Chapter 455 Chapter 455
Emersyn watched Noah and Julian get in his truck. The teen looked so excited; it made her smile to see that emotion on his face. She wished for something to take the pain out of Noah’s eyes but knew it wasn’t going to be as simple as taking a ride to a shop.
“He’ll help him through it.”
She was startled and turned to see Cooper standing behind her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a fright.” His expression was apologetic and concerned.
She blew out a quick breath, “it’s not your fault. I just startle easy.”
He nodded his head slowly for a second, then motioned to the small house, “I had the guys put the paint and supplies inside for you. We left the heat on too, so it wouldn’t be so damp in there.”
“Oh,” she looked at the house, “you want me to paint it?” She bit her lip; she’d never done something like that.
“It’s your vision with the colors, so I thought you would.” He smirked, “the floor is going to be redone after the painting.”
That was a relief, if she was bad at painting, the mess would be hidden. “Okay, I’ll try.”
“There’s nothing to it, you watched Jake yesterday paint the hallway.” He motioned his arm up and down, “pretty simple.”
She smiled, “there won’t be children running around.”
Cooper grinned, much like he did the whole time Jake had tried to keep the kids from using the hall he was working in. “Your little one joining the schooling today?”
Nodding, she glanced back to the gate Noah had gone out. “Yes, um, Nichelle?” she glanced back to him for confirmation she had the right name, “is coming over to help get the youngest ones started.” She didn’t say that it bothered her that she wasn’t able to help because she could barely read herself. A grade two education wasn’t much help.
“Kelsey will be here this afternoon; she’s going to help bring the adults back up to the right level.” He smirked, “it should be colorful with her helping.”
Emersyn had only met her for a few seconds the first time she had come over. “She seems nice.”
“She can be, but don’t let her looks fool you, she works in the shop right alongside the guys and makes them look bad on a daily basis.”
That surprised her, that a woman was on the same level as the men.
Cooper watched her, “I have a feeling once you settle into living, you’ll be one to reckon with as well.”
Emersyn laughed softly, “I don’t know about that.” She glanced a last time at the gate and then started walking toward the small building. “Is Noah going away soon?”
Cooper walked alongside her, barely using the cane, she noted and hoped that meant his leg was feeling better today. “I’m not sure when, but he likely will be.” He opened the door for her, “they don’t want to give them too much time between to reorganize.”
Emersyn went in and looked around, she loved seeing this place cleaned up. Sheets had been put over the furniture piled in the middle of the room. “I suppose it is good that they go out quickly then.”
“Each time he comes back he seems a little calmer.” Cooper went over and tapped his cane against the cans on the floor. “You need to start with the primer, get a good base coat so your colored paint looks even.”
She frowned and went over and bent down to look at the cans. She focused on the words on them and sounded the one out inside her head. Touching the top of one she turned to look at him, He nodded that she’d picked the right one.
“Grab that tray and rollers and bring them over to the counter, I’ll show you how to get it done without a mess.”
Emersyn picked up the things he pointed out. “What do you mean he seems calmer?”
He came over and set his cane on the counter and picked up the black tray. “Noah feels like he needs to atone for his sins and until that ghost is done haunting him, he’s going to be on the move a lot.” He gave her a steady look, “it could take years until he runs it out of his system.”
“Sins?” She watched him put the fuzzy roller on the handle, so she would know how to do it herself.
“He blames himself for—everything that happened when he was taken and after.” He glanced at her, then picked up a screwdriver and hammer, “we put holes in the can, so the paint doesn’t run over the lip of the can when you pour it.”
She watched him open it and puncture the edge of the can. “He’s not to blame, for any of it.” How could he think that? She knew he felt guilt, but it was completely misplaced. She’d been taken and she sure as hell knew it wasn’t her fault or anything that had happened. She watched him stir the paint with a flat piece of wood. Some things may have been her own doing when her mouth spoke words she should have kept in her head, but the actual reason she was there, was not her fault.
Cooper pulled the black tray over, then looked at her for a second before he started to pour the paint into it. “That’s not how he sees it.” He watched what he was doing, “he blames himself for you being there. Blair told me he tried to get you out.”
Emersyn watched as he took a brush out of a package. “I know. I was there that night,” she said softly, “the night they put all those scars on him.”
Cooper paused and turned to look at her. “They did that in front of you?”
She shook her head, “no, just brought me down after to see him.” She didn’t mention her scar.
“Sick bastards.” He muttered and picked up the tray, “grab the brush and roller.” He started down the hall.
She picked them up and followed him. “He was unconscious at that point,” she frowned, “or I guess he was.” When he set the tray on the floor, she looked around, not sure where to start. “I thought he was dead.”
Cooper nodded his head slowly, “something inside him died that night, you can be sure of that.”
She sucked in a shaky breath and motioned to the tray, “where do I start?”
Cooper held out his hand, “good place would be to cut in the corners.” He pulled the brush from her hand, “you do the areas the roller won’t reach without rubbing the other wall.”
She watched him do the one corner and then looked around. “I’m going to need something to stand on.”
“I’ll get a step stool brought over.” He turned around and held the brush out to her. “Having a project is very calming, helps you think things through while you work.”
She looked at the brush and went over to the tray and dipped it in. “Is that why Noah never stops moving?” She looked at him as she moved to the corner he’d been in, “he came back late last night and was gone right after breakfast today.”
He nodded when she looked back at him for approval of what she’d done, “he thinks too much if he’s standing still.”
Frowning, she went back over to the tray and picked it up, and moved it closer to the corner. “I understand that.” She dipped the brush in the tray and then turned to the wall, “it’s the dark that gets me.”
“I figured you would understand more than most.”
His voice was quiet, and she could tell he was staying by the door and not coming up behind her. She appreciated his efforts to make her more comfortable. It was a habit she’d developed for her own survival, to always be aware of where others were.
“I think you’re what he needs to start healing,” he made a soft sound, “as much as he’ll ever be able to.”
She paused and looked over at him, “me?”
Cooper took off his hat and gave his head a brisk rub, before putting it back on and giving her a steady look. “You are his mate,” the expression in his eyes softened, “there’s already a connection no one else will ever have with him.”
Emersyn turned back to the wall, not wanting him to see what she knew would be in her eyes, fear. The fear of being touched was real and was something she could probably never get over completely. She thought of when he’d kissed her, that had been nice. She wanted to kiss him again but didn’t think she’d ever be comfortable with a touch beyond that. “I don’t know if I can help him.” She meant it and it caused her sadness she couldn’t describe.
“I think over time it will come together for both of you.” His movement on the floor echoed in the empty room. “Take your time, I’m going to get some more coffee, then I think I’ll tinker with the intercom out here.”
She glanced to see he was leaving the room, “the intercom?”
He paused, “that little box by the door, it’s so you can talk to the main house.”
She smirked, “Is that what it is?”
Cooper nodded, “I’m going to see if I can get it working.” He glanced around the room, “I figure by lunch you’ll be making this place look like a million bucks.”
She watched him walk out. “A million bucks?” That was an odd saying. Cooper had a lot of those, but he was a nice man, so she knew none of them was a bad reference.
Turning back to the wall, she looked to see what she had done, then to the roller on the floor. She should have asked him how she used that exactly. She’d watched Jake use it but hadn’t paid that close attention because she never imagined she’d be asked to do something like this. She bit her lip, maybe standing too much bothered his leg. It made sense that he’d ask her and not any of the men. They had enough to do.
She looked out the window to see the snow falling in slow motion. It was pretty to watch. Peacefully falling from the sky. She knew it wasn’t always that way, from staring out windows for much of her life. When the winds picked up they would whip it around and make it nearly impossible to see. Bending down, she wet the brush again with more paint. Part of her wished the storm days in her life were over, but she couldn’t afford unrealistic expectations. She might want it, but there were never going to be ‘pretty’ days for her.