He looked around her home and nodded. “Nice place. It’s real y homey. I like it.” She smiled because she had worked hard to make the smal space cozy for her and her son. She had caught clearances at Pier 1 and IKEA for most of the furnishings and knickknacks, and she had even picked up a few gently used finds at the Salvation Army and some consignment shops. The apartment had a lived-in, eclectic but stylish feel to it. And she credited the amateur decorating skil s she had gotten when she was addicted to HGTV before she found the Food Network and discovered her true dream passion. But she couldn’t let Patrick’s compliments throw her off course. He was good, but he wasn’t that good. She took a deep breath and firmed her resolve. She saw where this was going. She had to nip this in the bud here and now. “Thanks. Have a seat.” Just as they took seats opposite each other on the tan-and-rust striped sofa and love seat set, Dil on came dashing into the living room. “Can I watch TV?”
