Source One

haste to put the picture back, her fingers fumbled and the picture fell to the ground.
    Amber’s cheeks were flaming as she quickly knelt down and picked the picture up. She set it on the desk, not bothering to try to put it back where it had been.
    “I-I’m sorry.” She knew Mr. Nichols was still staring at her, but she couldn’t meet his eyes.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered again as she hurried past him, out of his office.
    Amber chewed on her lip as she hurried to the bathroom.
    Mercifully, it was empty.
    She locked herself in the last stall and rested her head against the door. For the next couple of minutes, she concentrated on taking deep breaths. Finally, she lifted her head and sighed.
    It was only the start of the workday.  And there was a lot to do.  She needed to put this behind her and get back to work.  Amber squared her shoulders, opened the door and left the bathroom a moment later.

CHAPTER 6
     
    Amber squeezed her mother’s hand and repositioned the oxygen mask over her face. It was ten at night, the last Sunday in October.
    Her mother had had a rough weekend. The doctor had sent a hospice nurse to help.
    Her uncle, her mother’s brother, had come up from San Diego with his wife. It had been several months since they’d been up, and Amber was grateful they’d come.
    They had just left for the hotel they were staying in. The hospice nurse had left the room to call in a report.
    Amber’s mother was looking up at her.
    Amber’s heart pounded. “I love you, mom,” she whispered.
    Mary motioned to Amber, and Amber lifted the oxygen mask.
    Mary too k a shaky breath. “Love you…..too. You’re…….the best thing……ever happened to me.”
    Amber squeezed her eyes shut and tried to suppress a sob. She leaned down to kiss her mother’s cheek.
    Minutes later, Mary was gone.
    Amber had expected to be crying uncontrollably when it happened.
    Instead, she felt numb, lightheaded, as she stared down at her mother ’s form.
    The hospice nurse squeezed her shoulder.
    “I’m sorry, Amber,” she whispered.
    ***
    Michelle knocked on Brian’s door.
    “Brian, I have a temp coming in……..Amber’s out all week. Her mother died.”
    Brian frowned. “Her mother died?”
    Michelle nodded. “From cancer.”
    “I didn’t even know she was sick.”
    Michelle raised her brow.
    Brian cleared his throat. “We’re sending flowers, right?”
    Michelle smiled a small smile and nodded. “I’ll show the temp around as soon as she comes in.” She closed his door.
    Brian sat back in his seat, thoughts on Amber.
    ***
    Amber poured some coffee into her mug.  She looked out the front window as a jogger passed by and sighed heavily.
    She was ready to get back to work. She needed to get out of the house. Needed to get away from her thoughts.
    Even if it meant dealing with Mr. Nichols.
    The others in the office were certainly nice to her. Treated her well. A few of them had called once they’d found out the news from Michelle. They’d even asked about a funeral for her mother.
    But Amber, her aunt and her uncle had buried her mom in a private service.
    Amber had kept the door to her mother’s room closed for the past week. That Saturday, she steeled herself and opened the door.
    Amber instantly saw an image of her mother lying on the bed. With a cry of anguish, she shut the door.
    She sank down onto the carpet. Put her head into her hands and sobbed.
    ***
    Brian lay in bed Sunday night thinking about Amber. He’d come close to calling her this week.
    He’d wanted to offer words of comfort.
    He’d gotten as far an inputting her cell number into his phone. Then something had stopped him.
    Brian drew in a breath. She’d be back tomorrow. He’d give her his condolences then.
    He turned to his side and closed his eyes.
    The next morning, Brian looked up as Amber entered his office. “Amber…..”
    Amber’s expression stopped him cold.
    Every look she gave him now was guarded. Like his words were about to cut into her.
    Brian cleared his throat and started again. “I was very sorry to hear about your mother.”
    Amber’s eyes fell to the floor.
    “Thank you,” she said quietly. She looked up at him again. “Do you need anything?”
    Brian shook his head. “No.”
    Amber nodded. She turned and walked out, shutting the door behind her.
    Brian took a deep breath and sighed. That wasn’t exactly how he’d envisioned things going. He hadn’t wanted to send the wrong message, but he’d