Chapter Seven
Quinton
Let me tell you a story.
I braced myself because, honestly, I had no idea where he was going with this.
His cryptic statements had left me with more questions than answers.
Maybe I was being too nosy—but I really wanted to understand.
To know what made this guy tick. To figure out why he was the way he was.
Although, by the little he’d said, it appeared his reaction to whatever had been, apparently, over the top.
Or maybe I was reading between the lines.
He took another deep breath. “My husband was in an accident at work. A bad one. He survived, but was never the same again. He claimed he was in pain all the time—but the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. With nothing to treat, it just sounded like he was malingering.”
I arched an eyebrow. Because surely someone as intelligent as this man must be, would know that someone could be in pain without an obvious injury.
He tapped the side of his coffee. “All I can say is that I came home from work one day to find the kids in the playroom and Gideon passed out in the bedroom. He’d overdosed.”
“Jesus.” I uttered the word softly.
“Right? I freaked out. The kids were just three and five. With Melodie being so responsible, they were okay. But anything could’ve happened. I mean…anything. Needless to say, I threw him out.”
Okay, that I hadn’t seen coming. “You didn’t try to get him help?”
He winced. “I got him a referral to a rehab clinic, and I gave him the name of a pain clinic. Then I helped him pack his things, and I showed him the door.” He drew in another sharp breath. “Quinton, anything could’ve happened to those precious children. Anything. I knew I’d never trust him again.”
“Still pretty harsh.”
He shrugged. “We were living in Surrey at the time. His grandfather moved into an assisted-living facility and Gideon moved into his house. Up north of Mission City. In the mountains. Very isolated.”
“Not necessarily great for someone in the throes of addiction.”
Another pained expression on Leo’s face. “I didn’t give a shit. I honestly didn’t care. He was out of our lives for good. My divorce lawyer eviscerated him, and all he was left with was twice-monthly video calls.”
“Leo—”
He slashed his hand through the air. “Whatever you’re thinking…you weren’t there, Quinton. You don’t understand.”
“Maybe. I mean, I’m not a parent and I’ve never dealt with someone in the midst of an addiction crisis. But I know that cutting them off from those they love—likely their reason for living—isn’t the way for them to get healthy.”
“I know that. I mean, I knew it back then as well but—” He let out a long breath. “My children could have died. I was supposed to protect them, and I didn’t. Everything beyond that just didn’t matter.”
“Okay, I’ve got a burger platter.” Sarabeth put Leo’s plate before him.
“And waffles with strawberries and extra whipped cream.” Again, with her radiant smile. “Anything else?”
We shook our heads.
“Great. I’ll check back in a bit.” With that, she was gone again.
I grabbed my knife and fork—but didn’t cut into my food.
He gestured to it.
I rolled my hand—clearly encouraging him to continue his story.
“I hired a nanny and kept working. We saw Gideon every two weeks for the video call, and I tried to help the kids move on with their lives.”
“Let me guess, it didn’t work.” I held in the sarcasm—barely.
He grabbed his fork and speared a leaf of lettuce in the Caesar salad.
Personally, after the day we’d just had, I would’ve picked fries. “So it didn’t work…”
“May I have a few bites before I bare my soul?”
I shrugged, doused my massive waffle in syrup, and then cut a piece. I snagged a piece of strawberry and just the right amount of whipped cream. I shoved the concoction into my mouth and gazed up to find Leo staring. Since my mouth was full of food, I merely arched an eyebrow.
He ate his piece of lettuce.
We carried on in silence for a good ten minutes as we demolished the food on our plates.
Some days I wasn’t hungry when I got off shift—a few bites of leftovers were all I needed before crashing into bed.
Some days, like tonight, I needed a massive amount.
That meant staying up a bit later so the food would digest, but I was okay with that.
Finally, I took a sip of tea. Barely anything remained on my plate.
Leo had cut his burger into pieces—because of course he had—and most of the burger and all the salad was gone.
“So Gideon’s back in your life now.”
He nodded. “Yeah. It’s a long story, but his partner Archer reached out to me. He let me know Gideon was in counseling and dealing with the physical pain. Look, you can’t say any of this to anyone, okay? I’m out of line even discussing it.”
I could’ve been offended he’d even suggest I’d blab, but he didn’t know me. His only impression of me was pretty negative—even though he was the reason for that. “Forgiveness feels like a big step.”
Leo held my gaze with those hauntingly stunning green eyes. “I didn’t think I ever would. But Archer—a divorce lawyer no less, although not Gideon’s—pointed out that I was punishing Gideon for an addiction I had helped create.”
I cocked my head.
“I didn’t take his pain seriously. I was a doctor, I knew better, and yet I still wasn’t there to support him. Instead, I took what I believed to be the moral high ground. Did what I thought was best for my children.” At my raised eyebrow, he corrected, “Our children.”
“Yeah, I thought that’s what you meant.” I scooped the last bit of whipped cream onto my fork and shoved it in my mouth. Then I motioned for him to continue.
“I took a long look in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw.
I contacted Archer and arranged to meet Gideon with the kids.
Melodie was beside herself and made us promise to never take him away from her again.
She’s a bright child and understood far more than the rest of us what the impact had been.
Trevor’s younger, and although he was glad to see Gideon, he was far more enamored with Gideon’s dog, Lucky. ”
“Dogs are awesome. Kids and dogs together are even better.” Pushing aside the dog bites I’d witnessed over the years.
And the child who had died last year in the neighboring province from a dog attack.
But that was bad parenting and dog training rather than the animal’s fault.
I pushed that sad thought aside. “And…?”
“The health authority wanted a cardiac surgeon in Abbotsford. Slowly, they’re increasing the number of surgical specialists. They need to increase the capacity of the hospital.”
“Yeah, you coming here was considered quite a coup.”
“Several of my coworkers lived out this way anyway and were happy to transfer. One nurse lived in a tiny apartment in Vancouver. Out here, she was able to get a small townhouse.”
I nodded. “Better quality of life too. Slower pace.”
“Almost too sedate.” He smiled sheepishly. “I was born and raised in a city. Living in the country is…an adjustment.”
“You said you lived in Mission City, but I didn’t think to ask where.”
“In the mountains north of the town. I bought a house close to Gideon and Archer’s.
” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I wanted as little disruption for the kids as possible. This way, when the time comes, they can take the same school bus. Their friends might live nearby. Heck, there are several kids on the street where Gideon lives that they’re already friends with.
I don’t think they miss their old home much at all. ”
“It’s the dog.” I put my knife and fork at the five o’clock position.
He chuckled. A little ruefully. “Lucky has eased the transition. And Gideon had rooms prepared for them. And Archer is great with the kids. He’s from Vancouver, but he built a second home out here. A retreat of sorts.” He rolled his eyes. “Bigger than any house I’d ever be able to afford.”
“A successful divorce attorney?”
“One of the best in Vancouver. Heck, in British Columbia. I researched him, of course.”
“Of course.” I repeated the words. “He’s in your children’s lives—it’s only natural.”
“He’s a good man. I wanted to find fault with him…but I just can’t. He’s even transitioning some of his practice to Mission City so he doesn’t have to commute to Vancouver.”
“Wow.” I couldn’t see divorces in our small town competing with the rich and famous—and infamous—of Vancouver. “What’s his full name?”
“Archer Chamberlain. Why? Are you going to search for him?”
I shrugged. “In my copious amounts of spare time.”
“Do you have copious amounts of spare time?”
“Is that your way of asking if I’m single? I thought we had this discussion.”
“Being single and having regular hookups are not mutually exclusive.”
“Finish your story.”
He cocked his head.
“About Gideon. Aside from being ecstatic about the kids, how’s he doing?”
“Coping. He’s following the instructions of a physiotherapist he’s started to see. He’s taking non-narcotic painkillers when he needs them, and they’re helping. He did great in counseling. In fact, he tried to suggest I might benefit.”
“Sorry to interrupt. Can I get you folks anything else?” Sarabeth removed our plates.
I met Leo’s gaze.
Again, he cocked his head.
“We’ll split a lava cake, if that’s okay.
” Whether I was asking Sarabeth or Leo, I wasn’t entirely certain.
The truth was, I could demolish one of those on my own.
Tonight, I was ravenous. But I’d be good and share.
I planned to do a run on the treadmill in the morning before heading back to the hospital.
I’d be tired, but I’d also be invigorated.
“Sounds…intriguing.” He checked his watch.
“I’ll bring it out right away.” Then she was gone.
“Damn. I didn’t mean to imply—” He winced.
I waved him off. “She knows me and that I need to get home to bed if I’m working tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
“Your ex thinks you need counseling?”
“Trust you to remember that.”
“Honey, I remember everything. That’s what makes me good at my job. It also means that, as the center of all kinds of gossip, I need to know when to speak out and when to keep quiet. Your secrets are safe with me.”
“I shouldn’t trust you.”
I leaned forward. “Your cock was in my ass three nights ago. Mine was in your mouth yesterday. Frankly, and I’m not blowing smoke up your ass, you were the best lay I’ve had in a while. If you weren’t such a jackass, I might’ve asked for another go around.”
He reached under the table and appeared to adjust himself.
Ha! Not so unaffected.
He toyed with his cold coffee. “What if I said the feeling was mutual?”
“I’d say it’s a bad idea. Things like this never end well for the nurse involved. I’m replaceable—you’re not.”
He winced. Obviously acknowledging I was right.
“One lava cake and two forks.” Sarabeth pointed to Leo’s coffee. “Refill?”
He shook his head. “Maybe a small glass of ice water?”
“Sure thing.” Again, she took off.
Leo leaned forward. “I get that it’s dangerous for you—”
“You’re also a bit of a pompous jackass.” I held his gaze.
Slowly, he smiled. “Yes, I can see how you’d think that.”
I almost pointed out it wasn’t a matter of thinking something—the notion was, indeed, a fact.
“Hey, Quinton.” A distinctive Australian accent drew my attention.
I pivoted my attention to the couple standing beside our booth. I grinned. “Hey Dean, Adam.” I looked at Leo. “These are two of my good friends. Dean is from Australia, Adam is a good old Canadian, and they got married Christmas Day.”
Leo held out his hand. “Leopold.”
No missing that he didn’t use his last name.
Because his was the same as Gideon’s? Or because I hadn’t used Dean and Adam’s.
That might’ve been because I didn’t know if they’d chosen one name, the other, or hyphenated.
Oh well, might as well ask. “You two settle on a last name? I was at your wedding, and I can’t even remember. ”
Adam’s eyes misted a little. “At Healing Horses Ranch. On a snowy Christmas Day. That was so amazing.”
Leo stirred at the name of the ranch.
Interesting. Something to ask about later.
Dean slung his arm around his slightly shorter—and definitely more slender—husband. “I talked him into Hargrave. My family have a storied history back in Australia.”
“And I didn’t have any particular attachment to my family’s name.” Adam touched the healed burn scar on his face. “I have other ways to remember.”
I knew his backstory, of course. How he’d been burned trying to save his twin brother in a fiery car crash.
How he’d been a recluse in his castle in the mountains north of Mission City for almost ten years before Dean burst into his life.
I’d invited them to my Halloween party, and they’d become good friends.
“We should leave you be.” Dean gestured between me and Leo. Then he gestured to the cake. “Don’t want that to get cold.”
I laughed. “Uh, no. You’re coming to my Valentine’s Shindig, right? Next week?”
“Oh, we’ll be there.” Adam tucked himself against Dean. “Our first official outing as a married couple.”
“I like the sound of that.” Dean laughed, his accent extra-strong.
They waved goodbye and then slid into the booth across from us.
I met Leo’s gaze.
“They’ve got a story.” He frowned.
“Doesn’t everyone?” I sank my fork into the lava cake.
“I suppose.”
“Maybe one day you’ll tell me yours.” I popped the piece of cake in my mouth.
“I just did. You know everything about me.”
“I know everything you’ve chosen to tell me—that’s very different from knowing everything.”
He pursed his lips. Then, slowly, he smiled. “You’re not so bad.”
“For a nurse who spends more time on his phone then tending to patients.”
He winced. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Nope.” I grinned. “But you might have fun trying.”
He gaped.
Oh, buddy, you have no idea…