“Look, once I’m upstairs, I’ll be fine. If I sit too long my leg will go stiff and it’ll only get worse. Agreed?”
“You’re right, it will. But, I have to insist you take it easy. At least until we know if you’ve broken any bones.”
April bent her knee and touched her fingers to the torn skin down her shin. “Ow, that hurts. But I don’t think anything is. Very lucky but I’m pretty sure it’s just a flesh wound.”
David shook his head and laughed. “Just a flesh wound. April Moore, you’re a breath of fresh air. Most people, even the strongest men, would be begging for painkillers by now. All you want is a hand up the stairs.”
She gave him a wobbly smile and wiped the backs of her hands over her cheeks, brushing away the tears. “Maybe you can add a couple of dressings to that list of help, please. Last thing I want is to get it infected or have it stick to the sheets.”
The drops of blood and liquid had hardly moved. They’d beaded in place, typical of this type of injury, the drops of serous fluid mixing with the blood. It would need a good irrigation and dressing. He’d get her into the treatment room first then give her a hand upstairs.
“Let’s get you next door first and deal with this. You’re lucky Karen stayed back tonight to do paperwork.” He slipped a hand around her shoulders and lifted her up. “Then we’ll tackle the stairs.”
By the time they’d cleaned and dressed the wound, April had tears streaming down her cheeks that she couldn’t hold back and he didn’t blame her. It was a nasty accident.
David spoke to Karen. “Leg’s definitely not broken. Tissue damage can be painful though, especially with the heavy weight she had on her. We can try ibuprofen first and if the pain doesn’t settle down, change to something stronger. But because of that rusty nail, I’m going to have to give you a tetanus shot, April, unless you know for sure you’ve had one in the last ten years.”
“I don’t want a shot.”
Karen put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’ll be over before you know it.”
“I hate needles. Do I have to have it now?”
David spoke up. “No but I don’t see the point in delaying things. Ideally within twenty-four hours but I wouldn’t leave it any longer.”
“If it was me, I’d have it now and get it over and done with. That’s some injury you have there, April, and with that rusty nail, you’re courting trouble.”
David spoke. “If you want to wait and see how you go, that’s fine too. I’ll get Karen to give me a hand to help you upstairs and settle you in and if you like, I’ll check on you later after I’ve had dinner with my mother and I can give you the injection then. Give you time to work up the courage. I won’t be too late. That’s if you don’t mind?” Maybe giving her time to get used to the idea of a needle would make things easier. At least he hoped so because she needed it.
“You’d do that for me?” She blushed. “I didn’t think doctors did house visits these days.”
“Normally no, but this is a small town and we’re so far away from the hospital, and since you’re my neighbor I think I can make an exception this time.” He made a note on her file.
“Thank you, David. I appreciate it.” She accepted the hand he offered and sat up. “Wow. My head is still fuzzy.”
“Shock. You’re not concussed but I do want you to take it easy for the rest of the evening and probably tomorrow as well.” By the time they had April settled on her couch with a glass of water, painkillers, and the television remote, she was showing signs of strain.
“Rest up. If you don’t think you need me to call in later, send me a text message. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll let myself in. Is that okay?”
“Of course it is.” April gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you so much for coming to my rescue, both of you. One of the benefits of a small town, I guess. Everyone is so helpful and kind.”
Karen raised her leg on a cushion and tucked a blanket around her feet. “Don’t be silly and do too much. I can call in and see you in the morning in case you need anything.”
Chapter Eight
David couldn’t return fast enough. Her leg throbbed with an intensity that had her in tears well before she heard his footfalls on the stairs. It was a relief to see him walk into her apartment. When he saw the tears, he hurried over and sat on the edge of the couch. “Oh, dear. Just as well I came back then.”
She hiccupped and sobbed finding it impossible to get a word out, her mouth moving wordlessly. He held his arms open and she leaned against his chest. He wrapped her tight in his grip.
“I never should have left you alone.” David stroked her hair until she calmed down.
“I’m sorry. Not exactly the way a grateful patient should be acting.” April should sit up and give him space but it was nice and comforting to be held in his arms. She closed her eyes, got control of her emotions. He’d been so kind to her. How would she ever thank him?
“I brought you dinner. Mom insisted, actually. Said it was unkind of me to have left you alone like I did.” He patted her shoulder and she wondered if it was a signal to sit up. She ignored it.
“That was sweet of her. But you’re not responsible for my welfare, David.” She wiped her eyes and reached for a tissue. “I don’t want you to think that because we’re neighbors, you have to look out for me.”
“How about I look out for you because I like you?”
He liked her? After the mess she’d made of their first meetings, he actually liked her? Who would have guessed? Her cheeks flamed and she ducked her head, the pain and the confusion battling for top position. Today was huge. Almost too huge for her to cope with.
“Are you still in pain, April? I’m happy to give you stronger meds if you feel you need it.”
“I think I’d be silly to refuse. My leg is throbbing so much, I doubt I’ll sleep and it certainly doesn’t make me feel like I want to test out my ability to walk on it.” She gave him what she hoped wasn’t a pitiful look. “And you may as well give me the tetanus shot while you’re here.”
“Of course. You need to be kind to yourself. I still think you should call one of your sisters. I’m sure they’d be happy to come and help you out.” He opened his briefcase and took out a package.
“No. I’ll manage, thanks anyway.” She eyed the needle, her heart rate rising. “Where are you going to stick that?”
David smiled. “It’s an intramuscular injection. So that means the butt, the thigh, or the arm. Your choice.
“Oh, yay. How lucky am I?” She glanced at her leg, not liking that idea, thought about exposing her butt to the doctor and held out her arm instead. “Just do it quick, please.” April turned her face into the couch and closed her eyes as he administered the injection.
*
David disposed of the needle. “That’s going to ache but there’s no getting away from it, sadly.” He handed her a packet of tablets. “Take two now and two first thing in the morning. No more than six tablets in twenty-four hours.”
“Thanks.”
He pointed to the bag on the coffee table. “How about I heat this up for you and then let you get some rest?”
“Thank you.”
She rubbed her arm and he felt a twinge of concern. For someone so accident prone, he’d have thought she’d be used to pain by now. David took the microwave dish out and heated up the chicken casserole meal his mom had insisted on preparing for April. When the microwave pinged, he tipped everything onto a plate, found cutlery, and a dinner tray and carried it over to the couch.
“I’m lucky you’re so organized around the kitchen.” She sniffed her dinner as he settled it on her lap.
“I’ve done for myself for years. You can’t expect anyone to run after you when you keep crazy hours as an intern and vending machine food has never been my thing.”
“Don’t tell me you can cook?” She shoveled a bite of chicken into her mouth.
“I get by.” A spot of gravy on her lip caught his attention and he found himself sta
ring at her mouth.
“This is good. Tell your mother a huge thanks from me.” April scooped up baby peas and popped them into her mouth. She looked up to find David staring at her. “What?” She touched her face, fingers flitting over her lips.
He pointed at the gravy in the corner of her mouth. “There.”
She flicked her tongue out and scored it. “Thanks. Can’t waste the best bits.”
Oh it wouldn’t have been wasted. Where on earth had that come from? David focused on the bright posters hanging in the room. She was a patient. An annoying neighbor. Leave it at that.
“Good, aren’t they?” April put down her fork and pointed to the poster that was predominantly blue and gold. “That’s my favorite one.”
“They’re rather bold, aren’t they?” How Susan’s father made any money from painting skulls amazed him. Not his taste at all but obviously someone’s style by the amount of art he sold.
“They are and I love it. You’d expect to see pale colors on something dead like that but the way he paints them – it almost gives them a second chance at life. At least that’s what I think.”
Still weird no matter what anyone said. “Right. If there’s nothing more I can do for you, I’d best be off. Oscar will never forgive me.”
“Thank you for coming back to see me. And thanks for that nasty needle, too. I know it was a wise move even if I hate them.”
He stood up. “I’m afraid so. Remember to take it easy and if you need us, please call. Karen will pop in tomorrow and check on you.” He picked up his briefcase. “Don’t overdo it, April.”
“Yes, David.” She held out her hand and he took it. Gave her fingers a quick squeeze and left while he could. The heat that passed from her skin to his wasn’t something he was expecting. She wasn’t his type and there was no way he was looking for romance.
Chapter Nine
The new shop exceeded April’s expectations. Her new flower supplier had outdone himself and delivered her a truck full of blooms that took her breath away. Tubs of baby pink roses sat on the path by the front step along with a child’s vintage rocking horse, enticing shoppers to come inside and explore her eclectic range of giftware. Just inside the door on an old scarred oak dining table David had insisted on helping her move, she’d arranged a collection of vintage crystal and china, silver cutlery, and delicate lace edged napkins. Tiny milk jugs filled with button daisies in white and pink and a pretty collection of fine china plates along with vintage glasses made it look as though someone was going to sit down for a high tea. Paper peony roses spilled over a large serving bowl, scattering on the linen table cloth as if someone had been disturbed while making a posy.
The heavy oak carved bookcase held a collection of old books and a faded tapestry chair with a side table was positioned in front of it, a soft throw rug in a faded pink draped casually over the back just as she’d envisaged it. A patchwork cushion’s added to the comfortable shabby chic style and her Tiffany leadlight lamp threw a rainbow of color over the worn floorboards.
Big buckets of fresh roses sat to one side of her desk, a large glass-topped cabinet she’d found online and repurposed for that very reason. The delivery man had struggled with getting it into the shop until a couple of local guys who had seen her standing on the pavement trying to figure out how to get it through the door offered their services. Under the glass in the small separated sections, April had added a collection of antique costume earrings, necklaces she’d made from recycled buttons and some of her sister Dakota’s high-end jewelry.
The beautiful rolltop desk she’d found under a pile of empty cartons had been dusted and waxed. Now it stood in all its glory, stacked high with handmade soaps from a local lady who ran her own goats for milk and soap-making who Mari had put April onto. Natural oils and goat’s milk gave the most luxurious bubbles and left her skin smooth and fragrant. Last night she’d ended the day with a soak in the tub, with her leg hanging over the side to keep it dry, testing out the new product.
As she stood at the bottom of the stairs she’d lovingly painted in all the pastel colors of the rainbow, April marveled at how much she’d managed to achieve in such a short time, even with her accident. Just went to show that when she knew she had what she wanted, she could do anything. She hugged her hands around her stomach and squealed with joy. She couldn’t wait for her first customer to walk through the door. Their reaction would set the tone for her day.
The prevailing smell in the shop was soft and floral. It harkened back to a day when roses smelled of whimsical romantic nights and sunny days when the world turned at a slower pace and romance was revered. With a few choice decisions, April had managed to convey the style of her shop and hopefully her future. The first delivery she’d made was to the far too serious Dr. David Morrison. She wondered if he was intrigued or more annoyed at her offering. Time would tell. The handsome and kind doctor wasn’t getting away without a fight, not after all he’d done for her. She couldn’t wait to see what he thought of the paint job she planned on doing tonight after he left the office. Boy, was he going to get a nice surprise on Monday morning when he got to work.
*
When David walked into work on Friday, he paused at the reception desk and stared at the floral display. It took a moment to wrack his brains for a special event. When he’d looked at his online calendar this morning, nothing was down. He hoped he hadn’t forgotten anything like his receptionist’s birthday, his nurse’s anniversary. Bright lime green and snow white flowers were arranged in a shocking pink box with a whimsical, soft pink feather bird sprouting from the middle of it, staring at him. He found the overall effect rather frightening, if not a little bit cute. But he wasn’t into that kind of thing. “Someone’s birthday, anniversary?”
“No, David. They’re for you. Here’s the card that came with them.” Monica handed him a vivid green envelope that almost blinded him with the intensity of it. Strangely, it matched the flowers perfectly.
“Thanks, I think.” He took the card, gave the flowers a wary glance and walked to his room. Once he’d put down his briefcase, he opened the envelope.
Dear David,
I wanted to give you the first bouquet from Wildflowers and Lace. Consider it my apology for the way I walked into you the first day we met and upended your coffee, for coming to my rescue, and for your subsequent care. I really do appreciate the house visits even if the needle wasn’t to my liking!
P.S. If you’d like an arrangement like this on a weekly basis, let me know and I can deliver it fresh every Monday. I’ll even cut you a terrific deal if you become a repeat customer!
Xoxo April
April Moore. Well that was an innovative way to drum up business but he had to give her points for trying. He leaned back in his chair, the smile coming to his lips as he remembered their encounters. The clear blue eyes, freckle-kissed skin and cupid-bow lips would be enough to tempt any red-blooded male. The bright colors put him off, as did the big hairy dog. Pity he was a confirmed bachelor or he might be interested but then again, probably not. She wasn’t his type.
His phone rang and he picked it up. “Hello.”
“David, darling.” His mother’s breathless voice rang in his ear. “How are you?”
“Fine. You saw me yesterday. What’s up, Mom?”
“You and April. Is there something you want to tell me, darling? I hear you have her flowers on your desk.” He hated to hear the enthusiasm in her voice. She was going to be severely disappointed in him. Again.
How she found out these things, he’d never know but whoever her contacts were, they were damned fast and just a little bit annoying. “No. April’s just trying to drum up business and she thought she owed me something for ruining my pants and shoe. I think the flowers should have come to you after that dinner you insisted on giving her the other night.”
“There has to be more to it than that, David.”
“I suppose it’s also a thank-you for coming to her aid when she hurt he
rself.”
“Oh, well that’s a bit more exciting then. You know I only want you to be happy. Living alone like you do, well it’s not healthy no matter what reasons you give me.” She sniffed delicately and he knew what was coming. “Your poor father would have hated to see you alone like this. He’d blame himself.”
She did it every time and he hated it. “Dad would understand, Mom.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t agree. If I’d known you’d made a promise to take over the practice before he died, I’d have said something about it. I know you only did it to make him happy. You lost a lot coming back here to take over when he got ill.”
Ill. That was an understatement. Riddled with cancer that didn’t even give them time to take stock of the situation, his father had changed overnight from a caring doctor to a man on a mission to settle David down and make sure his mother was looked after the best he could. David would have promised his dad the moon if he thought it would have made his father’s passing easier. A year or so in Cherry Lake was a small price to pay for that.
“I’m not bitter about it, Mom, I’ve told you before. Besides, one of these days someone will make an offer on the practice and we can start looking for that condo for you back in Seattle, too. I thought Tommy would have had a few queries by now but it is what it is. And to answer your other question, I like being on my own. Nobody to take half the bed, or sneak the last piece of toast from my plate, or complain that I leave the toilet seat up. Admit it, I’m a confirmed bachelor and you need to get used to it.” He picked up his stethoscope from his desk and looped it around his neck thinking of the best excuse to end the conversation, but she was having none of it.
“David, you don’t want to spend your life alone. I want grandchildren. When you put your dreams on hold in Seattle to take over your father’s practice, I hoped you’d find a local girl, fall in love, marry, and start a family. You’d be a great father. Everyone says so. Look at how you are with little Connie. I want that for you, darling. I want that for me.”
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