop acting like a bumbling idiot around Rose. I've not blushed this much since I was a teenager.

"I can agree to that." She dips her head in acknowledgement, setting her empty mug down on the light-oak coffee table. "And at this point I think we can agree we're colleagues and friends." The smile she gives me lights up her whole face, stealing the breath from my lungs. I was right. A real smile from Rose is a life-changing experience. I'll do whatever I can to make her smile like that again.

"It's settled then. I'll move a chair into the workshop for you and you'll take breaks whenever you need them. I'm not going to judge you for doing what you need to manage your condition. You can come sit out here when you need to rest. Stretch, lie down, whatever." I tell her.

"I will." She nods. "Just don't start hovering over me or we will have a problem."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I reply with a grin, hands raised in surrender.

"OK then." She nods.

It's going to take a lot more than one conversation for Rose to feel comfortable enough with me to let her guard down, but we've made more progress today than I'd dared to hope for. While I'm eager to learn more about her, I won't push my luck when she's already shared something so personal.

"Why don't we call it a day for now? There's nothing else you can do until I've cut the boards and it's not like you need to sit and watch me do that. I promise it will get boring, fast. Let me drive you home. Not because you need me to," I hurry to add when she opens her mouth to argue. "Because I want to give my friend a lift."

"You're incorrigible." She sighs. "But a lift home would be great, thank you."

My chest swells with victory at her agreement. It might have taken some convincing, but Rose is finally starting to open up.