Help Me Heal

Chapter 46

The second day of 'playing musical chairs with houses' ended at Jay's now empty apartment. As it had turned out, Erin had spent the previous day packing and hadn't had time to get to cleaning the place. On day two, Kalinda had offered to clean it while Hank helped Jay and Erin move their things into their new apartment.

"Hey. We're all done," Hank reported when Kalinda let him, Jay and Erin into the apartment. He could tell immediately that she had been working hard. Her brow glistened with sweat, and the light blue rubber gloves and apron she was wearing were dirty. The apartment smelled strongly of cleaning products.

"Good to hear. I think I'm about done here too," Kalinda said, peeling off the gloves and dumping them on a nearby kitchen work surface, followed by the apron.

"Holy shit. Is this the same place?" Jay asked, looking around almost in awe.

"You've done an amazing job," Erin agreed.

"Had to make sure you get your security deposit back. We all know what kind of tossers landlords can be."

Jay stepped forward before Hank had a chance to say anything. He gave Kalinda a hug and a peck on the cheek. "Thank you, KR. You really are the best. Appreciate everything you've done for us."

"You're most welcome," she replied, returning the embrace.

Usually not much of a hugger, Erin stepped forward next and offered one. Hank watched and listened carefully as they embraced each other and Erin expressed her gratitude. He picked up on the dynamic. There was an air of a mother and her kids about it, which made it easy to understand why Kalinda was doing so much to help. The motherly role was something she deeply craved. To an extent, she was maybe starting to get it.

Jay and Erin moved off to inspect Kalinda's handiwork in the rest of the apartment and to make sure for a final time that none of their belongings had been forgotten. It left Hank to have a private moment with her. He began by giving her a kiss.

"Like Jay said, you're the best. You've busted your ass for them today."

"Yes I have. Look at my hands." She showed him her hands, palms up. Her fingers looked sore from the punishment they had taken. He went to hold her hands, but she pulled them away. "Don't. They're sweaty and they smell. I've had those bloody gloves on all day. Even so, my fingers took a hammering. My knees and my back have seen better days too. The team will think I've had a kicking when I turn up for work tomorrow."

"I'll run you a tub when we get home," he promised. "Soak for an hour or two and that will ease the aches and pains. I'm glad Erin and Jay appreciated your hard work."

Kalinda gave him a tired smile. "So am I. Being a part of their lives is important to me."

"I know," he said simply before kissing her softly on the lips. The way he said it and the way he delivered the kiss showed her that he really did know, but he chose not to say anything more. She could continue getting closer to Erin and Jay at her own pace, with his unspoken but unquestioned blessing.

"Looks like we're all set to get out of here for good," Jay announced as he and Erin returned from their walk around. "You're welcome to come to our place for a drink."

"Thank you, but Hank just offered to drive me home and run me a bath," Kalinda said. "That's an offer that's simply too good to refuse at the moment."

Her use of 'at the moment' as opposed to 'right now' caused that feeling he often got when her posh-sounding accent worked its magic on him.

"How about dinner one night in the week then?" Erin suggested. "Our place. I'll cook."

Hank didn't need to seek Kalinda's opinion on that. "You're on. We'll figure out which night works between the four of us. Right now, let's go home. We've all had a hell of a couple of days."