“It’s not the best room in the house, but you should be comfortable,” Kyle said.
“It’s fine.” Mitch didn’t want to insult Kyle, but it was the ugliest room he’d ever seen. How had he been talked into this?
“It doesn’t compare with your place, but it does us well enough. We’re slowly fixing it up, but it takes time and money. Let me know if you need help unpacking,” Kyle said before heading back down the hall.
One look at the room and Mitch decided to leave the unpacking until later. Maybe he’d warm to the room eventually, but right now, he needed a beer. He retraced his steps down the hall and poked his head into the kitchen. Kyle was standing at the sink drinking a glass of water.
“Any chance of a beer? Mitch asked.
“Sorry mate. No alcohol in the house, but there’s plenty of soft drink.”
Mitch’s brow furrowed. “No alcohol?”
“No, mate. Sorry. Neither of us drink. I don’t know how much Jenna told you, but we help out with the youth program at church and we like to set an example for the kids. That means no alcohol.”
“Oh…right…” Every word was like a nail in his coffin. Church, youth program, example… Why hadn’t Jenna told him? She had a lot of explaining to do.
“Can I get you a Coke or something?”
“Coke will be fine. Thanks.”
Kyle walked to the fridge and pulled out a can. “I know living here won’t be easy for you, but we’re glad you’re here. We’re just ordinary blokes. What you see is what you get. So just relax. Do you like footy?”
Mitch shrugged. “A little.”
“Manly’s playing Parramatta right now if you want to watch.”
“Sure.” What choice did he have? This was his new life, and so far, it sucked.
Later, after watching football and eating pizza, he excused himself and went to his room. It took less than ten minutes to unpack. He popped some painkillers, turned on some music and slumped onto the bed which creaked and sagged in the middle. Not expecting to sleep, he was surprised when he woke to Kyle shaking him. “Wake up, Mitch. Time to get up. Work starts in an hour.”
Chapter 12
“So, how are you doing?” Jenna asked Mitch after taking a sip of her coffee. They were seated at the small café around the corner from where he was living with Kyle and Yonas.
He’d been out of the hospital and in his new life for three days, and although she’d called to check on him several times, this was the first time they’d met in person since his release.
“Okay, I guess. It’s certainly different.” He blew out a breath and toyed with his mug.
“It’d be strange if it wasn’t.” Away from the hospital environment, where she was his nurse and he her patient, she found his presence disturbing. His hair was still damp from his shower, and his casual denim jacket was open, revealing a fitted white t-shirt tucked into snug fitting jeans. His woodsy cologne wafted in the air and enveloped her. She needed to be careful. Although many years ago she’d resolved to only date men who were suitable marriage partners, she knew that decision left her vulnerable when she found herself in the company of an unsuitable, but very desirable, man.
“I guess you’re right. I’ve never shared a place before like this, and one thing that worries me is that Kyle told me I need to take my turn with the cooking. The problem is, I don’t know how to cook.”
She tried to stifle a chuckle. He seemed so serious about it. “I can teach you to make something simple.”
“Would you?” He held her gaze and her pulse skittered. Aware she was on dangerous ground, she nodded anyway.
After they finished their coffees, she drove him to the supermarket and helped him buy groceries to make a couple of easy dishes she knew the guys would like.
Yonas and Kyle were out at a youth group planning meeting, so when she and Mitch arrived at the house, she had the freedom to teach him without them around.
Placing the grocery bags on the kitchen counter, she told him to get a note pad and pen. “We’ll make three different dishes. Keep that receipt so you have a list of everything you need to make them again, and then take notes. Okay?”
“Okay.” He gave her an exaggerated wink and she felt like swatting him with the bunch of celery but she chuckled instead and proceeded to show him how to make each meal. She then watched with delight as he made a real effort to do as much as he could. She gave him the instructions and demonstrated, but it was Mitch who really put in the effort. She couldn’t help but feel a hint of respect creeping in. “You’re doing really great,” she told him as he placed the shepherd’s pie into the oven.
“Thanks. It feels strange but kind of good. I never knew cooking could be such fun.”
She ignored the innuendo and asked him how he was doing on the construction site. She’d heard from Kyle that he’d been struggling a little, which wasn’t surprising at all.
Placing the oven mitts on the counter, he sat on a stool and rubbed his legs. “Not too well. I can’t do much yet, so I feel I’m just taking up space.”
“I’m sure that will change.”
He shrugged. “Maybe. The guys have been patient with me.”
“And so they should be. Would you like another coffee?”
“Yes please, but let me get it.” He slipped off the stool, wincing when his feet landed on the floor and his legs took his weight.
Without thinking, she put her hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “Just a bit of pain. Nothing bad.”
“Okay.” She returned to her stool and watched him make coffee. He was doing so much better than she’d ever expected, and she was proud of him. “You seem to be adapting really well.”
He blew out a heavy breath. “I don’t have a choice. I never thought I would do well here, especially when I first arrived, but since I’m about to lose everything—well, everything I knew, anyway—I guess I have to. I don’t love this new life, and it’s only been three days, but I think I can see the good in it. Well, just a little.”
“So, I win?”
“I wouldn’t say that just yet.”
She sipped her coffee. “It’s all about priorities. If you make hard work a priority, it becomes something good, something you might even look forward to.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He didn’t sound convincing. Jenna guessed he’d still prefer to be in his penthouse entertaining a pretty girl or two than here with her brother and Yonas. “Priorities aren’t always what we consider fun, but we have them for a reason.”
“And what are your priorities?” He cocked a brow.
She smiled, thankful he was finally showing some interest in what was important to her. She’d been wanting to talk to him about the things that mattered most to her, but knew it was best to wait until he was willing to think about these things. “Well, you know I love my job. And I love my brother. But there’s something more.”
“And that is?”
“My faith. Everything I am, do and think results from that. I’m far from perfect and I’m not always the person I should be, but it’s my faith that leads me to do things that actually matter, things that can make a difference.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Your brother and Yonas take their faith seriously.”
She nodded. “Yes, they do. I’m glad you’ve seen that. Our faith brings us a contentment that the world can’t ever give. It’s relatively easy for us to be satisfied with the simple things of life when we already have the most important thing there is.”
“I don’t get it. How can faith be the most important thing? It doesn’t feed you or give you a house.”
“No, but it provides comfort even without those things. Faith doesn’t promise an easy life. In fact, sometimes it results in things being harder, but it makes those hard things a whole lot more bearable.”
“I can’t imagine anything being harder than what I’m going through right now.”
Jenna’s heart went out to him. At last he was being hones
t. He wasn’t just referring to the cooking or the new job. It was the loss of his lifestyle, and the court case that was scheduled to start soon. All of that and more.
It seemed that now was as good a time as any for Mitch to learn what it meant to be content through the difficult times. If he could push through, see the example set by Kyle and Yonas, and the one she was also trying to show, then maybe he would begin to understand.
“I know nurses don’t make a ton of money, but it’s amazing how happy you are to be doing such a demanding job. Especially when you have difficult patients like me.” He let out a small chuckle.
She chuckled with him. “Like I said, I’m more than content. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I love my job and I’m so thankful for it. It’s a gift, and that’s how I see it.”
Something was changing inside him, and even if it took a while, she prayed that Mitch would persevere and not give in. It wasn’t about her winning. It was about him. She genuinely wanted him to learn the secret of contentment.
Chapter 13
The morning’s cooking activities had drained Mitch, so after Jenna left, he lay on his bed for a while. When he heard Kyle and Yonas return after only fifteen minutes or so, he got off the bed and walked into the kitchen, knowing they’d be surprised with all the food. He was surprised, as well as pleased with his efforts.
“You made all of this?” Kyle asked, his eyes widening at the spread of food on the counter.
Mitch couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. “With your sister’s help.”
Yonas picked a piece of salami off the pizza and popped it in his mouth. “Great job. I can’t wait to dig in. Looks enough for lunch and dinner tomorrow, too.”
“No sandwiches for a change,” Kyle said with a laugh.
Taken aback by how much the guys’ praise touched him, Mitch quickly grabbed the pizza and placed it on the table. “Let’s eat.”
“It smells great,” Kyle said, joining him at the table. “But let’s pray first.” Mitch found it both quaint and odd how the guys prayed before every meal but closed his eyes and waited patiently while Yonas prayed aloud.
Although he considered them a little strange, for the first time in his life, he felt he belonged somewhere. These guys, making very little money and avoiding everything that was supposed to bring fulfillment, actually seemed content and happy. Maybe Jenna was right and money wasn’t necessary for a life to have meaning.
But when Monday came and they headed to work, Mitch was dreading it with every fibre of his being. He hadn’t been completely honest with Jenna. The physical labour was agony. His body wasn’t ready, and although the guys frequently told him to slow down and take it easy until he’d recovered further, he was determined not to be the weak link.
It wasn’t about hard work; it was about pride. He knew that, but it didn’t change anything. He wanted to prove himself.
When the following weekend came, he spent most of his time in bed.
On Saturday evening during dinner, Kyle and Yonas asked if he wanted to go to church with them in the morning.
“Ha, nice.” He laughed, slicing into the steak Kyle had prepared. When he looked up, he realised by the glances they gave each other that they were serious. “Oh, sorry. I mean, thank you, but I need to get some rest this weekend. You know, before another week of work.”
“No problem. Maybe another time,” Kyle replied offhandedly as if it didn’t worry him.
It seemed strange that these two guys would rather go to church on Sunday morning than to a club on Saturday night. Mitch wondered if they’d ever gone out and had a really good time or if they just didn’t know what they were missing.
They both could easily get any girl they wanted at a bar or club. They were physically fit and had decent, if not boring, personalities. But with a little alcohol in their bodies, they could turn into fun guys, he was sure of it.
Should that have been his counter proposal? When the guys invited him to church on Sunday, he could have invited them to party on Saturday night. But Jenna had made it clear he had to follow the rules, and that meant he could take nothing that interfered with his meds. That, and the fact that he was to respect the house rules of no partying and no drinking. So, no, his suggestion would have gone down like a lead balloon.
On Sunday morning, as soon as the guys left for church, Mitch filled the tub in the one bathroom they all shared. He blasted the hot water and pulled out the Epsom Salts he’d bought to soak his aching muscles.
He didn’t want anyone to know he was still suffering a great deal of pain, but he had to get his body in decent condition before another tough week. He looked in the mirror at the scars covering his body. Of course he was in pain. He’d been in a horrific accident. Hopefully the Epsom Salts soak would work.
The next week of work passed a little easier. He made smarter decisions about when to lift something heavy and when to admit he couldn’t. Now and then he still tried to prove himself, but he was finally choosing to let his body recover and ignore the injury to his pride.
He’d seen Jenna twice that week. Once they met for coffee and another time she came to the house to see him, Kyle and Yonas. Mitch appreciated that she was checking in on him, but he couldn’t deny that he wanted to see more of her.
He wondered if she went to the same church as the guys. That would be one reason to go, but not enough of a reason. He pushed the thought away and tried to focus on work.
He had another long soak in the bath the next Sunday morning, wishing he had more opportunities to do it throughout the week to soothe the pain. This time it was much better and when he returned to work on Monday, he felt ready for his tasks.
Kyle and Yonas were patient with him and made every effort to help him through the week, to get him ready for each day and make sure he didn’t overdo it. He was starting to really appreciate them, even if they were a little strange. But every time they prayed, he sensed they were about to broach the subject of his going to church with them, so he steered it away. He was figuring his life out his way. There was no need to complicate that.
Chapter 14
Jenna met Kyle for lunch after church on Sunday, hoping to gain a clearer picture of how things were going with Mitch since he was already more than three weeks into this two-month commitment. She sensed he wasn’t being completely honest with her, and it concerned her because she felt largely responsible for what some were calling her experiment.
“So, how’s he getting on? Really?” she asked as they waited for their meals to arrive.
“That’s a good question. He’s definitely working hard, but it’s obvious he’s struggling,” Kyle said.
“I thought so.” She let out a sigh. “He’s been telling me he’s doing fine.”
“He’s actually quite a proud person, so I think he’s not wanting to own up to the fact that he’s struggling. But I think he can do it. He’s fitting in better than I expected, so you have to give him some credit.”
This surprised but pleased her. She’d known Mitch would have a hard time, but hearing that he was trying hard to make a go of it, even though he was struggling, gave her great joy. But was he trying out of pride or out of a desire to change?
“I think his weekly baths help.” Kyle laughed.
“Huh?” Jenna almost choked on her water.
“Someone should tell him that if he wants to keep it a secret, he should try cleaning out the tub once in a while. He seems to have forgotten that we don’t have a cleaner. But I guess he thinks it’s not manly of him, so he waits until we go to church and has a bath in secret,” Kyle explained, laughing.
Jenna was amused but tried not to laugh. She couldn’t blame Mitch for needing some relaxation for his recovering body, but the image of him bathing in secret was almost more than she could handle.
She also couldn’t help but acknowledge that her heart was softening towards him. He was making a huge effort and that was something she’d never expected from him. She’d assumed he’d be lazy a
nd even cowardly about the challenge. The last thing she’d expected was that he would really try.
Whenever she let herself dwell too much on that, she realised she was thinking of Mitch with a fondness she didn’t ought to, so she reverted to her conversation with Kyle. She didn’t want her thoughts to travel to places they shouldn’t, especially since he didn’t share her faith, and that was a definite no-go. “Well, I’m glad to hear he’s making an effort,” she said quietly.
“Have you been checking in with him?” Kyle asked.
“Now and then. I text him often to see how he’s doing, but we only see one another maybe once a week. And then a couple of times he’s come in for physical therapy during my shift and we’ve passed one another.”
“I think he’d like to see you more. You’ve been a huge encouragement to him.”
Jenna toyed with her glass. “I don’t want to distract him, and I don’t want him to become dependent on me. He needs to take responsibility. I’m happy to help him, but I’m not going to lead him.”
“I agree. And if he spends too much time around you, I’m sure his thoughts would go directly to romance. I think he’s lonely and I doubt he’s ever lacked female company.”
“I doubt I’m his type.” Jenna let out a small chuckle.
“Well, I think you’ve been a good influence on him, anyway. But his court date is coming up and he’s getting anxious.”
“What has he said?” Jenna asked.
“Nothing. He doesn’t have to. But sometimes he gets phone calls and I hear enough to know that it’s related to that and his whole demeanour changes. He’s worried, and he should be.”
Billionaires with Heart Boxset: Christian Romance Series Page 29
