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Unable to hide her tears or frustration at not being able to get up, she scooted on her butt to the bathroom, slammed the door, and leaned against it, crying silently. Why did he have to be the last person she expected when he walked through her door two weeks ago? Why couldn’t he be the same jerk she knew in high school? That would make this so much less painful. Instead, he’s a completely different man, one who has learned empathy and understanding.

Joy believed what she said, though. Kian would never be her king.

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#Thejoyofhisworld

Once Kian turned down the bed, had the movie ready on the television, and dimmed the lights, he knocked on the bathroom door. “Joy, come out and talk to me.”

“No,” she said softly. “I’d rather sleep in the bathtub than face this embarrassment.”

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” he said, leaning against the doorjamb. “Come out and get comfortable. We can watch a movie in silence and go to sleep if that’s what you want, but I don’t want your legs to suffer because of me.” The silence was deafening, but he stayed put, wanting her to know he wasn’t abandoning her just because she was vulnerable. “Your crutches are in my hand. Please open the door.”

If she thought he hadn’t heard the huff, she was wrong, but he’d let her do it her way. Water ran, as if she were washing her face, then the door opened. Joy didn’t meet his gaze, just held out her hands for the crutches, so Kian handed them over. When she slipped them onto her arms and crutched to the bed, he could tell she was sore and tired, but he didn’t offer help. Once she sat on the edge of the bed, she rested the crutches against the wall and slid her legs, still in her slippers, under the blankets.

“Why don’t you take off the AFOs?” he asked, walking toward her. “Your feet need to breathe, and since we’re just watching a movie, you don’t need them, right?”

“No. They’re fine,” she answered, staring at the television.

Holding up his hands, Kian walked around the end of the bed and sat on his side, tossing his pajama-clad legs up onto the bed, on top of the covers. He wanted her to relax, and he could tell that having both of them under the covers would not help.

“Hope you like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. There’s not much on this late.”

“Sure, anything works,” Joy answered, staring at her phone.

Knowing she just didn’t want to make eye contact, he pressed play on the remote and settled in for the movie, hoping she’d relax once he proved he wasn’t going to push her about earlier. Soon, she was laughing with him as John Candy and Steve Martin tried to find their way home. When his phone beeped, he checked it nonchalantly, smiling at the picture on the screen.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked, noticing him holding his phone.

Kian paused the movie and showed Joy the picture. Santa’s elf stood beside a little girl who sat on a new bed.

“Is that August?” she asked, glancing up at Kian.

Try as he might, he couldn’t help but laugh as he nodded. “You said I had to find a way to do it so no one knew it was me. August volunteered. This is the first night they’ll be sleeping in their new place, and Kyra loved her bed. Well done on the bedding choice,” he added, pointing to the purple, sparkly ballerina quilt.

“It wasn’t hard. She was wearing a purple tutu in the GoFundMe picture,” Joy said.

“Which I didn’t notice, but you did. I’m glad August could get them squared away before the storm hit.”

“Me too, but are you sure no one knows who he is?”

“I promise. His picture isn’t even on the Van Adler Holdings website because he’s my personal assistant. Or was, until Mom died.”

“What is he doing now?”

“My old job,” Kian answered. “Which is why you were dealing with him more than with me. I was busy with Mom’s work. Still am.”

“Then you’d better offer him one job or the other before he quits on you. It isn’t fair to ask him to be flexible just because he’s your friend. I’m sure he was happy to do it at first, but that must be getting old by now.”

“You’d be correct,” he agreed, unpausing the movie. “I’ve told him we’ll discuss it when I return to the office after the New Year. Once I’ve closed out the estate and finished all the mall tours, I’ll be in a better position to talk with him.”

Joy shook her finger. “We’re not talking business, remember?”

“It seems no matter how hard we try, it slips into our conversations. But I love tossing ideas back and forth with you. Your insight is always spot on. That said, Santa still needs to write a letter to Michael, so your input would be welcome.”

Leaning up against the headboard, she waved her hand. “Not necessary. Marci worked with the school and the Rudolph Tree committee to identify families to invite to our Santa’s Wonderland Bash. They found him using the information Kyra gave you. We don’t know the situation, but he will be there to see Santa.”

“Whew,” he said, wiping his brow. “Santa will be ready. Great name for the event, too. I like it.”