by Lucy Clark
Could they hear the wild pounding of her heart? Could they feel her pain? Her terror? The one man she’d loved with all her heart had hurt her, not once but twice!
He was turning in her direction, taking a few steps up the street as he continued to wave to the car as Violet indicated and pulled out from the kerb. Reggie couldn’t breathe. It was impossible to drag air into her lungs because within a split second he would see her…standing there…watching him betray her.
The moment their gazes met, it was as though the world seemed to stop spinning. Flynn looked confused, then shocked, his eyes widening. His step faltered for a split second, as though he was deciding what it was he should do. He’d just been caught kissing his ex-wife! What would he do?
The next instant he increased his speed, walking with purpose, a determined look in his eyes.
Reggie shook her head and took a step back, even though he was still quite a way away from her. The traffic around her slowed and then the pedestrian lights turned green. The people around her started walking across the street. She looked from the lights back to Flynn and shook her head. Now that she’d actually moved, her body seemed capable of more reaction. Her eyes immediately flooded with tears and her lower lip began to quiver.
‘Reggie!’
She shook her head, panic rising within her. She couldn’t face him. She didn’t want to hear his reasoning, his excuses. All her life people had reasoned with her, provided excuses for the terrible things that had happened to her, and now the one man in the world she’d started to trust, the one man who had captured her heart, was going to break it once again.
‘Reg! Wait. I can explain!’ His words reached her ears but she brought her hands up, covering them, blocking out his words as she turned and raced across the road just in time. In another instant the traffic started up again, leaving Flynn on one side of the road and Reggie on the other.
Worlds apart, or so it seemed. Flynn had told her she could trust him, that he was different from all the others, but it appeared he’d been lying to her.
Brushing the tears from her eyes so she didn’t trip over, Reggie made her way down the street, almost running towards the hospital as though it was her one and only lifeline. The instant she rounded the door, she headed down the stairs, needing to hide herself away, needing to find a place where she could expel the pain from her heart, where she could drag in a cleansing breath, where she could start to make a plan to regroup.
Could she recover from a broken heart yet again? She didn’t think so.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘REGGIE?’ BERGAN’S VOICE came over the phone when Reggie had answered the call. ‘Where are you?’ She’d already rejected several calls from Flynn’s cellphone. He was the last person she felt like talking to. How could he? How could he do this to her? She’d opened up her heart, her soul. She’d bared her pain, her horror to him and this was how he thought it was OK to behave? To betray her? No. No. No. The pain in her heart intensified and she choked on another sob.
‘Reggie?’ Bergan spoke again and it was only the evident concern in her friend’s voice that prompted Reggie to answer.
‘What?’ There was no disguising the tears and pain in her voice as she sniffed and snuffled.
‘Where are you? What’s happened?’ Bergan’s tone was insistent and filled with that protective love Reggie had relied on more than once throughout the course of their friendship.
‘I…Flynn…’ Reggie tried to get the words out but it appeared it was impossible. She’d only just managed to calm herself down, thinking she might be ready to call one of her friends to come and get her, but now that she actually had to put into words what she’d seen, Reggie found the wave of anguish was washing over her once more.
‘He was here in A and E, looking for you, and was quite frankly beside himself with worry. What’s happened?’
‘Is…is he still th—?’ She couldn’t finish the sentence, the panic that he might be listening in to this conversation making Reggie skittish again.
‘No. I sent him away.’
‘Good.’ She sighed with relief. ‘Good.’
‘Where are you?’ There was more insistence, more concern in Bergan’s words than before.
‘When things go belly up, go down, down, down and get as far away as possible.’
‘Ah…taking a leaf out of Sunainah’s book, eh? Hiding in the basement beneath the stairs. It’s a good place, I have to admit. OK. Stay put. I’ll be there soon.’
‘Don’t tell him.’ The words were out before she could stop them. ‘I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to speak to him. Ever.’
‘Relax, Reggie. I’ve got your back.’ With that Bergan disconnected the call and Reggie sat beneath the stairwell in the hospital basement, hugging her knees to her chest.
It was the same place she’d found Sunainah, so long ago now, when Sunainah’s life had looked as though there was no possibility for a happy ending. Now her friend was happily married to Elliot, the two of them enjoying being parents to Elliot’s wonderful children and even talking about having some of their own. Things had worked out for Sunainah but Reggie couldn’t see any possibility of things working out for her and Flynn, not now that he’d betrayed her.
Honesty. That was the main thing she needed out of any relationship. Pure and open honesty, and stupidly she’d thought Flynn had thought the same way. Coverups, lies and deceit played no part in her life. Hadn’t he understood that?
So why on earth had he been warmly kissing his ex-wife?
He’d been holding a little boy who looked just like him and who he appeared to love very much. Reggie had been able to see that clearly in his eyes. Did Flynn have a son? If so, why hadn’t he told her about him? Why had he felt the need to keep secrets from her? Not to trust her? To hurt her by betraying her yet again?
She’d been a fool to think that things were looking up for her, that finally she might be able to find the elusive happiness she’d been searching for all her life. Over and over again people came into her life and they let her down. If it weren’t for Mackenzie, Sunainah and Bergan showing her it was indeed possible to trust, Reggie would have given up long ago and allowed the spirit of pessimism and depression to invade her heart.
She searched her pockets for a tissue and eventually found one, dabbing her eyes and blowing her nose, knowing she could well play the part of Santa’s lead reindeer with her red face.
‘Reggie?’
Finally she heard Bergan’s voice echo down the stairwell and held her breath, her eyes wide as she listened to the footfalls on the stairs. Were there two people coming down? Had Flynn been lurking in the shadows? Watching Bergan? Following Bergan, knowing she would lead him to where she was hiding?
‘Reggie? I’m alone,’ Bergan said, as though answering her unspoken question.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes.’ There was absolute certainty in Bergan’s words and Reggie breathed out a sigh of relief as she wriggled out from her hiding spot and brushed herself off. The instant Bergan stood before her, Reggie threw herself into her friend’s arms, fresh tears spilling forth. Bergan placated her, stroking her back as the gut-wrenching sobs started all over again.
‘Here’s a fresh pack of tissues,’ Bergan eventually offered after a minute or two. Reggie eased back, knowing she must look a sight and immediately wiped her eyes and blew her nose. ‘Flynn told me what happened.’ Bergan spoke softly. ‘He says it’s not what you think.’
‘How would he know what I think?’ Reggie asked, a fresh bout of tears stinging in her eyes. ‘He lied to me, Bergan. He kept asking me to trust him and I did and I told him all about my past and how people have constantly let me down—all my life—and now he’s done it to me. Not once, but twice!’ Her words were scattered, broken up between sobs and hiccups, her voice high and bordering on hysteria. ‘Twice!’ She held up two fingers as though to confirm it. ‘Why am I so stupid? Why do I let him do this to me?’
Bergan shrugg
ed. ‘I don’t know, Reggie, but first things first. We need to get you out of here. I’ve left Richard in charge of A and E and I’m taking you—’
‘Not to the cul-de-sac.’ Her words were instant, her eyes flashing with insistent fire. ‘You have people staying with you and so does Mackenzie and I don’t want to be near Flynn. I just need space. I need to be able to breathe and to think things through and—’
‘I understand and I know the perfect place for you to go. Somewhere safe.’ Bergan held out her hand to her friend.
‘You do?’
‘Come on.’ Reggie allowed herself to be led away by Bergan, but couldn’t help the need to constantly look over her shoulder just in case Flynn was lurking around the corner. ‘Relax. Flynn’s gone. He left the hospital over half an hour ago. He said he had some things to organise.’
Reggie sighed with relief at knowing Flynn really wasn’t on the hospital grounds and when she was safe in Bergan’s car she rested her head back against the seat and closed her eyes, her head starting to pound. All she could see, all she could think about was the image of Violet and Flynn, kissing each other. It was as though it was burned into her memory and would remain there forever. At least the last time he’d broken her heart there had only been him telling her it was over—not the vision of him lip-smacked with his ex-wife! How could he have done that to her?
When Bergan stopped the car, Reggie found herself outside the new apartment block where Melva and her other neighbours were staying. The apartments Flynn had organised.
‘Melva’s place?’ There was a hint of hope in Reggie’s tone.
‘What do you think?’
‘This is perfect,’ Reggie remarked, nodding. ‘I haven’t found the time to come and visit my neighbours since the fire and…’ She looked at Bergan. ‘This is just what I need. Some Melva therapy.’
‘An escape,’ Bergan remarked, smiling at her friend.
‘Yes.’
‘Go and spend time with Melva. I’m sure the evening nurse who comes to change the dressings on Melva’s burns would love the night off, knowing you’re going to be staying here for the night.’
‘Of course I’ll change Melva’s dressings. That woman has always been there for me, from the first moment we met.’
‘I know.’
‘And it’s all right with Melva?’ Reggie checked as she undid her seat belt and alighted from the car. Her answer was to have her neighbour open the front door and come out to her, walking frame in front in order to steady her.
‘Oh, Reggie. What a wonderful surprise. I was delighted when your young man called and said you were coming to stay.’
‘My young…man?’ Alarm bells instantly began to ring in Reggie’s ears as she looked quickly at Bergan, whose answer was to simply shrug one shoulder and sigh.
‘I can’t take credit for thinking to bring you to Melva’s. It was Flynn’s idea. He said if you needed space then he would give you space.’
‘Flynn organised all of this?’ Reggie wasn’t sure whether to feel betrayed by Bergan or happy that Flynn had realised she needed space. Darn him for being his usual thoughtful self. It made it even more difficult for her to remember the pain he was causing her. ‘That is so like him,’ she growled between gritted teeth. ‘Why does he have to do something nice when he’s hurt me so badly?’
‘Perhaps he’s trying to show you how much he cares.’
‘Then he should care by not kissing his ex-wife.’
‘Listen,’ Bergan said, hugging her friend close and whispering in Reggie’s ear. ‘I think the man is crazy about you. Even Richard agrees. Flynn is head over heels in love with you.’
‘Ha!’ Reggie snorted. ‘He’s got a funny way of showing it. By lying to me. By not telling me about…’ She stopped, closing her eyes on the memory that was once more flashing before her eyes. ‘You know what? It doesn’t matter. I want to see Melva. I want to spend time with her, so that’s what I’m going to do.’
‘Good for you,’ Bergan replied. ‘Rest and relax. Get rid of your anxious mind. Enjoy your day off tomorrow. Sleep in. Watch TV. I’ll see you at the hospital auction tomorrow night.’
Reggie grimaced at these words. ‘I don’t know if I want to go. I don’t know if I want to see Flynn. It’s too soon, especially if he’s trying to control my life from afar.’
‘Reggie.’ Bergan smiled at her friend. ‘He’s not controlling anything. You are in complete control of all your faculties. Just relax and think about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.’
‘Are you coming in for a cuppa, Bergan?’ Melva asked from the doorway. ‘I’ve just bought some nice new cups. They’re very flash, bone china, and I spent a bit more on them then I should have but then I decided that after everything that’s happened, I deserved a treat. Did you know,’ Melva continued, ‘that apparently we get paid a recovery allowance to help us buy new things while we’re waiting for the insurance money to come through? I thought I’d be out of pocket for weeks but at the moment I seem to have more money than I know how to deal with.’
Reggie closed her eyes for a moment, delighted with the beaming smile on her neighbour’s face, knowing instinctively that Flynn was the one who had provided that allowance. Insurance companies didn’t settle up that quickly. He was using his wealth for the good of others and her heart warmed at the thought.
Perhaps he was different from the other people who had allowed money and position to corrupt them. Deep down inside she knew Flynn wasn’t like that. He didn’t use people and lie to them. So why hadn’t he told her about Violet? About the boy? Why hadn’t he been able to trust her?
‘No, thanks, Melva,’ Bergan replied, her words snapping Reggie’s attention back to the present. ‘Just dropping Reggie off. I need to get back to the hospital.’ She hugged her friend again and looked pointedly at her. ‘Call me later if you want to talk.’
‘No need to worry about that,’ Melva said. ‘Reggie and I are going to have a great ol’ chin-wag, aren’t we, love? Now, come on in. Ooh, look. Here’s a delivery van pulling up. Good heavens, it’s like Grand Central Station out here at the moment.’
Sure enough, the driver of the delivery van was soon walking towards them, a parcel in his hands.
‘I’m looking for Reggie Smith?’
Reggie’s eyes widened at that, then she frowned in confusion. ‘Uh…that’s me.’
‘OK. If you could sign here.’ He waited until she’d done as he’d asked, then handed over the parcel. ‘You ladies have a lovely evening,’ he said with a polite smile and just as quickly as he’d arrived, he disappeared.
‘What is it?’ Melva asked, and a stunned Reggie gave it a quick shake.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Then come inside and we’ll open it.’ Melva turned to Bergan. ‘Bye-bye, deary. Thanks for dropping her off. I’ll take it from here.’ Melva pointedly winked at Bergan, not being very subtle, but Reggie decided to let it go for now.
After waving goodbye to Bergan, Melva and Reggie headed inside to see what exactly was in the package. ‘There’s no return address, except for a local department store.’ Reggie closed the door and walked into the comfortable lounge room, remembering to admire the décor of the apartment.
‘Ooh. A mystery.’ Melva found a pair of scissors and handed them to Reggie so she could open it.
‘Hmm.’ Reggie looked slyly at the elderly woman. ‘Is it really?’
Melva giggled as Reggie cut open the top of the parcel, then pulled out a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a pair of soft satin pyjamas and a hairbrush and clean, new underwear that was scarlet.
‘Now, those are far more expensive than my tea cups,’ Melva remarked, before whistling, the noise making Reggie blush. ‘Is there a note?’
‘No, but I think we both know exactly who they’re from.’
‘They’re from the same person who’s found this furnished apartment, who’s paying my allowance and who rang me, not half an hour ago and asked if it was all right for you to co
me and visit for the night.’
‘What did he say?’ Reggie asked softly.
‘He said you’d had a shock and he wanted you to have some space and time to process everything. He thought spending some time with me, the closest person you have to a mother, might be good for you. I told him I was more like your grandmother but I knew what he meant.’
A lump formed in Reggie’s throat as Melva recounted what Flynn had said to her. ‘You know who he is, don’t you,’ she stated quietly.
‘Of course, dear. I lived in Melbourne for many years. I used to do private hairdressing for the likes of those people.’
Reggie’s eyes widened at this news. ‘So…do you know who I—?’
‘Yes, dear.’ Melva eased herself down into a comfortable high-backed armchair. ‘I’ve known from the first moment I clapped eyes on you.’
‘And yet you never said anything?’ A lump welled in Reggie’s throat.
‘Why? What was the point in dredging up pain?’ She shook her head. ‘A person’s past is their past. There’s nothing they can do to change it. They can only learn from it and move forward into a better version of their future. If you get stuck in quicksand you either stay there, not caring that you can’t get out, or you do something about it.’ Melva looked at Reggie and nodded, pride in her voice. ‘You were one of the strong ones. You were able to leave your past behind you, go to medical school, make something of your life, but sometimes…like with your young man…well, it just takes a little bit longer for people to figure things out. He had to get out of the quicksand and he could only do it for the right reasons.’
‘Do you think I’m involved with those reasons?’
Melva chuckled. ‘What do you think, ya silly goose?’
Reggie frowned, listening carefully to what Melva was saying. She knew the wise woman was right, even though the last thing Reggie wanted was to be rational about all this. Her emotions were mixing again, tumbling over each other in a mass of confusion.