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Donovan took after their oldest brother, Brennan, who had a whole different kind of issue to deal with. But they both had a way about them that seemed to make people wary to approach them. This often proved to be an aphrodisiac for the ladies, because they all seemed to believe they would be the one who could get past their barriers.
It was a never-ending cycle of girls coming and going growing up at the Millses’ house—except for their dad, Sean, who had been happily married to their mother, Edith. When she died when Duncan was only nine years old, Sean never seemed to be able to forget her, and he never had a new woman in his life, or at least not around his sons. That was true love, and Duncan wasn’t sure if he was ready for that kind of commitment at this time in his life.
“Hi, Kayla. Wow, youlook nice.”
Kayla turned around as she stepped into the elevator in her apartment building. Her neighbor Caitlin just walked up while hoisting several take-out bags.
“Thanks, Caitlin. How’s it going? Hungry, I see?”
Her curly haired brunette neighbor looked down at her four bags and grinned. “Yes, but I’m afraid that I’ve went a little overboard here. Please say that you’ll help me eat all this stuff. Stop me from stuffing my face and risk tearing out of my uniform tomorrow.”
Kayla met Caitlin right after she’d first met her neighbor on her right side, Miss Jackson. Hearing her cat Mister Whisker the first time on her second day in the apartment, she was sure the high screeching sound was coming from someone in pain.
She’d looked out of her partly opened front door in search of the person who could be needing her help, only to find a petite elderly lady with a gray twisted bun in a pink 1950s Coco Chanel suit in the doorway next to her, holding a screeching dark gray fur ball as well as some mail. The cat didn’t seem to be in pain while it was happily swishing its tail, and Miss Jackson assured her not to worry about him.
“Oh, dear, Mister Whisker is fine. I guess he resembles you in a way, looking a little worse for wear but still going strong.” Miss Jackson smiled kindly at Kayla.
That comment ensured that she appreciated Miss Jackson right off the bat. Miss Jackson was straight to the point but not in an intrusive way, as she didn’t ask any probing questions even though she’d have to know, after taking one look at Kayla, there was a story for her to tell.
Caitlin had then walked in on their conversation, and as a police officer, she instantly asked Kayla if she needed her help. Kayla was touched that the two women, her neighbors on each side, were so nice to her.
In the following month, they’d slipped into a routine of small talk over a cup of coffee at Danny’s Diner next door. Miss Jackson and Caitlin both sensed when it was best to avoid certain topics in their conversations, and they never made Kayla feel uncomfortable.
The elevator arrived at their floor, and they walked in a comfortable silence toward Caitlin’s apartment. Where Kayla’s apartment wasn’t decorated in the style she preferred, as she rented the furnished apartment last minute from the grandmother of an old colleague who’d moved into a nursing home, Caitlin’s apartment was truly welcoming.
As Caitlin let them into her warmly colored apartment, she gave the four take-out bags to Kayla and then walked straight to the open plan kitchen as she commented over her shoulder, “I’m going to grab us some wine. Shall we eat on the couch?”
“Yeah.”
Kayla was still getting used to their blossoming friendship. In New Jersey she was out socializing almost every day, going for drinks after work with colleagues, taking a yoga class with friends, meeting up with her sisters or brothers for lunch. In the past month, she’d only talked to Miss Jackson and Caitlin. Saying that Kayla was still out of her element was an understatement.
“So, tell me why you’re dressed to kill.” Caitlin plopped next to Kayla on the couch while unscrewing the cork from the wine bottle. Kayla took out the Chinese dinner from the take-out bags and placed the containers on the coffee table.
“I’ve landed myself a job.” Kayla chuckled, as she still couldn’t believe what had happened today.
“Wow, congratulations. I’m so happy for you! Tell me everything. Where? And what will you be doing?” Caitlin’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Kayla smiled at her new friend. She took a full glass of white wine from Caitlin’s outstretched hand and settled back onto the couch.
