Forever This Time (Hope Harbor)

by Ann B. Harrison

  “Shh, don’t talk. She’ll find us.” The boy held his hands over his mouth, eyes huge as someone came around the corner calling.

  “Leo. Leo, coming ready or not.” Footsteps crunched the leaves as she passed the woodshed.

  The small shoulders trembled with suppressed giggles.

  Drew watched Leo. It was almost like looking at April as a child. The same glossy hair, bright brown eyes, and the dimples in his cheeks was her all over. The hollowness in his gut gave him more questions than answers. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but this could easily have been his child if she hadn’t run. Hadn’t dumped him for her Marine.

  “Come on.” Leo reached out and grabbed Drew’s hand. “We can make it to the porch before she finds us.”

  Drew had to swallow before he spoke. “Shouldn’t we just stay here until she calls quits?”

  “Nah. There might be spiders here and I don’t like them. They have sticky legs. If we sneak out and get to home base before she finds me, Tilly will have to go again anyway.”

  “Right.” Tilly. The name they had decided to give their first girl. He couldn’t believe she’d called her daughter that. Drew wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or comforted by her choice.

  Together they snuck out of the woodshed and around the back of the house toward the front porch. Just as they were creeping up the stairs, a hand reached out and grabbed hold of Leo’s shirt. “Gotcha.”

  Leo let go of Drew’s hand and jumped in fright. “No way! You suck.”

  Footsteps marched toward them, anger in every step. “Leo Williams. Don’t use that language. I’ve told you before.” She stopped when she saw Drew. “Drew. I didn’t realize you were with Leo.”

  “Um, we were hiding in the woodshed. Tilly busted us sneaking up to the porch so I guess part of the blame lies with me. Sorry for the bad language, April.”

  She stared down at him, that frozen look he knew so well from the first day they’d met. It took a few moments before her eyes softened and the grim line of her lips relaxed. “Well, I suppose this once I can forgive you two. But you know better, Leo. We’ve spoken about this before.”

  Leo hovered behind Drew, the warmth from his body touching Drew’s back. “Yes, Mom.”

  “Sorry, Leo. How about we go inside and get a drink, start fresh. What do you say?” He put his hand on Leo’s shoulder, propelling him toward the steps and his mother. It took a moment for Leo to fall in and do as he suggested. Another thing that matched April’s demeanor. Never one to do something in a hurry, she’d always had to stop and think. Mull things over. Pity she hadn’t mulled over their relationship before she dumped him. But that was old news. Time to get over it.

  Drew skipped up the steps and touched her elbow, turning her toward the open door. “Do you have a drink?”

  April flinched and glanced away, pink tinging her cheeks. Her throat worked as she swallowed, a sure sign of nerves. He loved that she was uncomfortable in his presence. It meant that she still cared.

  “Yes, thanks. Your dad gave me a glass of wine a moment ago.” She reached out to him, her hand resting on his arm for a second before she pulled it back as though burned. “Drew, I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable by being here.”

  “You don’t.” Not much anyway. He could deal with it…maybe. And she looked as though she was the one who wasn’t at ease here.

  April smiled. “You forget how well I know you. It’s just that I tried to get out of coming for dinner but Gigi, well, you’ve seen what she’s like when she gets an idea. There was no way I could say no.”

  “I understand. Don’t worry, April. We’ll make the most of it. I can deal with it as long as you can. We’re going to be working together so tonight is probably a good idea to break the ice. Let’s us get to know each other again without the uncomfortable moments at work. That wouldn’t be cool as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Good. So long as you are okay with it, then so am I.” She turned and walked back inside before he could say any more, her perfume lingering around his face.

  Drew looked up and saw his father watching him, an understanding look in his eyes. How on Earth was he going to keep his sanity with her so close? He’d dreamed about her for years, ever since she’d left. How would he manage spending time with her and not letting out his frustrations over what she did or on the other hand, cope with the fact he still loved her when she’d obviously moved on with her life?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  It was good to get back to work, doing something she loved. April placed a dressing on the wound and stood up. “There you are. I think that will see you right for the day. Try and keep it clean and dry for a few days. You need to get the stitches out in seven days and I can do that for you. You don’t need to make an appointment so long as it’s during school hours.”

  Jeff Brody’s wife Gail and an old classmate of April’s ran a hand over her son’s head. His tear streaked face had gained more color once Drew had finished with him and left April to clean him up. “Thanks, April. He was distraught when the school said he had to come in and get it seen to. Nasty deep cut it was too. I knew it was going to be tricky right on the leg muscle. Drew is good with him, but nobody likes needles.”

  “You were very brave, Austin. Let me get you a sucker to put a smile back on your face.” She opened the cupboard over the counter and took down a jar. His eyes lit up when she held it out to the child. “Pick your favorite color.”

  “Thanks.” His hand delved in and pulled out a cherry-red sucker and he focused on tearing the wrapping off of it.

  “So, you’re back for good then?” Gail glanced over her son’s head. “We should make a date to catch up with some of the crowd. I missed you when you didn’t come back after college and when Aggie said you’d gotten married, well, I was kind of thrown off. I always thought you and Drew would end up together.”

  “You know how it is. Things change when you’re apart. Long distance love affairs often break down. But yes, let’s catch up one day. I’d like that.” It would make her feel like she belonged getting back with her old friends. Something she hadn’t felt in years. But that was through no fault of her own.

  “Great. I’ll arrange something and get back to you. More of the crowd came back to Hope Island than I thought. The place kind of gets in the blood.”

  April trashed the dressing kit into the bin, hoping Gail would hurry up and leave without asking too many personal questions she couldn’t answer. It was to be expected that everybody and their mother would want to see why she was back and what happened between her and Drew. Perhaps it would be better to get it over and done with. Move on. “Yes, it certainly does. But my kids love it and we have a lovely little house to live in. I couldn’t ask for more.”

  “Yes, I heard you moved into Atticus’s place. Lucky he’d finished redecorating it and it was empty. Talk about good timing on your part.”

  “Atticus owns the gingerbread house?” She stared at Gail, unable to believe what she was saying. He never mentioned it when she was there for dinner. How very strange.

  Gail nodded her head, eager to impart what she knew. “Yep, sure does. He brought it a few years back, cleaned it up, and started renting it out. Always someone interested in staying there, which is weird because it always gave us kids the creeps, remember? Anyway, last winter he gave it a complete makeover again and furnished it with really nice stuff. I think Matt helped him choose the furnishings from that shop in Seattle. You know the one that gorgeous model-turned-designer owns? The chick that now has a string of shops up and down the country? Her stuff is to die for. Pity it’s so expensive because I love it. Anyway, then you come along and Atticus gives it to you.” She stopped for a breath and grinned. “The years have been good to that man. He’s still seriously sexy.” Gail laughed and slapped a hand over her mouth when Austin looked up at her with a frown on his face.

  “Sorry, but we always did go a little bit crazy over him and he hasn’t changed. Still the hottest man
on the island and unattached.” She couldn’t contain her laughter and April had no choice but to follow suit. The gossip sessions they’d shared as teenagers often centered around Atticus Hope, the man with sexiest voice on the planet.

  “We were hopeless, weren’t we?” April ran a finger under her eyes to wipe away the tears of laughter. It had been so long since she’d felt this free, and it was exciting to know she could let go of her stress around those she knew and trusted, even if she hadn’t seen them for years. It was true what they said about long distances, time, and best friends. Nothing changed.

  “It’s good to see you back, April. I hope we can catch up soon. It’s been too long.” Abi leaned over and gave her a hug then a quick kiss on the cheek. “Missed you, girl.”

  “Missed you too. I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch.”

  Gail waved a hand, dismissing her apology. “Don’t worry about it. I know life catches up with us and we all get busy. You can make up for it when I see you again.” She took Austin’s hand and helped him stand up. “Thanks for taking care of this little one for me.”

  “Anytime. You take care, Austin.” April walked them out to reception and waved them out the door. She turned to go back to her room and bumped into Drew. She stepped back, a little bit flustered at the contact.

  “Sorry. Hey, do you have a minute, April?” He smiled and her heart did a small summersault. Still as handsome as ever and just as dangerous. She really would have to watch herself around Drew. The last thing she could afford was to fall in love with him all over again.

  “Sure, let’s talk in the treatment room while I finish cleaning up.” She turned and walked down the hallway into her room. “What can I do for you?”

  ***

  Drew followed her in and shut the door. He walked over to the opposite side of the room, leaned against the filing cabinet, watched her. “I didn’t really get a chance to talk to you the other night. With the whole family there it was kind of impossible and anything I did say would have been overheard.” He gripped his hands together and chose his words. “I understand this is hard for you and I don’t have the whole story, but I wanted to let you know that I’ve moved past what happened between us.” He held his hand up when she opened her mouth to speak.

  “I don’t really want to get into it any more than you do, Drew. The past is the past.”

  “That’s not what I meant. We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. But we have to work together, and it would be better for all concerned if we can be friends rather than having to side step around each other because we feel uncomfortable.” He shrugged his shoulders. “What do you say? Pals again?”

  “You’re sure this is what you want, Drew?” A frown settled between her eyebrows and his fingers itched to wipe it smooth.

  “Of course I do. We were teenagers, April. As adults I think we can leave it all behind us. So, friends?”

  Her lips twitched before she sighed and shrugged her shoulders as if it didn’t really matter. “Sure. It would make life a lot easier. Friends.”

  His stomach rolled. It had been too easy to get her to agree to forget what she did to him. It was what he’d asked for so why did it feel as though she’d gutted him all over again? He was a beggar for punishment, that was what his father always said. Always pushing the boundaries even if it meant pushing people away looking for the validation that wasn’t there.

  “That’s great then. I’m glad you took the job. I remember how meticulous you always were with everything you did. We’re very lucky to have you and I apologize for the other day. It was a shock to see you here.” He stood upright, rubbed his hands together. “Well, back to it. I have patients to see.” Drew strode to the door and left her standing there gaping at him. He hurried back to his office, quietly shut the door, and slumped into his chair.

  Not quite what he was expecting. He’d obviously got it wrong the other night when he thought she cared for him still. Oh man, it’s time to grow up and get over it. Shame he didn’t know how to deal with it. He’d been trying to do that ever since that final phone call from her.

  No matter how many women he dated, none of them made him feel the way April had. None of them made his heart flutter or his pulse race, his mouth go dry. Surely it was only a matter of time before he met someone who would put her in the shadows. Someone who he could imagine himself spending the rest of his life with. Someone who would make the dreams of April go away.

  CHAPTER SIX

  It was amazing how quickly her children had adjusted to life in Hope Harbor. They loved school, had made friends easily in their first week, and were both out on play dates giving April time to herself after a busy day at work. She sat on the front porch looking over the ocean with a cup of steaming coffee to keep the chill at bay and let her mind drift.

  Movement from the edge of her vision had her putting down her glass, ready to jump up. She still hated being caught unaware.

  “Hi, April. Hope you don’t mind me dropping in on you?” Atticus ambled up the cobbled pathway and paused on the top step.

  “Of course not. Come have a seat.” She cleared her throat. “I was hoping to catch up with you soon anyway.”

  “What’s on your mind, darlin’?” He eased down onto a chair and leaned his elbows on his knees, his gaze intent on her face.

  “When you told me to go and see Jeff about a rental, you didn’t tell me this was your place.” It sounded rather weak now she’d said it out loud. Ungrateful even.

  “Does it matter? You needed a house and I had one available.”

  He tilted his head and smiled and she remembered the conversation with Gail. He hadn’t changed at all. Still adorable. Not a wonder all the young girls had fallen in love with him, herself included.

  “I guess not, but it kind of felt a bit weird, you know?” How to put it into words so it didn’t sound as stupid as it did was hard. She knew what she meant in her head. Pity it was coming out so garbled.

  “Not to me it doesn’t. You’re family, April. Always have been. You know we look out for each other on the island.”

  “I didn’t think you’d see me that way after...after…” The words stuck in her throat and tears threatened. He’d always been there for her as a child and it made her embarrassed that those feelings hadn’t gone away just because she was older.

  “After life changed the cards on you? That doesn’t mean a thing, honey. So you and Drew broke up. Big deal. You married someone else and had two adorable children. It doesn’t change things for me. You’re still the same little April that needed soothing when you skinned your knee trying to keep up with the big kids. You couldn’t do anything that would make me love you any less, just like one of my own.” He paused and stared at her while she tried to get control of her emotions.

  “I bet you wouldn’t say that if you knew what I myself got involved in.” Her tears tipped over her eyelashes and streaked down her face unheeded. April wasn’t able to hold them back. The floodgates were well and truly opened.

  Atticus moved over to the seat she was huddled on and pulled her into his arms, holding her to his chest while she cried out the pain and misery she’d kept inside for the last few years. His hand smoothed her hair and he murmured soothing words as April let it all out.

  When she could breathe without gulping out another sob, April unattached herself from his arms. “Your shirt is a mess. Sorry.”

  “Don’t you worry about a thing, darlin.’ It’ll dry soon enough.” He handed her a tissue from the pocket in his jacket and watched as she gathered herself, and mopped up her tears.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t usually lose it like that.” She scrunched up the tissues in a ball, her cheeks heating with shame.

  “Well, maybe that’s the reason you were so upset now. If you did let it out or at least talk about what’s bothering you more often, you wouldn’t have to go through this again. You know you can always talk to me, April. Nothing’s changed because you’ve grown up.”

&nbs
p; She shook her head, looked over the harbor and wished all of her problems would float away on the waves. “It’s not that simple anymore. I was a little kid then and the biggest problem I had was having to go home and do my chores and face my father’s wrath.”

  “A problem is a problem. The size of it doesn’t change what it is.” He leaned forward and gave her his trademark smile where his eyes crinkled and the dimples beside his bushy moustache deepened the intensity of it. “Nothing you can tell me will make me love you any less. You have to believe that.”

  “I’m not sure that’s quite true. Once I say it, I can’t take it back, and I so want to stay in Hope Harbor.” April blew her nose, and then wiped a fingertip under her eyes.

  “Give it a go. I promise not to judge and despite what you think, I’d never ask you to move away now you’ve come home where you belong.”

  She watched his face, looking for any sign of mistrust or doubt. All she could see was the love and calmness that Atticus always showed her. She dropped her head and let her hair shade her face as the words came.

  “It was when we were in college. Drew and I didn’t get to see each other and things got a little bit tense. He was so busy studying, working too many shifts, and didn’t have time for useless chit chat from me. We weren’t that nice to one another and before you know it, we hardly ever spoke. I thought he no longer cared and I was too hurt to chase him about it.” She cleared her throat and looked up. Atticus sat watching her with the same calm smile on his face.

  “Anyway, I met Rob and we just clicked. We liked the same things and he made me feel special. I fell for him hook, line, and sinker. It wasn’t until he had a ring on my finger that I found out what he was really like.” April bit her bottom lip, trying to keep her heart from racing. He couldn’t hurt her now.