Jake

jake

J ake arrived at work on Tuesday morning to find Henry’s mom in a state of panic, pacing in the hallway outside his room. Her blonde curls were a tangled mess, and she still wore the same gray suit from yesterday, a coffee stain now blemishing the front of her white silk blouse.

“What’s wrong, Eleanor? Did something happen with Henry?”

She shook her head. “Henry’s fine, thank heavens. But his doctor is discharging him today, and he’s ordering oxygen for him at home. The doctor talked so fast, and said so much at once, I couldn’t comprehend any of it.”

smile softly. “Doctors will do that.”

Eleanor shot him an irritated look. “That doesn’t help me any. Where do I buy oxygen? And how do I administer it?”

rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Calm down, Eleanor. Your case manager will coordinate everything. A home healthcare agency will deliver the equipment to your home and their technician will show you how to use it.”

Eleanor massaged her temples. “This is a nightmare. Will he have to be on oxygen for the rest of his life?”

“I doubt it. I’m sure it’s only temporary, while he’s recovering from the pneumonia. But let me look at his chart.”

Eleanor followed him to the nurses’ station and fidgeted with her phone while he accessed Henry’s file.

looked up from his computer. “According to the doctor’s notes, Henry will only need the oxygen for a few days. The doctor wants to check him again on Friday. Your case manager will make that appointment for you.”

stepped out from behind the counter. “Arranging for Henry’s discharge will take much of the day, and you need a break. Go home. Take a shower and get some food. I’ll keep an eye on Henry until you get back.”

She cast a nervous glance in the direction of Henry’s room. “What if the case manager comes while I’m gone?”

“I’ll ask her to come back later. It’s no big deal.”

“Are you sure? I’d hate to take advantage of you. This isn’t a childcare center,” she said, a smirk tugging at her lips.

laughed. “Just don’t be gone too long.”

She looked down at her soiled blouse. “I definitely need a shower. I promise I’ll hurry. My number is in Henry’s file if you need anything while I’m gone.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. By the way, congrats on winning your court case. I heard about it on the news last night.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

“If you can get a woman acquitted of murder charges, you can handle an oxygen tank,” said.

Eleanor let out a sarcastic huff. “I’m not so sure about that. Being a criminal attorney is way easier than being a single parent,” she said and returned to Henry’s room with slumped shoulders, as though the weight of the world was pressing down on her.

Several hours passed before had a chance to check in on Henry. The patient’s spirits appeared much improved, and he chattered non-stopped about his mom. “She’s a badass in the courtroom,” he bragged.

feigned shock. “Henry! Where did you hear such language?”

“From one of my mom’s friends,” Henry said with a devilish grin.

mussed the boy’s hair. “Well, I think your mom’s friend is right. It takes a lot of guts to present a complex case in front of a judge and jury.”

Eleanor returned around lunchtime, but it was late in the day before Henry was officially released. Noticing her lingering unease about administering oxygen, offered to accompany them home to meet with the equipment technician.

Shaking her head, Eleanor said, “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking. I’m offering. My shift is over, and I have no plans for tonight. I’ll follow you to your house and make sure you’re comfortable with how everything works.”

“All right,” Eleanor said with a reluctant sigh. “If you’re sure you don’t mind. I would feel much better.”

was shocked when Eleanor drove to a seedy part of town and parked in front of a row of dilapidated townhouses. Wouldn’t a high-powered attorney live in a swanky uptown condo or a beautifully renovated older house in one of the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods?

“Believe it or not, this was a nice neighborhood when I moved here after law school,” Eleanor said, as helped Henry out of the back seat. “I keep promising Henry we’ll move, but I keep finding reasons to stay here.”

chose his words carefully. He didn’t think it was his place to judge her choice of housing. “The city has so many great areas. It wouldn’t be hard to find an apartment building in a location with young families. That way, when Henry’s old enough to walk to the bus stop alone, you won’t have to worry.”

Eleanor nodded, her expression thoughtful as she unlocked the door. “I would prefer him to be in a better school district, but the thought of moving overwhelms me.”

“It’s a lot to think about, but if you’re organized moving isn’t so bad,” said.

When he entered the townhouse, the pungent smell of mold stole ’s breath. This was not a safe place for an asthmatic child to live. Fortunately, the equipment technician addressed the issue for him.

“You’ve got a mold problem,” the technician blurted, fanning her hand in front of her nose. “You can smell it, right?”

Eleanor sniffed several times. “I can’t, actually. I guess I’m used to it. How does one get rid of mold?”

“You move,” the technician said bluntly. “Mold can contribute to chronic breathing issues or exacerbate conditions like asthma or pneumonia—especially in vulnerable people like your son.”

The blood drained from Eleanor’s face. “Oh. I didn’t realize.”

Eleanor seemed distracted during the oxygen tutorial, and more than once, sensed she was on the verge of tears. After the technician left, she turned to , her voice tinged with resolve. “My boss is insisting I take the next two weeks off for some much-needed rest after the Bromley trial. Looks like I’ll be using that time to move.”

Distress radiated from her. Though clearly a dynamo in her professional field, managing her personal life seemed an insurmountable challenge. “I’d be happy to help you. I’m off from Friday through Monday.”

Her blue eyes blinked wide in surprise. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I can see how much you’re dreading it. Think of it as an adventure. Henry should be feeling better by the weekend, and he’ll enjoy picking out his new home. We’ll rent a moving truck, and I’ll recruit some friends to help with the furniture. We can tackle the heavy lifting over the weekend—pun intended—which will give you next week to settle in and transfer Henry to his new school.”

Eleanor slumped against the kitchen counter with a resigned sigh. “All right. Doesn’t seem like I have much choice. Looks like we’re moving.” She smiled up at . “Are you this nice to all your patients’ parents?”

“Only the pretty ones,” he said, the words slipping out before he could stop them. Had he really just said that? When was the last time he’d flirted with a woman? Certainly not with any of his SoulSync dates.

But Eleanor was intelligent, attractive, and intriguing. So what if she needed a little help organizing her life? had always had a soft spot for a damsel in distress.