Role of a Lifetime by Amanda Wilhelm Read Free Book Online

kidding, did you go to the hospital today?"
    "Yes we did, and oh, I wanted to tell you, the volunteer coordinator she said maybe we could start bringing the rabbits into the group therapy sessions."
    "That's great."
    "Yes, Marie said she'd do it too, it's going to take some time, they have a counselor who's interested, but there's some details they have to work out on their end."
    The server approached, presumably to take their order, but stopped, obviously confused by the sight of Holly talking on her cell with her eyes closed.  Kelly raised his index finger to his lips and waved the guy away.
    "Did Lia go with you?" he asked her.
    "Oh yes, and she spent the whole ride lobbying for more stuff for her dorm room. I swear, we saw the rooms, for the freshman, they are literally smaller than the room she has now, and she has to share it with someone, I don't know where she thinks she is going to put all this stuff, really."
    Kelly reached out and ran his hand up Holly's arm to her hand.  He gently pulled the phone out of her grasp.
    "Keep your eyes closed," he said as he put the phone down on the table.  "What kind of stuff does she want?"
    "Well the other day she showed me a comforter and curtains on line, curtains, they have blinds in the dorms, the walls are made of cinder block and she thinks we're going to be hanging curtain rods."
    "What did you tell her?" Kelly asked.  He slid his hand up her arm again.  This time he took her by the hand and lowered it to the table.
    "I said I'd think about it, but she's being ridiculous, but then I think she's my only kid, I would kind of like to do something for her, but what if her roommate's a total jock or something, what she picked, they couldn't pack more flowers and lace onto the thing, and the curtains are out of the question, I'm pretty sure they're not going to be happy about us drilling into the cinder block."
    "So what are you going to do?"
    "I don't know.  Delay making a decision I guess.  Get her a comforter but say no to the curtains?  She wants like two hundred dollars’ worth of pillows," she paused, "Kelly?"
    "What?"
    "Can I open my eyes now?"
    "No."
    "I can't?"
    “No."
    "Why not?"
    "I like looking at you."
    She smiled at that and he could tell she was flattered.
    "Now I'm starting to feel weird with my eyes closed."
    "Okay, one more minute."
    "Seriously?"
    "Yup."
    He looked her over carefully and took her all in again.  He was lingering his gaze on the area where her neck curved up from her shoulder when he realized she had opened her eyes.
    "Hey," he said.
    "Hey what?  I can't eat dinner with my eyes closed."
    "I guess," he said.
    "Kelly?"
    "What?"
    "That was a good idea, thanks."
    He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
    "No problem."
    Then they both looked up as the waiter approached.
    "Do you want to order?" the waiter asked hesitantly.
    "Ummm, we haven't looked at the menus," Holly said.
    "I can tell you the specials, if you want."
    "I would love to hear the specials," Kelly said and looked to Holly for confirmation.  On more than just the request from the waiter.  She looked happy, and relaxed and Kelly was glad, silly as it was, that he had come up with the idea, "Do you want to hear the specials Holly?"
    "Yes," she said, squeezing his hand, just a little.  He squeezed hers back, “I do.  Please."

Chapter 12
     
    "So when can I see some of your work?" Kelly asked Holly.
    "What?"
    "I want to see it, the paintings, and pottery," he said.
    "Really?"
    "Yes, really."
    Holly didn't know what to say to that.  Nobody was ever interested in that stuff.  And she was fine with that.  If she focused, concentrated really hard, when she was painting or throwing pots, then all she was thinking about was what she was working on.  The final product was irrelevant.  She did it for the process.  Holly looked across the table at Kelly and he smiled at her.
    "Why?" she asked him finally and he laughed and shook his head.
    "Why, really?" he