He felt a stab of panic at her question. People didn’t usually put him on the spot like this but he was learning very fast not to underestimate anything April did. She was unpredictable as well as slightly odd. “Too busy I guess.”
She nodded her head, a smile on her lips. “And here I thought you were going to say something lame like ‘haven’t met the right girl yet.’ Is that the only reason?”
“Why, are you putting up your hand for the job?” He bit down on his tongue. Why oh why would he say something so ridiculous, so outrageous? She made him forget who he was half the time, and his mouth got carried away. “Sorry. Wine must be going to my head, along with that dose of fresh air. Too many changes in one day and my brain isn’t taking it well.”
April leaned back in her chair and laughed. He didn’t think it was that funny but at least it broke the ice after his gaff.
“You really are funny, aren’t you?” She wiped a finger under her eyes to dry the tears of laughter. “When we first met I had you figured for a stuffed shirt but I see now I was wrong. You’re a very funny guy when you let yourself relax.”
“No, I’m not. My mother says I’m boring. I guess that comes from living alone for so long. I do have to admit to being set in my ways.”
She gazed at him, picked up her wine and took a sip. “Who says that’s a bad thing? We all like continuity in our lives.”
“True but I think I take it to the extreme. I don’t stray from the tried and true routine very much at all. Guess that could make me boring.” Why did he suddenly feel self-conscious?
He was happy with his life. At least he had been up until now. Routine always suited him and his busy life. Perhaps the blonde fireball with flowers in her hair and the hippie lifestyle was going to blow that all out of the water for him.
“Maybe it’s time to break the boring up into little chunks and see what happens. But you didn’t answer me really. Why are you still single, David?”
*
With the uncertainty in his eyes, she wondered if she’d gotten too personal. Sometimes the questions rushed out before she could engage her filter.
“I could ask you the same thing, you know.”
“And you should, too. I have no right to quiz you and give nothing in return.” She licked her lips. “Right, so there was this guy who I thought was ‘the one.’” She made air quotes before continuing. “Seems he was only a freeloader anyway but I couldn’t see it at first. I thought he was special, the artistic type. Kind of broody and deep, but no. He was just lazy, so I kicked his worthless butt out. Then there was this other guy who thought the best thing he could do was to change me, make me more like he wanted me to be.” She shrugged remembering how his mother had looked down her perfectly sculptured nose at April when they were introduced. She should have known then that relationship was doomed to die. “That kinda didn’t work out well for him either. Last time I heard, he was wooing the daughter of a fortune five hundred company owner and an engagement is imminent.”
“I see.” He fiddled with his napkin and met her gaze. “There was someone once.”
“What happened?” She leaned back in her chair and watched the play of emotions on his face. He was so easy to read; the pain, the confusion, as he remembered.
“When my father got sick, I came back to take over the practice. It was what he wanted and I was happy to do it. We were a pretty tight-knit family so it was a given that I’d take over.” It was easy to see when the memories turned sour for him, the shutters came down on his eyes. “My girlfriend was on her way up the ladder, so to speak. She’d been offered a position in Seattle on a team by someone she admired greatly. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be in Cherry Lake because at that time my father’s illness was still not confirmed, at least the terminal side of it wasn’t.” He took a sip of wine and continued.
“We agreed that Elise should stay and do what she did best. Climb the professional ladder.”
The bitterness surprised April and showed just how much this woman had hurt him. “And what happened then?”
“Dad was given a very short time to live and I couldn’t go back so I resigned my position and took over the practice. Elise wouldn’t budge, she insisted she stay in Seattle and we broke up. Now I live and work here while I try and figure out what direction to take with my life, and I don’t know what she’s doing.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“How long ago did that all happen?”
“Hmm, Dad died about eighteen months ago I guess. I’ve gotten used to being back and I’ve settled into a routine.”
“Do you like being home? No plans to go back to the city?”
He stared at her. “That’s what I was trying to tell you before. I was never going to stay here permanently.”
A stone lodged in her gut. “Right.” How was she going to deal with that news?
“Cherry Lake doesn’t suit my life plan. I enjoyed living in Seattle and was doing well there. I plan to sell the practice, rent out my house, and return to pick up where I left off if that’s possible.”
“If that’s what will make you happy, David. We’ll miss you though.”
I’ll miss you.
The strength of her emotion surprised her. She hurt.
He nodded but didn’t look happy about it. Dragging out painful memories for
