Collin s agreement was immediate. No problem.

The moment Linsey disappeared inside, he made his way to Gorman s bedside.

A faint twitch of Gorman s lips betrayed his irritation. You two act like a real team just making decisions for me.

Collin took it in stride, gently helping Gorman sit up. So now you admit I belong with Linsey.

After a bit of shifting and effort, Gorman ended up lying flat, his head carefully propped along the edge of the mattress.

Returning soon after, Linsey carried a basin filled with warm water and set it down on a nearby chair with deliberate care.

Slide a dry towel under his neck so his clothes stay dry, Linsey instructed, double-checking the water s heat before moving closer. For reasons he couldn t quite put into words, Gorman simply went along with their plans, quietly letting them take over.

Soon enough, Linsey had his hair soaking in the basin, warm water swirling around his scalp.

How s the temperature? Linsey asked, glancing down at him. With his gaze fixed on the ceiling, Gorman answered evenly, It s perfect.

Chattering as she worked, Linsey reassured him, saying, You re in good hands. I ve washed Zander s and Zenia s hair more times than I can count. I promise, you ll be spotless.

As her gentle voice filled the room, Gorman s mind slipped back to another time.

Those memories took him to the years when Linsey, newly a mother of two, balanced design work with the relentless demands of caring for Zander and Zenia all on her own in a foreign country.

g?ln Ҧ s?c?m, your destination for tales

Although he had taken it upon himself to live next door, offering help whenever possible, there were limits to what he could do.

He had pictured Linsey one day collapsing under the weight of it all, seeking out his help at last.

But through four long years, not once did Linsey admit defeat, nor did she ever show him her exhaustion or shed tears in front of him. That stubborn strength left Gorman with mixed feelings a little let down, yet quietly in awe.

Despite his efforts to draw her closer, Linsey had never leaned on him. Instead, her independence and unwavering resolve only deepened his fascination.

Shampoo s clean scent mingled with the steam as Linsey s hands massaged his hair, her every movement gentle and careful.

Meanwhile, Collin perched on a chair at Gorman s side, making sure his head stayed comfortably supported so Linsey s hands wouldn t tire.

Warm, foamy water trickled down from Gorman s hair, splashing quietly into the basin below.

Without warning, Linsey broke the silence. You can relax you weren t nearly as unkempt as you thought. The nurses here really kept you in good shape.

Gorman s face stiffened, and something uneasy flickered across his expression. How did you find out

.

.

.