YENA

I saw Lucy’s text as I was getting out of Evan’s car. She was cancelling on me.

But I guess she had a good reason.

Her mystery man just broke up with her, she said. And she wanted to be alone.

Poor Lucy.

I held my phone to my heart, feeling so sad for her. But also relieved, considering what she’d told me about the way this guy had been treating her.

Sighing, I walked into the building alone, and checked in with the nurse at the front desk. It was the same lady who’d been working the day before.

“Where’s your friend?” she asked cheerily.

“I’m so sorry,” I told her, “but she’s not feeling well today.”

The nurse frowned and said, “Sorry to hear that. Here, let me take that from you –”

She came out from behind the counter and relieved me of the box of clothes and fitting supplies.

“Thanks. Should I go get this stuff set up?”

The nurse glanced at the clock.

“You’re a little early,” she said. “Why don’t you let me take this to the activity room for you. And you wanted to visit Alaster today, too, right?”

“Yeah. Do you think he’s up?”

The nurse shifted the box in her arms, trying to find a comfortable way to hold it.

“Yeah, I think so. Do you already know where his room is?”

“I do! Can I head right over there?”

“Go for it,” she said. And she headed off down one hallway, while I started in the opposite direction.

I rounded the last corner toward Alaster’s room and was surprised to see someone – a very big, very tall man – walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.

And my heart began to beat so fast, I thought it might explode.

Because it was Nolan.

“Yena.”

His voice was breathy. And he looked just as shocked to see me as I was feeling at the sight of him.

Lily was awake.

“It’s him!” she cried. “Our prince!”

I closed my eyes for just a moment and told her to be quiet.

“Nolan,” I said. “Hi.”

I stopped walking a few feet shy of him. It felt so unnatural, seeing him, being this close and yet…

Not rushing into his arms. Not standing up on my tip-toes for a kiss.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Well…” I looked at Alaster’s door. “I was gonna see if I could say hi to an old friend, but something tells me he might have just started a nap.”

“Oh, yeah,” Nolan said, suddenly dropping his voice to a low whisper.

He pointed up the hallway and mouthed something I couldn’t make out. I got the message though.

We went back in the direction I’d just come from and stopped at a bench beside a big window. He sat down at one end of the bench, and I took the other.

“So, that’s very sweet of you to come here to check on Alaster,” Nolan said.

“Yeah, except I keep missing him. I came by yesterday too, and I think he was in a doctor’s appointment.”

Nolan nodded.

“So, how is he doing?” I asked. “And… how are you?”

“I’m doing better than he is,” Nolan said, frowning. “He has trouble eating. And you wouldn’t believe it’s even possible, but he’s still losing weight.”

“I’m so sorry, Nolan.”

I could feel how heavy his energy was. Nolan was hurting for his friend.

And then I couldn’t help it – I reached out and touched his hand.

Goddess! It was painful, the sudden, electric jolt it gave me.

I pulled my hand away fast.

“Are you alright, Nolan?”

“Yeah.” He looked up at me with a sad smile. “I’ll be fine… it’s not me I’m worried about.”

“He’s lucky to have a friend like you in his life.” My eyes started feeling damp as I said this.

Nolan looked away and said, “Nah. I’m lucky to have him.”

I dabbed at my eyes and took a deep breath while he wasn’t looking.

“Um, so, I’m sorry to change the subject but, would you mind walking with me over to the activity room?”

Nolan whipped around to look at me with raised eyebrows. “The activity room?”

“Yeah, I actually committed to doing some volunteer work here today.” I looked at my watch. It was two minutes to noon.

I couldn’t read the complicated expression that came across Nolan’s face.

“That’s wonderful,” he said. “What are you planning on doing?”

I smiled. “You’ll like this. I brought a bunch of clothes, designs I made up that I’m not gonna use, and I want to fit them to the residents.”

Nolan rose to stand and said, “Wow. Yena, that’s… beautiful.”

I blushed. “It’s no big deal.” I got to my feet and we started walking.

“Sure it is. Here you’re days away from the biggest adventure of your life, and still you’re thinking about doing something to help others…”

Nolan trailed off, and I caught him looking at me in a way that made me feel tingly all over. He saw that I saw it and turned his eyes away quickly.

NOLAN

Nolan was still in shock. He didn’t expect to see Yena today. Or, maybe, ever again…

And when he learned what she was doing here at the elder care facility, it melted his heart.

Of course, he already knew Yena was a wonderful person.

The love that she had shown to Nolan… it changed him. He’d never known he could be loved like that.

And it turned out, she had so much love to give, she was even here working with old people during a time when she was very busy with her own life and concerns.

When they reached the lobby, Nolan told Yena he needed to leave.

“You go on and do your thing,” he said. “I’m sure you’re going to be great. They’re going to absolutely love you.”

“Thanks.” She gave Nolan a slightly sad smile.

“But before I go, do you think I could ask you for one favor?”

“Oh? Sure. What is it?”

“I’ve got a speech coming up, on the floor of Parliament…”

“Right,” Yena said. “The vote that was rescheduled. The one that was supposed to happen when you… I mean, the week of the ice storm…”

Yena glanced over her shoulder, seeing if they were alone.

Nolan smiled. He appreciated her discretion. He’d always felt like he could trust her.

“Yeah, that’s the one,” Nolan continued. “And, well… I have a formal suit that I planned to wear. But I’ve, ah, kind of outgrown it.”

Yena squinted at him. Took a step back and looked him up and down.

Got a mischievous smile on her face, and blushed a little.

“You’ve been working out,” she said.

Nolan shrugged.

He wasn’t hitting the gym, if that’s what she was thinking. But he had been shifting and running as wolf lately. And as a result, he was stronger, with broader and more muscular shoulders than ever.

“So I was wondering… if maybe you could help re-fit my jacket? Or, help me pick out another suit to wear?”

“Really?” Yena asked.

Suddenly, Nolan felt foolish.

“No, it’s too much to ask of you,” he said. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking…”

“No, no!” Yena shouted. “Of course, I want to help you. I was just… surprised that you would, well, want my help.”

Nolan shook his head in disbelief. But he couldn’t think of any more words to say.

“Why don’t you come over to Tina’s tomorrow?” Yena asked. “Bring the jacket that’s too small, and I’ll see if there’s enough fabric inside the seams to let it out a little.”

“You sure it wouldn’t be an imposition?”

“Not at all. And you know who’d love to see you, too? Tina.”

Nolan thought, Well, Evan sure won’t be happy to see me…

“I’ll bring her a bottle of her favorite wine,” Nolan said.

“Perfect.” Yena grinned.

And just looking at the sight of her lovely smile had Nolan feeling happier than he’d been in weeks. His energy was different. He felt lighter.

Like he could walk on air.

Like maybe he needed to be careful when he stepped outside, for fear he might just float on up into the sky.