CH 42 Harmony Her eyes opened to find Garrett right there , sitting on the side of the bed next to her . Good morning . He smiled down at her Did you sleep well ? he asked . Mm , I did . She nodded and stretched out in her bed , This bed is very comfortable . Thats not why you slept well . he chuckled softly Now , Id kiss you , but that might see me wanting to crawl into your bed and well … he smirked at her Well miss breakfast and my mother will hunt me down with a vengeance . She actually has a master key to every room in the building . She watched him stand up . Your clothes for the day . He tapped them , they were sitting on the end of her bed . Ill step out and wait for you in the hallway . She nodded , Wait , do they know I am here ? she asked , wondering if hed already seen them this morning or not and just how they would feel about her intruding on their familys Christmas Day . Yes , my family and the boys . He nodded . Boys ? she questioned . He kept saying that . Mm , Wyatt , Ryan and Dallas . Garrett nodded . Were not just co workers , we are all really good friends , they are my social circle , youll see me with them all the time at work and outside of it . Dallas is also married to my little sister Conny . I read something about them being your childhood friends . She stated , getting out of bed . His eyes moved over her slowly , and he nodded They are , Id better leave the room . You being half naked is gaining my undivided attention . See you five . She chuckled as he walked away , even closed the bedroom door as he left . She showered quickly and dressed in the jeans and sweater that hed left for her , and while she brushed her hair she took a minute to check out the apartment she was in . It was a one bedroom place , much like her own , only it was bigger and , instead of a combined lounge and kitchen , they were separate , and much larger rooms as well . It was nicely furnished , with a soft purple rug and cream lounge , a white coffee table and a bowl of purple decorative balls in a large bowl , but she could also detect they had a scent coming off them , picked one up and smelled it , smiled to herself they had a lavender scent to 1/5 +8 Points CH 42 them . There was a large picture of purple bellflowers on the wall behind the lounge , the place was very nice . Simple , clean lines and neat and tidy . She stepped out of the room to find Garrett right there waiting for her . He smiled at her and leaned off the wall , Theyre a good fit . Not too tight or loose . Comfortable . Harmony nodded . How I like my clothes to be honest . Thank you for getting them . All good , sorry theyre not brand new , they were all I could do on such short notice . He motioned for her to walk down the hall , and she fell into step with him as he walked . Its fine . I wasnt expecting new clothes . Now , I will behave today , and keep my hands to myself . he murmured softly . She nodded . She could see many people down in the apartment building foyer , and as they walked down the stairs many of them smiled and greeted Garrett warmly , with a happy Merry Christmas , Garrett . He greeted each of them back in the same manner , and introduced her to a few of them that shed never seen before . Most smiled at her and nodded ; said a polite hello , a few stared from her to Garrett and back . She watched him wave them off . Youll get a bit of that . Just ignore it . She just nodded , she supposed if he never dated , walking around with a woman next to him was going to draw attention to them both . They walked down a long hallway and turned a corner , and he pushed open a door and ushered her into a what she could only think of was a large restaurant . There were so many people in there and the smell of food was amazing . It made her hungry instantly from all the delicious things she was seeing and smelling , everything lined up on the other side of the room , massive buffet tables with pancakes and waffles , hot breakfast foods , as well as fruits and pre made breakfast wraps to be toasted . She was taken over there , and Garrett handed her a plate , Get whatever you want . All meals today are on the company . Good , cos Im starving . She murmured and collected herself , what appeared to be a Spanish omelette , and she also placed on her plate a bagel with cream cheese and topped with blueberries , and she also picked up a jar layered with muesli , yogurt and fruit . But then , she 2/5 CH 42 + Paints didnt have a hand free to get coffee , and she could see there was a machine not unlike the one in the office . She heard Garrett chuckle , as she huffed and looked at her hands You can come back for the coffee . He walked her over to where his family sat and introduced her to those she didnt know , his two sisters , and Wyatt and Ryans wives . Melody and Anya . She smiled at them all and said . hello , then she turned to Deidre . Thank you for letting me be here today , Im sorry to intrude . Intrude ? Deidre stated with a slight frown . Nonsense , the more , the merrier and I didnt want you alone on Christmas Day , which I heard you would be from Wyatt . Welcome to our home . She smiled at Harmony . This is a lovely restaurant . The best breakfast spread Ive ever seen . Nearly everyone at the table chuckled and Garrett smiled at her . Not a restaurant , just a cafeteria for any that want to come in and eat if they dont feel like cooking , and the food … he smiled Is amazing , Ive got three of the best chefs around in that kitchen back there . Oh , so like at the office then ? as she cut into that omelette . Yes , he nodded . There will be food in here all day . If youre hungry , just come and help yourself . She nodded , Alright , I might just do that . She often did eat and drink more in the colder months just trying to keep warm , drank more coffee , or had a cup of soup to warm herself . We here in the gated community like to mingle and eat together , Deidre smiled at her . We pride ourselves on being friendly and caring , and everyone here knows everyone , we all get along well . Thats nice . She nodded , she looked about the room and found Wyatt smiling right at her and recalled he knew about her , the baby she was carrying being Garretts , and realized they all likely knew that . They all also knew he was going to ask her out even . Turned her eyes from him to her plate of food to eat quietly . She saw many people coming and going , and there were many children running all over the place after breakfast . She got to watch as there was snowman building competition outside the front of the apartment building . It was explained to her that only the children could participate , and there was a prize for the winner , their favourite movie , to be shown on the big screen. Apparently there was movie theatre in the building somewhere . Many of the people from inside this community sat around and watched , as she herself did . There were a few others from the office that she recognised , they smiled at her , and she waved 3/5 +8 Peints CH 42 back , walked about and talked to a few of them . Got introduced to husbands and wives , to their children . It was , she realised , a very lively and community driven place to live . A massive lunch was held in that cafeteria . Although she noted there were not many children . in here now , mostly single , men and women , celebrating together , she could only guess they didnt have families to be with for Christmas lunch . There was one table with children at it and lady sitting with them , watching over them , and it didnt take her long to realise they were orphans . Her eyes moved to Deidre Is there an orphanage here ? Mm . Deidre nodded as her eyes also moved to the children at that table . They were between , she thought , eight and seventeen . They dont want a new family to live with , so stay willingly in the orphanage . Wed prefer they move in with one of the familys and be adopted . Many couples have offered to take them in , but they are old enough to choose for themselves . That woman over there with them , Tilda , is her name . She runs the orphanage , is single herself , her husband passed some years back , and they never had any of their own , so she opts to look after those that need it . I get it . Harmony nodded Shes created a family of sorts for herself . She got up and walked over there , smiled at the children and sat down , said hello and introduced herself . They were all just staring at her more than curious . Im just like you , she told them . Lost my parents four and a half years ago , and I have no brothers or sisters . May I sit with you all for this meal ? She saw half of them just nod and return to their meal , and the others continued to look at her . One asked Is it hard to always know youre alone ? She was a girl of maybe 16 . Harmony nodded , wasnt going to lie to them . Takes time to start to feel okay . I was lost for a year to my sadness and grief , and then I picked myself up , realising my parents loved me , and would want me to be happy and live my life to the fullest . Its difficult at first , but gets better with time . She smiled a little sadly . Does it still hurt ? One of the smaller boys asked , and she could see and hear his pain , and she wondered how recent his loss was . Sometimes it does a lot , and other times not so much . I still love and miss them , but I have many wonderful memories to think back on . 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