Page 53 of New Year, New Guy
‘No problem.’ Ten minutes later she regretted that assumption because from being ambivalent about contacting their old schoolmate in the first place Johnny did a complete turnaround.
‘I need to see him whether he wants to or not, and don’t bother trying to get around Polly either. She’s with me on this.’
Laura sneaked a glance at her sister who only slipped her arm through Johnny’s and didn’t break a smile, making it clear where her priorities lay. ‘You must do what you feel is right.’ She conceded. ‘Do you want his phone number?’
‘No, we’ll drive down there tomorrow. Neither of us has to go back to work for a couple more days and if I turn up on the doorstep he can’t avoid seeing me.’
‘You might not find him at home. He told us he travels a lot checking up on his various restaurants and usually takes his family with him.’
‘I’ll take the chance. If I need to I’ll go back again and again until I catch him there.’
‘Well good luck. You’ll have to let me know how you get on.’ She sipped her wine. ‘I want to hear what you think of my revamped house.’ In between visits to builders Hunter had spent every spare hour of the last few days wielding a paintbrush. Nowshe was the proud owner of a cheerful blue kitchen, a stylish lilac bedroom and a pale green bathroom complete with a newly installed electric shower they’d had great fun testing out. She gulped down an unexpected rush of emotion.
‘You miss him, don’t you?’ Polly’s sympathy made it worse and poor Johnny looked as though he wished he could vaporise. ‘Tell me about your holiday plans.’
Talking about her upcoming trip helped and she calmed down. ‘Thanks, little sister.’ She managed a feeble smile. ‘I know I’m not supposed to call you that any longer but I can’t help it, and it doesn’t mean I value your help and opinions any less.’
‘That’s all that matters.’
She couldn’t say any more and stared down at the untouched food on her plate before scooping a forkful of lasagne. ‘Eat up. The chef wants a report later.’
* * *
It didn’t matter whether he was studying a new cabin design, paying outstanding bills or catching up with the laundry all Hunter saw was Laura’s pinched, white face on the day he left. The weather had unkindly recreated their first meeting with a brutal easterly wind and stinging rain but the major difference came in the heart-breaking way she clung to him instead of trying to wriggle out of his arms. They’d squeezed in as many hot, desperate kisses as possible before he was forced to climb on the bus.
To survive the next six weeks he needed to follow Laura’s example and compartmentalise. She admitted once that the hard-learned ability to tuck away her emotions was one reason she was good at her job.
For my patients’ sake and my own mental stability it needs to be that way.
Johnny’s determination to visit Danny was another concern niggling away at him. He’d been to Cornwall twice already with no luck and intended to try again at the weekend. Hunter had briefly considered warning Danny but abandoned the idea because if Johnny ever found out he’d be furious. Not a good move for family harmony or his future with Laura.
Future with Laura. Some days those words sounded wonderful and on others more than a touch scary. Did she feel the same way? The supposed ease of long distance relationships these days was a fallacy in his opinion. How could anyone have deep and meaningful discussions on Skype or FaceTime?
Then there was his brother’s letter to worry about. He almost missed seeing Brett’s note in the middle of his pile of accumulated mail and came close to tossing it out with the pizza coupons and charity requests. Despite re-reading it multiple times Hunter still had no clue how to respond. A loud rap on the front door startled him, and he expected to see one of his neighbours or a lost delivery driver on the step.
‘Oh hey, this is a surprise.’
‘Is it?’ Brett scoffed. ‘Can’t imagine why. You’ve ignored all my attempts to contact you so I’ve sacrificed my first free day in a month to come here.’ There were new lines etched in his brother’s craggy face and streaks of grey woven through his close-cropped black hair.
Nothing like family guilt. ‘Is not replying to one letter a capital crime now?’
‘What about all the text messages I left on your mobile? I guess you were too busy having a good time to care what was goin’ on with us.’
‘I looked at the last one and all you said was Dad wanted to see me. He hasn’t bothered much about me all these years so I assumed it could wait until I got back,’ Hunter explained. ‘I told you I was goin’ to England for an old friend’s wedding.’
‘You said for one week, and it’s been at least three now. Didn’t it occur to you we might worry?’
Not really, he thought. ‘Sorry. Come in.’ He didn’t have to wait long for Brett’s lecture to begin.
‘You’d better make whatever arrangements you need because you’re coming back with me to Nashville now.’
‘I can’t!’
‘You damn well can.’ Brett’s florid complexion darkened. ‘Dad’s having open heart surgery tomorrow. He won’t beg you to come but he really wants to see you beforehand in case . . .’
How will you live with yourself if something happens to him before you get a chance to at least try to reconcile?Laura’s warning slammed back into his brain.
‘You didn’t say anything about him being sick. A bit out of the blue, isn’t it?’
