Chapter TWO
HE LET HER CRY. He simply held her and let her cry.
Eden felt safe and secure in his arms as he offered comfort. He knew what she was feeling, what she was experiencing because he’d been there as well. David understood because Sasha was his sister. At the same time, Eden was acutely aware of how nice it was to be this close to him, to feel his warmth, to breathe in his scent. However, that wasn’t the point of this embrace, and she tried to school her mind in the right direction.
She knew she needed to get herself together before seeing Sasha again. She needed to be strong, to be in control so her friend could lean on her.
‘But you are strong.’ David’s words were filled with caring, and it was then that Eden realised she’d spoken out loud. ‘You’re the strongest woman I know.’ He dragged in a breath, closing his eyes with pleasure as her scent continued to surround him. His fingers played with the ends of her hair, loving the silkiness of her curls. ‘You’re also the most stubborn and pigheaded,’ he added softly, the tenderness in his tone belying the severity his words might have carried.
Eden sniffed, her tears starting to subside, but she made no attempt to draw back from David’s arms. ‘Some people consider those qualities an asset.’
‘I never said they weren’t.’ He knew he was playing with fire, and that he’d no doubt get burnt, but he couldn’t deny how nice it was to comfort her like this. Especially as he knew exactly how she felt—the helplessness at being unable to ‘fix’ Sasha.
Eden smiled at his words, shifting to press her ear to his chest, enjoying the lub-dub of his heartbeat. Her hands were still curled beneath her chin, but as she hiccuped a few times her breathing started to return to normal. Drawing in a deep breath, she let it out slowly and sighed.
David closed his eyes. He should let her go, step away, move before he did something they’d both regret…Well, something he’d regret. Eden had always been the sort of person to act on impulse, to speak her mind whenever she had something to say, and she had never apologised for being that way. Her directness was a quality he’d long admired, though he’d never told her that.
He needed to let her go. To put distance between them. But this was Eden…the only woman who’d ever managed to make him lose control over his usually logical thought processes. The only woman who fitted so perfectly into his arms. So perfect.
‘Well, if you’re feeling better I should let you go.’ His voice was soft, quiet and very intimate.
She could hear something different in his tone. A hint of veiled desire, perhaps? Was the fact that she was standing this close to him, listening to his heartbeat, too much for him to fight? ‘You should,’ she whispered back. ‘Although it sounds as though you don’t want to.’
‘Eden. We can’t.’
‘Can’t what?’
‘I think you know what.’
‘Well, maybe I need you to spell it out for me?’
David dragged in one last deep breath, appreciating the feel of her so close, so near to him, before opening his eyes and finally releasing her.
Eden dropped her hands to her sides, feeling instantly cold and bereft. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms.
‘What can’t we do, David?’
He was silent, looking down at her, his gaze drawn to her mouth…her full, highly kissable mouth.
‘Pick up where we left off.’ His eyes were intent on hers as he spoke, showing her that he wasn’t shying away from the memories, but merely putting them into order.
His words surprised her. ‘The last time I saw you was the night I kissed you goodbye.’
‘I remember. You’re…you, and you’re…gorgeous, and…’ He stopped and cleared his throat, trying to get a better handle on the situation. ‘I don’t think we need to go down that road again. We know where it leads.’
David forced himself to move, taking two giant steps backwards, and bumped directly into his desk. He placed a hand on the wood, feeling the hard reality of the world around them. ‘Besides, I know you didn’t come back home for me.’
Eden angled her head to the side, her red curls falling over her shoulder in a way that made him want to touch them. To feel the silky softness sift through his fingers. To breathe in her scent. To let himself go.
How did she do it? How could she make him forget everything? Everything except the frightening natural chemistry which existed between them. It was incredible that after twelve long years, their lives having taken them in completely different directions, the attraction was still there…still as powerful and as strong as ever.
‘No. I didn’t come home just to kiss you, David.’
‘We’ve both changed a lot in the past twelve years. We’re adults now, not teenagers, and I think we can control ourselves much better.’
‘True.’ Eden shifted and pondered his words for a moment. ‘Although I thought the reason you ran away before was because I was so young, so inexperienced. Wasn’t that the reason you gave me? You didn’t want to hold me back from experiencing life, from dating other people, from having experiences I wouldn’t have if I continued to date you? I was only seventeen. I was too young to be tied down, to be in a relationship.’
‘You were so young, and that was the problem,’ he stated firmly. ‘Now, can we please drop the subject.’
He hadn’t said anything confirming her being inexperienced. That was good. It was a concern Eden had been carrying around for such a long time. She’d often wondered what she had done wrong. She’d been so confused by his reaction. First he had pushed her away, and then he had returned the last kiss they’d shared. Then he’d not only put her from him but he’d left the state!
Back then, when she’d been in her late teens, Eden had hidden her true self behind humour, flippancy and her crusades in helping others.
David’s leaving had hurt her so much that the only way she’d been able to cope was to repress her pain, to close off that part of her. She’d cried herself to sleep for weeks on end, trying to figure out what she’d done wrong. Why had he left her? Why hadn’t he wanted her?
Of course she’d hidden her feelings from everyone, locking them away. She’d been bright and bubbly on the outside, throwing herself into helping others. She’d volunteered at soup kitchens, helped out at a women’s shelter, and when she’d graduated from high school the year after David had left, instead of being one of the party animals she’d been one of the carers, helping those who’d drunk too much to find a safe place to spend the night.
One crusade after another. Helping others wherever possible. It was the reason she’d become a doctor, wanting to be able to help those less fortunate than herself. Now here she was…almost full circle. Near David, breathing him in and still unsure what she should do. Did he have any idea what seeing him again had done to her? Awakening those feelings she’d thought long buried, deep down inside?
‘And I didn’t run away. My parents decreed that I should continue my studies in Melbourne, and as they held the money-strings, I went. Besides, it ended up being a good career move as the university there had a stronger focus on paediatrics. But I didn’t run away.’ He stood from where he was, leaning on his desk, and went around to sit in his chair, putting even more distance between them.
‘So…just a second. Are you saying you broke up with me because your parents found out about us?’
‘Yes.’
‘You didn’t want to end it, then?’
‘Eden. It’s in the past. Let it go.’
‘Wait. Let me just clarify here. Are you saying that you did like kissing me? That you liked hanging out with me, spending time with me? Dating me?’
‘Yes.’
‘You didn’t break up with me because I wouldn’t go all the way with you?’
‘Eden! You know I was against us “going all the way”. You were too young.’
‘But you wanted to,’ she pushed.
‘Of course I did. We were dating and you’re… you.’ He shook his head and raked a shaking hand through his hair.
‘You wanted me back then?’
‘I did. Can we drop this now?’
‘And you left because your parents made you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then why didn’t you tell me the truth? Why did you let me think you didn’t care about me?’
‘Because I cared about you too much. You and Sasha.’ He shifted and looked her in the eyes. ‘Look, Eden, I know you. I know you would have fought against my parents’ decision, and then they would have banned you from seeing Sasha, done whatever else they could to destroy you as well. They’re experts when it comes to getting what they want, and they wanted us apart. I figured telling you it was my idea would at least give you access to Sasha. She needed you more. She still does.’
Eden shook her head in wonder. ‘All those years I thought I’d done something wrong, but now you tell me that wasn’t the case.’
‘You hadn’t done anything wrong.’
‘And you didn’t think to fight your parents? To tell them you weren’t going to go to Melbourne?’
‘Not back then. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was nineteen and to all intents and purposes I’d been sheltered for most of my life—even though my parents had so little to do with my upbringing.’
Eden smiled. ‘You had a few nannies.’
‘ I didn’t. Sasha did.’
‘Right.’ She smiled as though she didn’t believe him, but it didn’t matter any more. Although David had left her, had gone to Melbourne, it hadn’t been because of her.
‘Now, can we please leave it?’
She nodded. ‘All right. Subject dropped.’ She walked over to the chair opposite where he sat and lowered herself into it. ‘So tell me…what’s been happening with your life during the past twelve years?’
‘I’m sure Sasha has kept you informed.’
Eden acknowledged his words with a slight nod. ‘Not in great detail. She told me you were getting married—I cried myself to sleep that night.’
She sighed theatrically so he didn’t take her seriously. ‘Then she mentioned you were getting divorced.’
‘Did you cry that night, too?’
‘I was sorry for you. Sorry that it hadn’t worked out. You deserve happiness, David.’ There were no theatrics now, just sincerity. ‘Will you tell me what happened?’
‘Nothing out of the ordinary. I married a woman I shouldn’t have. Simple.’
‘Who?’
‘Jacqueline Baker. I don’t think you know her. She wasn’t from around here, but our parents knew each other through their charity work.’
‘Ha! Charity work as far as our parents are concerned is throwing money at people, but never once getting their own hands dirty.’ She blew on her nails. ‘Oops. I’ve chipped my manicure.’
‘As I was saying, Jacquie and I met through our parents. We became friends, and then we sort of drifted into marriage.’
‘Drifted? Sounds terribly romantic.’
‘Do you want me to tell you or not?’
‘Yes. Sorry. I’ll be quiet.’
‘Thank you. After trying to make it work for about three years, we both decided we’d been stupid to allow ourselves to be pushed into the union and we amicably divorced. She’s now remarried and is expecting her first child very soon.’ He frowned as he said the words, and Eden knew there was certainly more to it than he was letting on.
‘You still see her?’
‘At social gatherings. She’s been in a few times recently to see Sasha.’
‘An amicable divorce. Isn’t that an oxymoron?’
David smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. ‘It does happen. Jacquie and I were always better at the friends part, so that’s the part we’ve kept, and although our divorce displeased our parents, we knew it was the right thing to do.’
‘And you always do the right thing?’
‘Not always, Eden.’
‘Really?’ She raised her eyebrows, a teasing glint in her eyes. ‘Well, I look forward to the next time you decide to buck the system.’
‘Stop it,’ he said with a warning smile. ‘I’m not letting you bait me this time.’ How was it that she had the ability to make him feel young and carefree again? It was so…Eden. So bright, so bubbly, but he’d been watching her before and had seen a multitude of emotions flit across her face, each one as brief as the next.
It reminded him of the nights she and Sasha had helped him study for exams. They would be all serious and studious one moment and then laughing the next. Those had been some of his favourite study sessions, and whilst Sasha had ended up falling asleep a lot of the time, leaving himself and Eden to slog through the workload, David had felt even then that there was a much deeper side to Eden than anyone realised.
‘Party-pooper.’ She gave a mock pout.
‘Exactly. Now, speaking of parents, are you planning to see yours whilst you’re back in town?’ As he spoke, he watched as every muscle in her gorgeous body tensed. ‘I take it your family are still a sore point.’
‘Uh…yeah. I haven’t spoken to any of them in ten years.’
‘Is that so?’ David knew this, as he was in fairly constant contact with her father, Hal, but now wasn’t the time to tell Eden that.
‘Come on, David. You know what my parents are like. Money is the only thing important to them. Oh, no—wait. Money and status. Two things are important to them. Not the happiness of their children.’
‘Todd turned out all right.’
Eden almost pounced at the mention of her little brother. There had been so many times—especially in the first few years after she’d left home
—where she’d missed him terribly, wishing he was with her. ‘You’ve seen him? How is he?’
‘He’s good, Eden, and I know he’d like to see you.’
She eased back into her chair, watching him carefully. ‘You know this…how?’
‘Because I see them quite regularly. Your father is on the hospital board.’
‘Of course he is.’
‘And your mother is involved in several of the same charities as my mother.’
‘Accepted at last. She should be proud of herself.’
‘They’ve changed, Eden. Don’t you think it’s about time to put the past to rest?’
Eden brushed the hair back from her face, letting David’s words sink in. ‘I wrote to Todd not long after I left, and he wrote me a letter back saying he never wanted to speak to me again.’
‘He was…what…fifteen years old then?’
‘About that.’
‘So what does a fifteen-year-old brother know? He was probably hurt.’
‘I’ve sent my family Christmas and birthday cards every year, but never got one back.’
‘Maybe they didn’t know what to say?’
‘How about “To Eden. Merry Christmas from your parents”?’
‘Did they know where to send them?’
‘They had the address of the agency.’
‘Maybe things didn’t get through to you?’
‘The agency always passes on mail to staff. All of Sasha’s letters and cards made it through. Besides, I was in Darwin at medical school for a lot of that time, and although I was working in the Outback during vacations they still could have contacted me.’
‘Stop avoiding the question, Eden. Are you going to see them or not?’
‘I don’t know,’ she huffed, and crossed her arms defensively over her chest. ‘And stop being on their side. You were my friend first.’
‘This isn’t about sides, Eden.’
She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down. Finally she looked at David and shrugged. ‘I don’t know what to do.’
‘You must have known this question would arise when you decided to come back.’
‘Yes, of course. But honestly, David, if I’d allowed myself to focus on that I might not have come. I’m here for Sasha. First and foremost.’
‘No one’s disputing that, but what’s stopping you from healing this old wound? You’ve locked your family away in a box marked “DO NOT
TOUCH”. It’s not healthy for them to stay there for the rest of your life.’
He had a point. What he didn’t know was that she had a box with his name on it marked ‘DO NOT TOUCH’ as well, and yet here she was, sitting opposite him, drinking in the sight of him, allowing herself to be swayed by him. He’d always been able to make a convincing argument, and she had a feeling he wasn’t going to let this one drop.
The worry, the concern and the repressed pain were clearly evident on her face. ‘I don’t know if I’m strong enough to handle more rejection from them.’ She dropped her hands, dejection overcoming her with force. ‘My father kicked me out, David. He told me to leave and to never come back.’
‘He’s changed, Eden.’ David came around the desk, but still kept a clear distance between them. ‘You’re so driven, so focused, and you are always there for others. Be there for them.’ His words were deep, imploring. ‘Apart from all of that, I’ve already told you that you are the strongest woman I know.’
She sighed and gave him a small smile. ‘And I thought that was because I used to beat you at arm wrestling.’
He matched her grin. ‘I used to let you win.’
Her smile increased, her tension starting to dissipate. ‘I know.’
David paused, his tone encouraging. ‘See them, Eden. Perhaps now is the time to put the past behind you? To start afresh?’
‘Next you’ll be saying that life is too short to have regrets.’
‘It is.’
‘Do you have regrets?’
‘Who doesn’t?’
‘I mean about me.’ Eden’s heart started pounding fiercely against her chest as she spoke. Could he see she wasn’t joking around or teasing this time? Could he feel that she needed some sort of reassurance? He’d rejected her and it had hurt. Then he’d left, adding even more pain and guilt to the rejection she’d suffered.
David was silent, and she was about to tell him to forget it when finally he answered. ‘Of course I do. But we were both so young.’
‘You still rejected me, David. Rejection is never easy to handle. First you, then my family. Oh, I’d been used to being on the outside at school, in fact, ever since my parents moved to the “money” suburb after their lottery win, but rejection, especially at such a young and impressionable age, hurts.’
‘I tried to let you down as gently as I knew how.’
‘By leaving me? By cutting yourself off?’
‘If I wasn’t around, I knew it would protect both of us from heading in a direction which was—’
‘Oh, you don’t need to explain. I understand now, being older, but still, rejection is never easy to deal with. I would have gone completely around the bend if it hadn’t been for Sasha. She was the only one, still is the only one, who’s always been there for me. It’s why I needed to come back. She needs me and I’m here.’
‘Yet you didn’t make it to her wedding.’
‘We’ve discussed this, David.’ There was a warning in her tone, a warning not to push her, but he needed to know.
‘Not really, Eden. I still don’t understand why you didn’t come. It makes no sense. Too busy helping others? Researching? Writing papers?
Couldn’t that have waited? Your best friend got married and she wanted you there.’
‘Sasha understood.’
‘So you say.’
‘No, David. Sasha really understood.’
‘Then explain it to me.’
‘I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. I’ve been on enough of an emotional roller-coaster for one day and I don’t need another turn.’ She walked towards the door, eager to put some distance between them—for when he looked at her with such cold confusion Eden’s heart started to break.
She was far too vulnerable right now to discuss such a topic with him. Not only because it had been one of the darkest times in her life, but because she’d no doubt end up in tears again.
‘I should get back and check on Sasha, or at least chat to Robert if Sasha’s sleeping. He’s so perfect for her.’ Eden’s smile came naturally when she thought about the way Robert and Sasha looked at each other. Along with that smile came a natural yearning to one day experience that sort of love. Would she ever find the right man? Was he standing right in front of her?
She was changing the subject and David let her, but hopefully she’d realise he wasn’t going to let the subject drop. It was important to him. He needed to understand, because not turning up for her best friend’s wedding had been so unlike the Eden he thought he’d know. He didn’t want to think he’d misjudged her character, that the young woman he’d distanced himself from was someone very different deep down inside. It was for that reason alone that he was determined to discover the real reason why she hadn’t been there to share in Sasha’s special day.
‘Yes, he’s good for Sasha. Loves her one hundred percent.’
‘It’s so rare to find that happily-ever-after, and I’m so glad it happened for Sasha. I know they’ve got a long and difficult road ahead of them, but I honestly believe they’ll make it.’
David agreed. ‘Rob’s a patient man. He’ll stand by her.’
Eden smiled. ‘Must be good that he has your approval. Good for Sasha, I mean. Your opinion means so much to her.’
‘Does it mean anything to you?’
‘Your opinion?’ Eden was a little surprised at the question. ‘Of course. I value your opinion, David. I always have.’ Didn’t the man have any idea of the influence he’d had on her life? She had measured every other man she’d come across against David. He was her yardstick, and so far no one had ever come close to matching him in integrity, in honesty, in ethics or principles, and of course looks and sex appeal. David definitely had those last two in spades.
‘Well …that’s nice to know. Hopefully you’ll trust me enough to tell me why you didn’t make it back for the wedding.’
Eden’s sigh was heavy and she gripped the door handle a little tighter. ‘It’s not that I don’t trust you, David. It’s just that…’ She knew he wasn’t going to let it go. He wanted an answer and he would eventually drag one from her. He was a man who, once he decided on something, usually followed through.
She rubbed at her temple with her free hand. ‘It’s just that it was a very difficult time in my life. But as I said, I’ve had enough emotion for now, and bringing it up would only make me upset again. I’d no doubt end up back in your arms and then we’d have to fight this…’ she waved her hand about to indicate the space between them ‘…this chemistry thing which still exists between us. I don’t have the energy for that. You say you’ve read my papers. Read them again, David, and this time read between the lines.’
It wasn’t the answer he’d been expecting, and seeing the hint of raw pain and anguish in her eyes made him feel uneasy. He shouldn’t have pushed so hard, so fast.
David nodded. ‘I’ll do that.’
‘OK.’ She opened the door, but stopped halfway through it. ‘Oh, and I’m sorry about before. The crying thing.’
‘No need to apologise. I understand.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Feeling stronger?’
Eden smiled, but it wasn’t like the other smiles which had touched her eyes, and he knew he was the one who had taken that glow from her earlier spark. ‘Back to my old self.’
‘Heaven help us.’ He rolled his eyes heavenward. ‘Go see Sasha.’
He kept his encouraging smile in place until she’d gone, but the instant he was alone he closed his eyes and shook his head. Why did the woman affect him so much? She’d been here for less than an hour and already he was so tied up in knots he’d need a steamroller to squash them out. And then he’d gone and pushed her. He’d wanted to know, and all she’d left him with was a cryptic message and a sadness around her eyes.
He recalled numerous times when she had sent him out to collect petition signatures for one lost cause or another…and he’d done it. He also remembered one occasion where she’d taken himself and Sasha to an old quarry mine simply to rescue a stray kitten she’d seen entering the dangerous zone. She’d been wild and adventurous and had really made him believe that one person, one voice, could make a difference in the world. Now…he’d upset her.
He opened his eyes and raked a hand through his hair. ‘Nice going, Montgomery.’ He walked around to his chair and sat, looking at the empty seat opposite him. Her scent still lingered in the air and the memory of how perfect she’d felt in his arms was potent. Just like before. Eden Caplan, the girl who had made him laugh, made him take a step out of his comfort zone, made him see her in a whole new light.
He knew it was inevitable that when a person grew up and had varying experiences in their life that it would change them. Sure, she still portrayed the same carefree Eden on the surface—but what was beneath the surface? A woman with scars? A woman who’d been through something that brought pain and anguish into her beautiful emerald-green eyes at the mere mention of it?
David stood and went to the bookshelf, pulling down the two volumes of paediatric journals he knew contained Eden’s published papers.
He had no need to consult the index, flicking to the page almost automatically. He’d read the articles a few times and he’d been impressed and proud of her brilliance, glad she’d put that amazing intellect of hers to good use.
One of the papers was on the specialised care of underdeveloped children in an unsterilised environment, which he knew she’d encountered daily during her work overseas in Third World countries, but it was another article he wanted, about an unusual epidemic which had resulted in over twenty unexplained deaths. The paper cited the signs and symptoms as well as the probable causes. It was a well-formulated and well-written paper, giving information in the matter-of-fact way that was required for journal publications. Emotions weren’t put on the page, but Eden had told him to read between the lines.
Although Eden was listed as the primary author of the paper, several of her colleagues’ names appeared as well. He’d initially presumed she’d come across this information second-hand and decided to publish it for the common good, which was so typically Eden, but David now realised he’d been mistaken.
‘She lived this.’ The shocked words were whispered into the cold silence of his office. He read the article again, taking particular note of the statistics in which twenty children, ranging from one to seven years of age, had died before the cause of the epidemic had been discovered.
Eden had been the one trying to save those little lives. He knew it because he knew her. She would give and give and keep on giving everything she had to any cause other people classified as lost. She rooted for the underdog. She worked hard to lift the oppressed. Eden had been the one fighting for the lives of those children, and those twenty deaths would have weighed heavily on her heart.
The time she’d made him and Sasha help her look for the lost kitten in the quarry had shown him how closely she felt loss. They’d eventually found the kitten after dark, all of them using searchlights in a fenced-off area, but the poor animal had already died.
Eden hadn’t said a word, but had lifted the creature and cradled it in her arms while they’d carried it back to her house. He’d dug a hole and they’d buried it in the backyard. She’d been solemn and sincere, saying a few brief words once he’d finished covering the small mound with dirt.
Her younger brother Todd had found her grief funny, but that had been more due to his immature age than anything else.
Once the deed had been done, David and Sasha had left, but later that night he’d heard his sister on the phone, consoling a broken-hearted Eden, and he’d realised then just how deeply senseless loss affected the beautiful girl with the expressive eyes and gorgeous red hair.
Realising she’d witnessed the death of all those children, been unable to ‘fix’ them, and no doubt been with the families when the small mounds had been covered, made tears spring to his eyes.
If this was the reason Eden hadn’t made it back for Sasha’s wedding then he did understand. Just as Sasha had. He also understood why Eden wouldn’t want to discuss it. Something so deep, so tragic and unnecessary—and she would have taken it all on as her fault. As doctors, they all lost patients now and then, and they coped with that. They’d been trained to cope. But twenty children? All at once? All with the same signs and symptoms…with more to follow? His heart ached for Eden and the empathic pain he knew she would have experienced.
David shook his head, disgusted with himself for pushing her. He now had his answer and he knew he needed to apologise. It was also a relief to realise he hadn’t misjudged her. Eden missing Sasha’s wedding had surprised him, but he should have trusted her to have had a good reason. It did appear that in essentials Eden Caplan hadn’t changed at all.
Clearing his throat, he closed the journals and returned them to the shelves, wondering what he could do to apologise for trampling on her emotions. Should he get her flowers? No. She didn’t like cut flowers. A pot plant? No. She wouldn’t be in town for long. He needed to think of something.
Perhaps a nice quiet dinner at one of her favourite hangouts? That might be nice. Just the two of them. His eyes widened at the thought. He knew he’d vowed less than an hour ago to keep his distance where Eden was concerned, but his faux pas couldn’t be left as it was. Besides, they were friends. Nothing more.
He could cope for one night.
Without stopping to think further on his idea, he decided to be impulsive and hauled out the phone book, quickly locating the number of a small Italian restaurant she’d frequented in her teens. He knew it was still there because every time he drove past it he would think of her and the way she’d slurped spaghetti until the sauce was all over her face. She would laugh brightly and encourage Sasha to do the same. David shook his head, remembering the way Eden had unlocked the gate of his sister’s emotions. Sasha had been a girl who had been too shy to open up to anyone before Eden Caplan had entered their lives, filling it with laughter and sunshine.
He dialled the number and made reservations for that evening, knowing he could easily cancel them if she had other plans, although he secretly hoped she didn’t. Once it was done, he realised that it was the first spontaneous thing he’d done in a long while. He’d always equated spontaneity with Eden, and here he was, back in her presence and already acting on impulse.
He laughed at himself. ‘Really letting go, Montgomery. Dinner reservations? What a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing to do.’
Now all he had to do was to get Eden to agree to come. Would she?
Eden sat in the chair by the window, pretending to read a glossy magazine, but every so often her gaze flicked to Sasha, who was lying in bed, her eyes closed. Robert had gone to make a few phone calls, so it was just the two of them.
Eden was pleased she felt more in control. Thanks to David she’d been able to let go, to weep for her friend, and now she was ready to be strong, to get Sasha through the next few weeks at least. She flicked a page in the magazine, barely scanning it.
‘Stop faking.’ Sasha’s weak words came from the bed. Eden looked at her but didn’t move.
‘Meaning?’
‘You hate those glossy things. I remember you saying if women took the money they spent on shoes and put it towards a good charity instead, poverty in the world would be less and women wouldn’t have so many painful call uses on their feet.’
Eden smiled. ‘Well, it’s true. I mean, just look at these shoes and the price they’re asking for them.’ She held up the page so Sasha could see.
‘It’s ridiculous.’ She put the magazine down and walked towards the bed. ‘I’m not saying people shouldn’t buy shoes. Of course they need shoes to wear. But you can only wear one pair at a time.’
Sasha laughed. ‘Same old Eden.’
‘You sound like David—and enough with the old. You’re the same age I am, missy.’
Sasha reached out her hand and Eden instantly took it. ‘I know, but right now I feel ten times my age.’
‘Rubbish.’
‘Eden, it’s true.’ Sasha glanced behind her at the closed door. ‘Where’s Robert?’
‘Gone to make some phone calls. He said he wouldn’t be long. Do you want me to go find him?’
‘No.’ Sasha’s word was insistent and her big brown eyes—which were so much like her brother’s—stared at Eden. ‘I’m scared, Ede.’ Her lower lip began to quiver and her eyes instantly filled with tears. ‘I’ve put on a brave face. I’ve told everyone not to cry, not to lie and not to look back, but…’ She hiccuped. ‘I can’t walk. I can’t walk! ’ The tears bubbled over. ‘One minute my life is on track, and the next I’m lying in a hospital beneath a big round X-ray machine being told my spinal cord’s been severely damaged and that I may never walk again. It’s not fair. It’s so not fair. Poor Robert looks at me like he doesn’t know what to do next, and I don’t know what I want him to do, and we’ve only been married for a few years and I love him so much, but it’s not fair to put him through this, but if he leaves I’ll just shrivel up into nothing, and I have to know…What am I supposed to do now?’ She broke down and sobbed, clinging to Eden’s arm.
Eden reached for a tissue with her free hand and gently dabbed the tears away, brushing the hair from her friend’s face. The door to the private room opened and Eden glanced up as David slipped in. She silently communicated that he should stay back, which he did. Sasha’s sobs were so heartwrenching, so full of pain and despair it really was heartbreaking, but Eden was glad Sasha had finally broken down.
Softly she spoke. ‘ This is what you’re supposed to do, Sash. You’re supposed to cry, honey. You’re allowed to wall ow, to feel sorry for yourself.
You need to let the emotions out so the healing can come in.’ She leaned closer and kissed Sasha’s forehead. ‘Don’t be ashamed to cry.’
Sasha reached up with her other arm and hooked it around Eden’s neck, holding her friend close as she cried. Eden could feel the pain, feel the anguish, and it was impossible to stop her own tears.
‘I hate feeling sorry for myself,’ Sasha whispered. ‘What if I get so depressed I stay that way?
‘Not going to happen. You’re too strong for that. Besides, a little depression is more than natural given what you’ve been through. You need to let it out, let out the stress and the anxiety and the uncertainty. You are surrounded by people who love you.’
Eden looked over at David and he walked towards his sister. Sasha looked up at him and David’s heart constricted at the look in her eyes. It was as though she was six years old again and had done something wrong, and didn’t have a clue what to do next.
‘Cry, my sweet friend, because you’ll feel much better—I promise.’ Eden spoke softly but clearly near Sasha’s ear. ‘It’s OK to cry. It’s OK,’ she soothed. ‘I’m here, David’s here, and let’s not forget that brilliant husband of yours. We won’t let you fall.’ Eden sniffed as she spoke, her voice thick with emotion as she made such solemn promises to her friend. Tears slid down her cheeks as she felt Sasha’s pain. Her tears must have landed on Sasha because her friend looked up.
‘Why are you crying?’ Sasha asked, sniffing and releasing her grip on Eden to reach for a tissue.
‘Me? I’m not crying.’ She wiped at her own eyes, belying her words. ‘I merely have itchy eyes. On my way here I walked by the catering hall and they were chopping heaps of onions. I must have breathed in deeper than I thought and that’s why my eyes are watering. Crying? Pffttt! ’ She waved the suggestion away as though it was ludicrous.
Sasha started laughing at the ridiculous excuse. ‘That’s our Eden. Isn’t it, David? Always saying the craziest things.’
David looked across at Eden and acknowledged the deep, abiding friendship the two women had shared for most of their lives. For two weeks he’d watched his sister being brave, helping everyone else to deal with what had happened. He’d been deeply concerned that her own grieving process hadn’t started, but now he realised she’d simply been waiting…waiting for Eden. Eden would be strong for Sasha, would help his sister through this difficult time.
What was his role, then? To be strong for Eden? To let her lean on him as she had just a few hours ago? The idea certainly had a definite appeal to it.
Eden smiled at her friend. ‘It’s what I’m here for. Now, take a deep breath. Nice and slow.’ Sasha did as she was told. ‘Then let it out just as slowly. There. Feel better?’
Sasha’s answer was to look at her friend and laugh again. ‘That’s my Eden,’ she repeated. ‘You’re such an amazing person.’
Eden dabbed gently at the corner of Sasha’s eyes with a tissue. ‘Right back at ya.’
‘Ugh. I must look a sight.’ Sasha tried to finger-comb her hair and Eden quickly found a brush and passed it over. David smiled at them.
‘You both look like you’ve been chewing raw onions.’
‘You’re such a charmer, David Montgomery.’
‘But you did eat raw onions once, right? I distinctly remember coming into the kitchen and you were both redfaced, puffy noses and eyes, and eating raw onions.’
Eden groaned. ‘Do you remember every stupid thing we ever did?’
David grinned and crossed his arms over his chest, enjoying the opportunity to tease her a little. ‘Pretty much. Why were you eating them again?’
Eden squared her shoulders. ‘It was a test. To see if boys were stupid enough to do anything for a pretty girl, even if she smelled like onions.’
Sasha giggled. ‘That’s right. We had a dance on at school and three different boys had asked you to go. That was a funny night.’
The door to the room opened and this time it was Robert who came in. Sasha immediately put on a bright face, not wanting her husband to see she’d been upset. Eden gave her hand a squeeze and leaned down to whisper in her ear. ‘Let him see you like this, Sash. Vulnerability is sometimes a good thing, and he loves you very much. Open up to him. Let him help you.’ She kissed her friend’s forehead again before pulling away.
Robert walked over to his wife’s side and smiled down at her. ‘You all right?’
‘We’ve been eating onions.’ Eden spoke matter-of-factly, as though the comment was perfectly normal. Sasha giggled when Robert looked blankly at her. ‘I’ll let Sash explain. David?’ Eden smiled brightly at him and crossed to his side, lacing her arm through his and flicking her hair down her back. ‘Why don’t you show me your ward? I’d love to meet some of your patients.’ She urged him towards the door and thankfully he picked up on her cue. ‘I’ll be back in about half an hour,’ she said to Sasha over her shoulder.
‘OK.’ Sasha was looking lovingly at her husband.
‘Eat some onions with Robert,’ David suggested, before escorting Eden from the room.
Once they were out, Eden kept her arm where it was, even though she felt him shift away. ‘They need to be alone.’
David agreed. ‘It looks as though you’ve broken the drought.’
‘Yes, thank goodness. Now hopefully they can cry together and heal together.’
David shook his head as they walked slowly along the corridor. ‘You’re quite a woman, Eden.’
‘So glad you’ve noticed,’ she said saucily. Since she’d discovered his parents had been the real reason why he’d left all those years ago, she felt as though at least one huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She tightened her grip on his arm, liking that she could be this close to him again.
David was well aware of the looks he was receiving from the nursing staff, and he smiled politely—as though it was more than natural for him to walk around the hospital with an incredible redhead on his arm.
‘Eden. You’re flirting again.’
‘Am I, David? Well, thank you so much for pointing that out.’
‘Perhaps you need to really eat some onions.’
‘Would that stop you from holding my arm?’
‘Who’s holding whose arm?’ he countered. He paused for a moment, then asked, ‘Did it work?’
‘Did what work?’
‘The onion test. Did the three boys who asked you to the dance do anything and everything for you?’
‘Two did, one didn’t. He was the one I dated.’
‘How old were you?’
‘Fifteen, I think. Yep. Bryce Martineau. Dated him for a whole two weeks. But the chemistry wasn’t there so it was soon over.’
‘Chemistry.’ He muttered the word as he led her into the stairwell. He didn’t want to think about physical chemistry when he was this close to her.
‘It’s everything.’
‘Hmm.’ He’d hoped that in the stairwel she’d let go of his arm, but instead she simply moved closer and he knew exactly what she meant when she said chemistry. Awareness was coursing through him, the need to haul her into his arms and press his mouth to hers was overwhelming and difficult to resist, but resist, he would. ‘Eden, we’re not going to fit up these stairs squashed together.’
‘No?’ An imp of mischief buzzed through her and she felt young and free, being with him, being this close to him. He’d used to like it when she was this close. In fact, she could recall plenty of times when he’d crushed her into his arms, holding her tightly as his mouth devoured hers. It had been the best time of her life so far, and a part of her wanted that throw-caution-to-the-wind feeling back again.
Her smile increased. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to try? Could be fun?’ She wriggled a little, closing the distance, the side of her breast grazing against his chest.
David groaned and dropped her arm, moving right away from her—which was difficult given the confined space.
‘Should have taken the lift,’ he muttered, and she laughed, reaching down to take his hand.
‘How about this? Is holding hands OK? After all, we are such dear old friends.’ Without another word she tugged him forward, and he had little option but to follow her up the stairs. ‘Now, which way to the ward?’ she asked, not letting go of his hand.
He decided he might as well enjoy it for the moment, because he was only fooling himself if he denied the chemistry which coursed between them. It still didn’t mean he was going to act upon it.
‘Left.’
She turned left and soon they were at two big doors which were painted with a bright and cheerful mural of animals, flowers and rainbows.
‘Lovely. Your ward is just lovely, David.’ She gave his hand a little squeeze before she let it go. ‘Shal we?’
‘We shall.’ David opened the door, holding it for her like the gentleman he was.
‘Ahh, there you are,’ said one of the nurses, phone receiver in hand, as they walked to the nurses’ station. Her badge said her name was Francie, and she replaced the phone. ‘I was just about to page you.’
‘What’s the matter?’
‘It’s Dart.’
‘Gone downhill?’
‘Quite rapidly.’
‘Is his mother here?’
Francie nodded. ‘She arrived about an hour ago.’
‘Did you tell her we were thinking of letting Dart go home tomorrow?’
‘I did.’
David shook his head. ‘Well, here’s hoping we don’t disappoint her. Has he had his medicine?’
Francie shook her head. ‘He’s refusing.’
All the time David had been discussing his patient with the nurse, Eden had been well aware of the interested glances she was receiving from the staff around them.
‘Right. I’ll go see what I can do. Oh, by the way, this is Eden. Eden Caplan.’ David quickly introduced her. ‘You may see her around during the next few weeks. There are some patients I’d like her to review.’
Eden raised her eyebrows at this news. She’d been quite happy just to play the role of visitor, but if David needed help…well, helping was what she did best.