Chapter Four.
April
I was relieved to get home and sink into a bath. Clara had guessed something was majorly wrong by the expression on my face. Bless her, she’d not pushed, but instead told Rose to open a bottle of wine and to bring me a glass. Now, I lay in the hot water, filled with bubbles, and closed my eyes.
Well, the worst had happened, and I’d survived. Hell hadn’t cracked apart and swallowed me whole, nor had the angels sung and flown me to heaven. Stone had looked floored once he’d realised who I was. I, at least, had managed a few seconds to seek self-control before approaching.
Idly, I wonder what Stone thought of the new and improved me. As bitter as it seemed, I hoped to hell that he regretted every action and word he’d spoken when he’d dumped me. That would be karma.
Harlequin
Disturbed, I sat in my room, unwilling to join the others downstairs.
Despite having so little sleep, I still had a shift to cover at the gate.
However, I’d slip out the back way to avoid everybody.
Once everyone knew Olivia was safe, the staring eyes and gossiping mouths turned toward me.
Sometimes the club resembled a bunch of old women.
Smokey hadn’t seemed too amused when Big Al informed him that I’d a history with April.
But to give the man credit, Smokey sighed and said he’d step aside.
It didn’t matter how many times I told Smokey that it wasn’t necessary, that there was nothing between us; Smokey waved me away. Hard not to respect someone who refused to date a brother’s ex. The whole situation could probably be called a clusterfuck.
Despite my mixed feelings, which ran from shock to horror to muted joy, I’d noted the changes in April.
Her hair was longer, and she had piercings.
Younger April only had her ears done; now her eyebrow, nose, and I was sure her tongue was pierced.
She also had at least one tattoo; I’d caught sight of colourful ink under the long sleeves of her scrubs.
It had only been a glimpse, but it was enough for me to know April sported some serious ink.
April was as beautiful as ever—the piercings and tattoos only added to her attraction.
Plus, she was a qualified nurse. When I’d dumped April, she’d just been finishing her second year and had sat her exams. Even so, breaking up with April the day after the exams had been in bad taste.
To this day, I maintain I’d done it for the right reasons.
Present-day April had looked healthy and well, and I was happy she was.
But gutted that she’d clearly moved on from us.
April had gone on to be successful, just as I’d guessed she would.
A distance and a coldness existed in her that seemed at odds with the girl I’d dated.
Had I really done that much damage to her?
Feeling idiotic, I smacked my forehead. Jesus, I sounded like a lunatic.
Years had passed, of course, I hadn’t wanted April to still pine over me.
Curiously, I wondered why she was back in Spearfish.
There was only one reason April would ever return.
Clara. Vainly, I hoped nothing had happened, but something had, for April to be here and working.
If April had taken a job, she’d be around for the foreseeable future.
The bad thing was that I knew where she worked. Staying away would be difficult.
Resigned to not resolving my maelstrom of emotions, I headed downstairs and out the rear door. The brothers meant well, but right now I was as raw as fuck and didn’t need them prying.
April
Clara and I shared a drink as the fire blazed in the grate. She had the requisite sherry, and I had another glass of wine.
“How did Stone look?” Clara asked as she sipped.
“As handsome as ever. Looks were never Stone’s issue, remember?”
“No, Stone was a gorgeous devil.”
“Yeah, it was Stone’s treatment of women where the problem arose,” I spat.
“Truthfully, darling, Stone wasn’t bad to women until he broke up with you.”
I laughed bitterly. “Clara, he didn’t break up with me. Stone stomped and smashed me to pieces. It took years to heal from that asshole’s actions. I’ve never trusted a man since and don’t plan to again. Anyway, what’s with Hellfire MC?”
“Hellfire MC is one of the hero clubs, as the group is referred to. Those who rode to defend Rapid City from the terrorist attack. They’ve a lot of respect and power in Spearfish.
They’re run by Chance Michaelson, who’s the president.
I can’t say I’m familiar with the club brothers’ names, but they are all recognisable by the Hellfire patch. ”
I giggled, “I can’t believe you know it’s called a patch.”
“Hey, I can be hip!”
“No!” I groaned. “Clara, hip isn’t used anymore. That’s aged you.”
Clara chuckled. “I am old, darling. April, Stone will guess you’re staying here. Would you like me to set Rose on him with a broomstick if he turns up?”
“No. Just shut the door on him. Stone doesn’t get to cause more drama or intrude in our lives.”
“I think he’ll come looking.”
“Let him, Clara. Just remember how Stone treated me and don’t fall for his bullshit,” I replied.
Sadness crossed Clara’s face. “Oh, I know, darling. He took my baby away from me for years. I have to ask, April, what happens when I’m well?”
“How about you sell up and move?”
“Where?” Clara asked, amused.
“Pick anywhere; I’ll go where you go. Stone has taken too much from us. I refuse to let him take more.”
“April, if Stone knew what he’d thrown—”
“Please don’t, not now, Clara. It’s too raw.”
“It always will be. Every time you see him, the wound will reopen. You truly loved him,” Clara muttered sadly.
“Yeah, I did, but not anymore. Come, how about we move to California?” I tried to change the subject. Clara sent me a glance that said she was aware of what I was doing.
“Oh, no! Could you imagine the sweat and the sand? Although Savannah has consistently appealed to me,” Clara declared, and I laughed.
“But it’s hot there too,” I replied.
“But a lady can cope with a genteel heat,” Clara announced, and I smiled. The world according to Clara!
Harlequin
“Son, did I hear right? April Graham’s back?” Mom demanded, and I pulled the phone away from my ear and scowled.
“Where did you hear that?”
“There was a new player at bingo. Her name was Rose, and she’s a recent arrival to the area.
Rose informed everyone that she was working for Clara Graham.
When I asked if she was the housekeeper, Rose said she was primarily a nurse but helped with housekeeping.
Clara had a nasty accident and fell, and nobody found her for two days.
The poor old dear has broken her hip and leg.
She’s been unable to get around, so Clara hired Rose to care for her. ”
“Okay,” I drew out the word, aware Mom wasn’t finished.
“Well, Rose said that Clara’s daughter had returned home and was helping care for her, which allowed Rose a few nights off during the week.
Son, Clara doesn’t have children, although April was always counted as hers.
Hell, April even changed her name at eighteen to Clara’s surname. So, is it true April’s back?”
“Yes,” I admitted and waited.
“That’s wonderful. Will you visit her?”
Mom adored April. Truly loved and cared for her, and April had felt the same about Mom. When I’d broken it off with April, she’d also lost my parents. Mom had hated any girl she’d seen with me since and made no bones about showing that.
“No, Mom, I broke April’s heart. She doesn’t want to see me,” I said.
“But it’s been so long. Maybe you can repair—”
“Mom, no. I didn’t just break up with April, you know that. There’s no going back,” I interrupted in a firm tone. Better make it clear to Mom now, otherwise she’d get her hopes up.
“April always had a forgiving heart.”
“Until she caught me in bed with her best friend,” I stated badly, and I felt Mom’s flinch.
“That was bad of you, Stone. I don’t understand why you did that.” Even today, Mom’s disappointment hurts.
“You know why, Mom.”
“Only part of it, Stone. There was more to the entire situation than you wanted freedom. That wasn’t my boy speaking then, and that lame excuse won’t wash with me now!” Mom snapped.
“Don’t hold back, Mom.”
“I won’t. Your dad wants to say hi,” Mom said and passed the phone over. That was Mom’s way of saying she needed to regroup.
“Okay, son?”
“Yeah, Dad, same old, same old.”
“How are you feeling about April? I hear you saw her?”
“You haven’t told Mom that, have you?”
Dad chuckled dryly. “You’d know if I had. But how are you coping?
“Unsure right now what I feel. She looked beautiful, Dad, and nursing clearly was her calling. Witnessing April in action was amazing.”
Silence fell over the phone. Dad had guessed more than Mom had, but I’d never confirmed it.
“Was the pain worth it?” Dad asked.
“No. But seeing April fulfilled is.”
“That could have happened with you.”
“No, it couldn’t, Dad. And I don’t want to discuss it,” I said.
“Fair enough. Will you be coming home on Sunday for dinner?”
“Have I ever missed one?”
“Not yet, son. Not yet. See you then.”
Dad hung up just as Mom began shouting that she wasn’t finished. Dad would catch an earful for cutting Mom’s prying short, and was grateful. My parents were crazy in love with one another, but could drive each other up the wall at times.
Mom was excitable, and Dad was placid and calm.
He considered his actions while Mom acted on a whim.
They were chalk and cheese, yet had a happy marriage.
They were the ideal I’d once lived for, a relationship like theirs.
For a short time, I thought April and I might have had that until I destroyed that happy future.
Two days later – April