“I don’t want to get involved with someone and lose them when I have to move again because as much as you might like to think differently, that’s still the plan. I remember all too well what happened last time.” Everyone thought he was heading for parenthood expect the woman he had hoped to marry. “Put on hold then, and that’s the problem now. I’m still on hold until I sell the business. Sorry, Mom. I have to go. Patients are waiting. Talk to you later.”
He hung up the phone even though she continued to protest. How could it still hurt after all these years? Elise had been the love of his life. Both doctors interning together, he thought they had everything ahead of them. Work hard, climb the medical professional ladder and be the best in their chosen field. Make a name for themselves.
Until his mother called him home. It seemed that Elise’s goals were more important than the love they felt for each other and the future they’d planned out. Nothing like being dumped for a spot at a top private practice to show him he was better off alone. It was a valuable lesson he wouldn’t forget in a hurry, and the underlying reason he wouldn’t fall for anyone until he was settled where he wanted to be.
No chance of being hurt that way again. With his humiliation and his father’s battle with cancer, it’d all been too much to deal with. David’s mind gave him the same advice he’d give a patient. It might hurt now but it will get better. Trust me on this. But his heart didn’t agree. He’d given too much to his relationship with Elise and now he didn’t have anything left for anyone else.
Certainly not for a wild-haired hippy girl with ideas that didn’t gel with his own.
Chapter Ten
Saturday was her first full day in the shop and April couldn’t be happier. She’d made sales, met new friends, had queries about her decorating service thanks to the lovely display in the front room, sold some recycled products, and things could only get better from here. Wildflowers and Lace was now a working business on its way to stupendous success if she had any say in it. Her father would be proud of her. April would make sure of it. Plus, she’d managed to get most of the kitchen painted last night and tomorrow she planned on doing the bathrooms ready for Monday morning. Everything was coming together so well.
“They’re gorgeous, aren’t they?” April handed the bunch of flowers to the young man standing in front of her. He’d come in with bright red cheeks and stumbled out his request just as she’d started closing the shop.
“Some flowers for my girl, please, that don’t cost too much but look real pretty.”
She’d shown him an arrangement of roses threaded through with baby’s breath and shiny green leaves but it was the button daisies that made him smile. “I’ll take the white ones, please.”
April had wrapped them in pretty pink and white paper with a silver ribbon trailing around the stems, attached a card and watched him walk out the door with a spring in his step. A warm glow settled around her. This was the reason she wanted to open her shop in the first place. To make people happy with things she loved to share, the good feelings that everyone deserved and encourage love wherever she could. She could just imagine him handing the daisies over to his girlfriend and the smile that would lift her lips into a happy curl. The way they would hold hands and talk about their future together.
She picked up the loose leaf that had fallen from the posy when she was wrapping it and threw it in the trash can. It was time to bring in her wares from the sidewalk and get ready for the cookout.
As she looked at her closet for a dress to wear, she wondered if David would be there. It sounded like it was going to be quite a gathering from what her sister had said. The perfect opportunity to make new friends and contacts for her business. At last, after traipsing from place to place to chase the current dream, she felt like she was home, the place she wanted to put down long, deep roots and make her mark. Gone for her were the days of flitting from one thing to another. Not that her family would believe her but April had the perfect opportunity to prove to them all that this was the new her. The business owner who wasn’t going anywhere.
An hour later she parked her VW van outside the address Mari had given her, took an arrangement from the back, along with her salad, and followed the sound of voices around the side of the house to a leafy plant-filled back yard. A group of men stood around a barbeque on the back porch, cold beers in hand. Two toddlers squealed as they stumbled across the yard toward her, intent on a game of chase.
“April!” Her sister Bella waved a hand to get her attention. “Over here.” She stood with a group of people under a large shady tree and April walked over to greet her.
“Hi, sis. Isn’t this a lovely backyard? So green and cool.” She wrapped her arm around Bella keeping the arrangement and her salad bowl balanced in the other arm.
“It’s gorgeous, and so is that hostess offering you have. Good job, kiddo.”
“Thanks. I thought Susan might like it.” The vintage basket loaded with yellow roses and white daisies was pretty. “It was nice of her to invite me, considering she hardly knows me.”
“That’s what this town is like. You’d better get used to it.” Bella put her arm through that of the man standing next to her. “April, I want you to meet Jake. Jake, this is my little sister, April.”
“Well, hello. It’s nice to meet you at last.” She put the salad down on the lawn beside the base of the large shade tree and gave her sister the thumbs-up. “Good steal, sis.”
“Nice to meet you, too, April. Welcome to Cherry Lake. I hear you opened your new shop today. How’s it going?” He draped his arm around her sister’s shoulder, his other hand holding a can of beer.
“So far so good. I’ve had a fair bit of interest but I guess once people know I’m here things might speed up a bit.” She gazed around the garden. “You’re a fireman, aren’t you? Any hunky single males on your crew?”
Bella laughed and clapped her hand over her mouth. Jake merely smiled. “Sorry, we’re all spoken for.”
“Since when have you been interested in a relationship? I thought you were going to concentrate on your business ventures.” Bella sipped her wine. “Besides, I hear someone has already piqued your interest.”
“Your spies are wrong.”
“I highly doubt it. But you don’t really have time for love, do you? At least that’s what you were saying last time we spoke.”
“Yeah, I did but now I’m almost settled in I figure that it’s time to start looking. Heaven forbid I turn into an old maid. I’d hate to be that spinster sister that everyone hides from or constantly sets up on blind dates.”
Jake spied someone over her shoulder and April turned to look just as he spoke. “Target, heading this way. He could seriously use some help, April. If you’re dedicated to your task, there’s your man.”
David looked good in more casual attire than the clothing he wore to work. A stirring began in her belly and she appraised him with fresh eyes. “Sexy man. I think we’re too different but the thought had crossed my mind.” She winked at her sister. “He’s rather cute, isn’t he? And he’s been so nice to me.”
“David. Nice to see you. Do you know my sister, April? She’s just moved to town and opened her own business.” Bella gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“We’ve, ah, met a few times actually. April, nice to see you again. How’s the shop going? I noticed you were open today.”
“Really good, actually. You should’ve popped in and had a look.”
“I had Oscar with me. Took him for a walk along the lake.”
She shook her head. “Seriously, you’ve seen Hamish loping around the shop. I think I can handle one small dog as well.” April huffed a breath and glanced at her sister before looking back at David. “Men.”
David ignored her remark. “How’s your leg feeling now?”
Jake grabbed the arrangement as it teetered in her hand and put it down beside the salad.
“Well, look at you. The hunky fireman coming to my rescue already.” L
aughter bubbled up her throat and she let it burst free, the stress of the last few weeks floating away now she was in this lovely environment with family and hopefully new friends.
“April, stop and tell me what the heck happened? David, perhaps you can shed some light on what my little sister has been up to since you apparently know about this already.”
He glanced at her, uncertainty in his eyes. “Uh, well, she got into trouble moving some old furniture around the shop.” He cleared his throat and April continued to appraise him. “I heard Hamish barking, rushed in, and found her with a bookcase pinning her leg. She was pretty banged up but nothing was broken.”
“Why didn’t you call me, April? I would have come over.”
She smiled at her sister. “David was there. He cleaned up my leg and made sure I was alright. Nothing you could have done, Bella.”
“And?” Bella waited with her mouth pressed into a firm line staring at David. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I dealt with it. I cleaned and dressed the wound, sorted out the bookcase and made sure she was fine before I left. I made a follow up call the next morning but she was hobbling around before I got to work. I didn’t think there was any reason to make a fuss when she wasn’t.” He jammed his hands into his pockets, uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
“And you didn’t think to call and tell me she’d been hurt anyway? I thought we were friends.”
He blushed and April almost swooned. He was so cute even when her sister was being bossy. “Actually, not something I usually get involved in as it’s patient doctor privilege.”
“Honey, don’t give David a hard time. Hardly his fault your sister’s the accident prone type. I heard about the coffee, too.” Jake grinned at April and gave David a shoulder bump. “David, let me get you a beer.”
“I’d love one.”
April heard the desperation in his voice. Bella could be intimidating when she felt like it.
April watched as he hurried over to the drink cooler with Jake and bumped into Susan. Her gaze was pointed in April’s direction and her voice carried. “Oh, Jake, you sweet thing you. You brought me flowers.”
He tipped his head in April’s direction. “I could lay claim to it but, in all honesty, you wouldn’t have believed me anyway. I rescued them when it looked like April was going to drop them.”
Susan gave him a smile and approached the girls. “You must be April. Welcome to our place.” She leaned in for a quick hug then picked up the basket. “And thanks for the flowers, they’re just beautiful.”
“You’re very welcome. I hope you enjoy them.”
“Is anyone getting you a drink?”
“Not yet, no. Can I have a mineral water if you have it, please?”
Susan turned to Jake, frowned at him, and then looked to David, catching his attention. “David, can you bring April a bottle of mineral water please? I know I put some in there.” She turned back to April and Bella. “So, how’s the new shop going? I hear it looks very pretty. You’ve been working hard these last couple of weeks.”
“I’m thrilled with it. I couldn’t ask for a better building and so far everything is falling into place. I’ve dressed the showroom with lots of little antiques and soft furnishings, just to show what I can do with things anyone might have in their cupboards. People have so much stuff jammed in boxes or up in the attic they don’t know what to do with, that only needs to be put with the right furnishings to give a room a whole new look.” She tried not to do a hard sell but her enthusiasm reared its head again and she couldn’t stop talking. “And I got my first flower delivery yesterday and I couldn’t be happier. Everything is looking fabulous. You’ll have to come and have a look now it’s finished. Bring that gorgeous little girl of yours I’ve heard all about. Where is she?”
“Down having a nap at Dad’s place. He came and took her for a while so I could get ready for the cookout. They’ll be along soon I imagine.” She cast her gaze around the garden. “Who do you want to meet, April? I can do the honors if you like or you can just float around and introduce yourself?”
“I’m happy cruising along, thanks. Listen, about David. Does he have anyone hidden away or is he really single? Jake seems to think he might be available and that’s the impression I got from talking to him but I could be wrong. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, and he did mention that you two go way back.”
Susan looked between the two sisters and a slow grin spread across her lips. “We need to get together and talk about that. I’ve known David since he was a toddler and although he claims he’s a confirmed bachelor, I don’t believe him. He just hasn’t met the right girl yet.”
April felt herself being scrutinized. Had she opened a big can or worms here or was she being silly? “I’m not sure if he likes me, likes me to be honest. I think I could be too much trouble for him going on how things have turned out since I’ve been here.” She tipped her head a little and watched him talking with another man. “He’s a bit of a dish though. I wonder if I could get past first base if I put my mind to it.”
“I’m not sure he’s your type either, April from what your sisters say about you, but it would be interesting to see you try. I’d love nothing more than to see him settled down.” Susan gave her a wink.
“Ha, I don’t think I have a type, not anymore. At least not one that’s worked for me. Maybe it’s time to switch things up a little.”
Susan laughed. “I agree. I’ll stop into the shop during the week and you can quiz me all you like. It’s time David found someone. Been too long, if you ask me.” She turned away and walked back to the house just as David returned with a drink for April.
*
David held out the bottle for April. She took it and thanked him but didn’t say anything else. For a moment he stood and tried to get into the conversation but they were chatting about things he knew nothing about. Ovens, recipes, publishing, and brands of essential oils April had found for her shop. All over his head.
“Seen the new barbeque that Rick brought, David? Looks like something out of a fantasy magazine.” Jake lifted his bottle and took a sip of beer.
“Ah, no. No I haven’t.”
Jake moved away and David followed him. “Those women will talk nothing but cooking for the next hour, I can almost guarantee it.” He moved over to where Rick was fussing over his new purchase. “Looks like a damned space ship. Why’d you want something this fancy for?”
Rick smiled, wiped his hand lovingly over the hood of the new purchase. “We live outside in nice weather. Makes sense to have the best you can get. At least that’s what I told Susan when I suggested a new grill.” He put his hand on his hip and nodded to David. “So, Susan manage to set you up on any dates lately? I’ve tried to keep her in check but you know her as well as I do. She’s unstoppable and you’re her favorite project.”
“Between her and my mother, they make my life hell.” David stared at his beer. “Perhaps you can try harder, because for the life of me, Rick, I swear you’re enjoying this. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re the one responsible for most of the dates.” David knew Rick was. Susan might be David’s best friend but if her husband asked her to back off, she would. He was sure of it.
Rick held up his hands in mock surrender. “You have no idea how much I’ve tried. It always ends up in an argument and I back down. Not worth my marriage as far as I’m concerned. You need to suck it up and play along or find yourself a girlfriend. Now that’s a novel idea.” He looked over the garden and the people milling around. “You could always hit up Bella’s sister. What’s her name, Anna, Ailsa…”
“April.”
“There you go. You’re already onto it. She looks, um, interesting. It might keep Susan off your back for a while. I’m sure nothing would come of it because she sure doesn’t look like your kind of girl.”
“And what exactly is his type?” Jake stared at Rick.
“You know, pencil skirt, stilettos, prim hairdo, and black fra
med glasses. Secretarial type that doesn’t crack a smile very often.”
“That’s how you see me? Prudish and boring?” He wasn’t anything of the sort.
Organized, slightly fussy, but never prudish. He was a doctor for goodness sakes. He couldn’t afford to be a prude nor the slightest bit judgmental.
“Well, you’re not exactly hippie-style like April, are you?”
“That’s hardly surprising. Nobody in Cherry Lake is like April.” David watched as she laughed loudly, tucked a blonde curl behind her ear and rearranged the fresh flower crown she wore. It suited her, made her look like a nymph that had just come from a sunlit forest. The only thing missing was her gossamer wings.
The curve of her lips, the rosy cheeks, and bright shining eyes made him think of warmth and sunshine, frolicking in the hay on a summer’s day. She smelled of summer, a fact he only just now realized. An uncomfortable heat simmered in his belly and he looked away.
“She’s something, alright.” Jake grinned at David.
“No. Don’t even go there.” David saw someone else he knew arrive and went to greet them, desperate to get away from his two observant friends. He could hear their laughter behind him and he was doomed from the start. “You know I’m not here for the long haul.”
“Could have fooled us.”
After avoiding April for most of the afternoon, he wasn’t surprised to find her by his side over dessert. “Hey.”
“April, hi. Enjoying yourself?”
“Yes, I am. Such lovely people here. They make me feel like I belong.” She sat down beside him on a bench seat under the big shady tree. “I love this yard. I think I’m going to miss having my own little green area living in the flat upstairs over the shop.” She turned to him. “Do you have a yard?”
“Uh, yes, I do. I have someone take care of it for me. Too busy you see.”
“Fair enough. You must lead a busy life being the town doctor.”
“It’s what I enjoy doing. My father owned the practice and when he was taken ill, I took over.”
The Moore Sisters of Montana: The Complete Series Box Set: Books 1-4 Page 39