The Perfect Gift
Page 3
NAOMI LAY flat on the bed staring at a dirty smudge mark on the ceiling.
“Kaite, Bill had been an amazing man, the perfect gentleman and easy on the eyes. He didn’t have to work too hard to sweep me up into his fantasy world.” She sighed, jumped from the bed and walked across the room to the window.
Kaite rolled her eyes. “The falling leaf must’ve been a bad omen. It’s been two years today. Get over it.”
“I can’t.”
“Tell me something, did lover boy pay you any money for ruining your day? The dress cost you an absolute fortune let alone everything else he made you buy.”
“No.”
“Do you know where he is or what he’s doing?”
“No.”
“My dear girl, stop moping about this tiny shoe box-size apartment. Let’s go out to have some fun. I can already hear the nightlife calling from the Melbourne CBD, and the sun has yet to set.”
“I don’t feel like doing anything,” confessed Naomi on a sigh.
“What about the bloke you met recently. Heard from him lately?”
“Don’t even start to mention him. Sometimes I feel he’s out there still watching every move I make.”
“You never did say much about him,” grunted Kaite.
“There’s not much to tell. We met on the dance floor three months ago. By the end of the night, I figured him for a creep. I ordered him out of my life.”
Kaite looked out across the Melbourne skyline at the setting sun. “You’re right he did look like a creep. We should go to the local nightclub to meet someone new.”
Naomi lowered her gaze to the street below. The people rushing past their building reminded her of ants. She knew the streetlights were about to blink on. The city’s nightlife will soon follow. She loved the dancing, the smell of the countless coffee shops, the restaurants and the theatres. She turned from the window, walked across the room and sat on the end of the bed.
“I’ve made up my mind, no more men.”
“Don’t make me laugh,” giggled Kaite.
“This time, I’m serious. Men are big trouble. The only thing they want is a quick roll in the hay. When they get bored, they dump me and go onto the next one. I’m convinced there’s not a man anywhere in Australia who cares enough about a woman to treat her like a lady. I’ve been searching for years hoping to discover a man who is honest and will stay by my side for the rest of my life.”
“You won’t get an argument from me,” replied Kaite. “There’s only one thing wrong; you’ll be lonely for the rest of your life.”
Naomi flopped prone onto the bed. “I think I’ve made myself depressed.”
She eventually dragged her feet back to the window, palming an open hand at the city skyline.
“Surely I’m wrong. There must be a man out there somewhere.”
“If you quit trying so hard, maybe he might surface. Come on my dear girl, get dressed, the two of us are going out to have a great time and find romance.”
CHAPTER FOUR