“She might well change her tune now then, after what happened.” Michael laughed. “That’s if you can look past her ‘exploits,’ that is.”
David almost dreaded asking but he’d called for a reason. “Tell me what she did.”
“Pretty much slept her way into the top job after you left. Became manager of the practice. Last I heard she was asked to leave because of an affair with one of the other guys. He asked her to leave before it got any worse. They didn’t want the embarrassment.”
David dropped to the bed, horrified. “Seriously?”
“Yes, deadly. I don’t know what she thought she’d achieve but it didn’t get her anywhere except into hot water with the powers that be. The man in question’s wife is on the board of the company that owns a string of clinics. What a debacle.”
“Crap.”
“What’s going on, David? You’re not thinking of hiring her are you? Or worse still, getting involved again?”
His stomach churned and he had to take a few deep breaths to ward off the nausea. “No. No, not at all. I wouldn’t even consider it.”
“Good. We hardly need to remind you of the stress she caused you already. Find a nice local girl and settle down. Its time you got serious and stopped being so hard to please.” Michael’s voice burned into his brain.
“Is that what you think?”
“If I wasn’t a good friend, I wouldn’t be saying this but take a look at yourself. When Elise got her claws into you, you turned into a frump, an old man. I know you were always set in your ways but, heck, she really stomped the joy out of you.”
The sad part was, it was true. He’d put it down to work and determination to get where he was knowing that to please Elise he’d have to work harder and be stronger. Be more resilient and more focused. And along the way he’d turned into a dull copy of his former self. It’d taken April to make him see that life was to be enjoyed.
“You’re right. Even my own mother’s trying to push me into a relationship.” He moaned and glanced in the bedroom mirror. Dull and boring. What on earth had April seen in him? “I appreciate your advice and thanks for the info on Elise. I’ll deal with her first thing in the morning.”
“So she has come crawling back trying to you. I might have guessed that’s where she went. Don’t fall for her, David. You’ll live to regret it.”
“I know I will.” He had to deal with her before she got her claws into the community and his friends. “Thanks for your help.”
“No problem and, David, don’t leave it so long before you call me again. I miss hearing how things are going.”
“Sure, thanks, Michael.”
Next he tried calling April. He needed to apologize and beg her forgiveness. The thought of her coming over to bring him dinner gave him a warm feeling inside he didn’t want to lose. Bad luck her running into Elise. The phone went to voice mail then hung up. He tried again, hoping she would pick up but she didn’t. He left her a message begging for a return call.
He lay back on his bed and stared at the luminous stars flickering on his ceiling that his father had put up for him when he was a child and wished he was young enough to believe in the power of wishes.
*
April couldn’t sleep. She’d tossed and turned most of the night and it was before the break of dawn that she found herself sitting on the floor at the open window of her bedroom, her chin on her hands, and Hamish leaning against her, gazing out at the street.
Was it so much to ask that she be happy? She didn’t think so. Perhaps she should pick someone more like herself next time instead of taking on someone who had such different ideas. Whoever said opposites attracted was talking about themselves obviously and was twisting the words for their own gain. It should have read “opposites need to stay at their own end of the scale to avoid an all-out war.”
“This isn’t getting me anywhere, Hamish.” April stroked her finger down his wiry head to the tip of his black, wet nose. His warm breath rolled over her hand and she thanked her lucky stars she had her boy at least. He was reliable, wouldn’t dump her for a long lost girlfriend who’d hurt him nor would he turn his back when she disagreed with him.
Hamish would always be there for her. A loyal trusted friend she could rely on.
A tap on the door startled her and Hamish scurried out to the lounge room. He barked, a loud woof that would scare away the most intrepid burglar. April got up, pulled a sheet around her flimsy nightgown and padded out. “Who is it?”
“David. Can you please let me in?”
“I have nothing to say to you.” April slid the bolt home and felt a twinge of regret.
It was the first time she’d ever locked the door to her home. It made a loud snicking sound David would have heard. There was quiet for a moment and then the pad of feet on the stairs as he walked away.
She shuffled over to the window and waited to see if he walked around the front of the shop. When ten minutes had passed with no sign of him, April gave up. “Guess that’s it. And to think I was ready to fight for him before she came back on the scene.” April headed for the shower to wash away the tired eyes and lethargy a long night restless night had left her with.
She was just walking out of the shower when her cell phone rang.
“April, it’s Rick. Sorry to bother you but Susan asked me to give you a call.”
“Hey, no worries. How is she?” The panic in his voice was palpable over the phone. “Is
