*
David wiped a hand over his face, the bolt of awareness hitting him hard. She wasn’t his type, even if she was friendly and had insisted on feeding him last night. Perhaps he was still in a fog over the wine he’d consumed. He could hardly refuse and it wasn’t until he was on his way home that he admitted to himself that he’d enjoyed her company. He hadn’t been expecting to see April this morning. There was something unnerving about her, raw and fresh. David almost stumbled over a crack in the pavement, his mind so deep into the hastily recalled images of last night. The way she smiled over her glass of wine. The way her lips curved when he made her laugh, giving her tiny dimples that he wanted to get closer to, to test out their depth with the tip of his tongue. The way her gaze stayed on him when he spoke. She was attentive and caring. Cute and clumsy at the same time, but nobody was perfect. Still, he had his focus and it wasn’t with someone by his side.
Oscar scurried alongside him, tongue flopping along with what David swore was a huge grin on his face. Last night when he’d arrived home to hear the poor animal whining in the mudroom, he’d promised to set his alarm earlier for the morning so Oscar wasn’t ignored all day. The pleasure he’d derived from the impulse dinner and drinks with April was overshadowed with the guilt he felt at ignoring his dog. Even opening the bag of dog treats he’d brought home didn’t make him feel any better.
They turned the corner and ran up the hill toward home, past the parking lot where April’s trailer still blocked his parking space. Let it go, David. Just let it go. You won’t be here forever if things go as planned. Get Mom sorted out and you can return to your own life. This is merely a ripple in the pond. A few more ripples before you leave won’t hurt you. By the time they ran into the backyard, he was desperate for a drink of cold water. He unhooked Oscar’s leash and filled his outside water bowl before going into the mudroom and taking his shoes off. He threw his sweaty sports clothes into the laundry basket and grabbed a long cool drink before he headed into the shower. Ten minutes later, he was in the car on the way to work, one guilt trip avoided, and one happy dog sleeping in the morning sunshine, exhausted from his run.
He walked in the back door and glanced at the closed door of April’s shop before heading to his office. Soon, his patients started arriving and he didn’t have a chance to give her another thought.
Chapter Seven
April spent a fair amount of the morning on the phone organizing her flower delivery. With plans to open the following week, she had to be prepared. Her stock sat strewn around the shop, most of it in boxes ready to pull out and put on display. She’d painted the walls in both rooms, spending more than a few long nights with a paintbrush in her hand. The bright pop of color was limited to the main room, her back wall and staircase making the statements she wanted. The remaining walls were more muted and soothing. Her dressing would do the talking for the style she wanted to create and hopefully sell to the inhabitants of Cherry Lake.
After deciding what furniture belonged in which room, she went about shuffling things into place. What a huge mistake she’d made not thinking ahead but as she hadn’t really known the layout of the shop. The movers could easily have put the large bookcase in the front room if they’d known. But they didn’t and now it was up to her to drag in in there herself. So much for being a forward planner.
It didn’t even occur to her to ask her sisters for help. The thought of getting ribbed for changing her plans foremost in her mind as she huffed and puffed sliding the old battered bookcase a few inches with each push. “This is ridiculous, Hamish.” Her big dog sat watching from his mat near the cash register. A few people walked past and took a quick peek inside the shop but nobody stopped, and she didn’t want to scare away potential customers by grabbing them off the street and dragging them inside to help her.
Almost there. She bent and sucked in deep breaths. One more burst of energy and she should be almost done. It had to go over near the window, behind the big overstuffed armchair that showed signs of wear as well as looking so comfortable, clients could imagine themselves sinking into it. Loaded up with her collection of paperbacks, old encyclopedia’s and children’s books, the bookcase would look wonderful. She planned to pile cushions in the corner under a children’s teepee, drape gorgeous soft cashmere throws over the chair and finish it all off with a delightful hand-carved side table and some of her special china.
April stretched, talked herself up for the final charge and put her shoulder against the side of the book case. Inch by inch she got it closer to the perfect spot. Another shove, another few inches and she could spin it around and push it back against the wall. She was all over this. With determination and attitude, April was unstoppable.
“Almost, Hamish.” A car drove past, its headlights flickering over the darkening shop front. Put this against the wall and she’d call it a day. Hands either side of the timber, April shuffled it in a stepping motion, inching closer to the
