“We’re over, Drew. I can’t do this anymore. You act like I don’t even exist.”
How many times had he regretted not fighting for her, not admitting she was right? Too many to count. But he’d gone on his merry way, head down as he took on more than he could manage in the pursuit of becoming the doctor he thought he needed to be. In the process he’d lost the one person in the world who meant everything to him.
“What’re you doing here?” He ignored her outstretched hand. Barely noticed the tremble of her fingers.
“Dr. Davidson has offered me the job as practice nurse. I work here now, unless you have any objections.”
Fire lit her hazel eyes, the grim tightness settled on her lips. She had always been stubborn. It seemed that not much had changed in the fifteen years since they’d seen each other. A few lines decorated the area around her eyes that weren’t there before, but that was to be expected. Her mouth remained the same perfect shape made for kissing. He should know. His lips had been glued to hers at one time. Her hair perhaps. Fine strands of auburn highlighted the warm brown. Her figure had bloomed, filled out, giving her seductive curves that seemed perfect on the once willowy body. More mature, more alluring. Always taller than most of the girls he’d known, April had stood out in a crowd then and still would.
She hadn’t changed that much. And she still gave his heart a jolt by just standing in front of him.
“Mrs. Williams has all the qualifications we need, Drew. She has more qualifications than we need. She’s done a stint as midwife and emergency room nurse in San Diego. She’s recently moved to the island and can start on Monday.” His words met silence as Drew continued to stare at her.
Behind April, Liam ran a hand through his hair nervously, as if anticipating an argument. “Drew, we need her. Whatever the problem, we can work through it.”
That was going to be harder than Liam could imagine. “Welcome aboard. Liam, a word in my office, if you don’t mind. See you on Monday, Mrs. Williams.” He turned and stormed back to his office, shut the door, and fell into his chair. Was it frustration or defeat that made him feel like someone had punched him in the gut? Either way, his day had just gone downhill faster than he could have imagined.
How on Earth was he going to cope with her here every single day? For years, Drew had worked hard to deal with getting over April, and now he thought he was on top of it, ready to move on with his life, she arrived on his doorstep proving just how wrong he’d been. Bloody great!
The door opened and Liam strode in, fire in his dark eyes. “What the hell was that about? I’ve never seen you so rude before, Drew, treating her as if she was something disgusting you’d stepped in on the pavement. I won’t be surprised if she doesn’t show up for work next week after that reception.” He moaned. “We’ve waited so long for someone capable to apply for the job, and you treat her like…like she’s your worst enemy. I don’t get it. We need her.”
“She’ll show up.” Drew rocked back in his chair. April wouldn’t have come home if she didn’t have a plan, and once she began something, it was almost impossible to change her mind.
“Do you know her?” Liam pulled up a chair and sat.
“I thought I did, but it would seem that I was wrong.” Drew picked up a pen and clicked it off and on against the polished wood of his desk.
A change came over Liam’s face as realization kicked in. “Hang on, is that... No, don’t tell me. That’s the chick you lost when we were in residency together? The one who dumped you for a Marine?” He leaned back in the chair, his eyes bright. “Shit, sorry, Drew. I didn’t know. You never told me her name.”
“What was the point? You weren’t in the same grade as us at school so I doubt you’d have recognized her anyway. I never thought she’d end up back here.” He threw the pen at the phone, then watched it bounce off the hard plastic and land on the floor.
“April Williams. A widow here with her two children, staying at your brother’s bed and breakfast, and moving into a rental house as soon as she can find one, so she tells me.” Liam ticked off the salient information. “She’s very well qualified, midwife and emergency room experience including burns, so has done everything we could possibly need and more. I spoke to her last employer and she comes highly recommended.”
Drew jolted upright. “She’s staying with Matt?” How come he hadn’t been told that?
Liam shrugged his shoulders. “Uh, yeah. That’s what she said. I’m guessing you didn’t know anything about it?”
How much worse could it get? “You got that right. Not that he usually tells me who’s staying there but still, he knew about April and me. I wouldn’t have thought he’d be that damned sneaky keeping it too himself.”
Liam straightened up, bristling. “Matt was always good at keeping secrets so you shouldn’t be surprised. Besides, it’s his business who stays there, and April is old history. Maybe he didn’t think it was relevant.”
“I know you guys were best friends growing up and you automatically defend him, but I’m his big brother. Family. Surely that accounts for something.” Drew’s phone buzzed. He picked it up and listened. “Sure. Send her in, Nancy. Thanks.”
Drew put the receiver down and stood up. “I have another patient to see before I go home. Thanks for dealing with the staff issue. I do appreciate it even if I’m not tally onboard with the applicant.”
“Drew, if you want to hire someone different, I’ll understand.”
Like that was
