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‘And it did. It always does.’
‘But you also run the risk of working too much, of burying your life in work and then having nothing else to exist for.’ Carmel’s words held a hint of sadness and nothingness. It helped snap George out of his own self-pity.
‘Are you and Diana OK?’
‘We’re more than OK.’ Carmel held up her hand to reveal a lovely engagement ring.
‘Wow!’ George inspected the ring. ‘That’s beautiful.’
‘Diana chose it. I chose hers. We’re very happy, George, but I was so caught up in my work for so long that I didn’t see how happy I could be if I just let myself.’
‘Are you telling me to let myself be happy? Because if you are, I’m not sure I know how to do that.’
Carmel thought for a moment then changed the subject. ‘How’s Veronique’s family?’
‘They’re good. Great even. Her parents have travel plans, her sister’s pregnant.’
‘Good for them.’
‘Everybody’s moving on.’ He shook his head. ‘In some ways it’s as though we’re forgetting Veronique altogether.’
‘No.’ Carmel shook her head. ‘Not forgetting, George, but honouring her by not weeping or covering yourself with sackcloth and ashes for the rest of your life. You know she wouldn’t have wanted that. She would have wanted you to be happy.’
‘That’s what her mother told me.’
‘It’s good advice.’
‘But how do I do that?’ He spread his arms wide, indicating the house. ‘Even this place feels like it belongs to someone else.’
‘It did. You’re a different man now, George. You’re not Veronique’s husband any more.’
‘No. I’m not that man.’
‘You’re a new man, with a new world at your command. So the big question is, what do you want? Where do you want to live? Do you want to work at Melbourne General? Who do you choose to share your life with?’
They were definite questions to think on, and after Carmel had collected all the reports and papers and said her farewells, George walked back into his quiet house and sat staring at his phone. Every question he asked himself seemed to lead to one person—and one person only. Melody. He should call her. He should—
His phone beeped. It was a message from Melody. Three emojis—a happy face, a Christmas tree and a heart. He raised his eyebrows at the heart. That was one she’d never sent him before. A heart? Did that mean she still loved him? He hadn’t quashed it by not professing his own feelings?
Was it possible that he could be twice blessed in love? First with Veronique and now with the vivacious, intelligent and heart-melting Melody Janeway?
Love? Was he in love with Melody? Even as the question crossed his mind, he couldn’t help the large smile that spread across his lips.
* * *
Melody put her phone on the table and closed her eyes. She shouldn’t have sent him the heart emoji. It was too much. They hadn’t even spoken since he’d left, just the initial emails and then text messages consisting of emojis. It was silly but it was better than nothing, and if that’s what George needed to do while he figured out what he wanted then she would wait.
It was a decision she’d come to about three days after he’d left Sydney. Her brother Ethan had come to Sydney with a patient and had insisted on having a frank discussion with his little sister.
‘You’re clearly in love with the man,’ Ethan had stated after she’d told him everything.
‘I know.’
Ethan had chuckled. ‘And yet you don’t sound too happy about it.’
‘There’s nothing I can do, Ethan, but wait. George has a lot to sort out, more emotional baggage than I have, I think. The death of his wife is a far greater loss to deal with than a broken engagement by some jerk I’m better off without.’
‘So you’re just going to wait?’
‘I’m going to hope.’
‘Hope is good but it’ll only get you so far, Mel. One day you’ll need to act because if you don’t, you risk losing everything. Believe me, I know. I was almost too stubborn to let go of my past so that I could move forward with CJ and now…’ he’d grinned ‘… I’m the happiest man on earth.’
‘That’s what I want. I want to be happy—with George.’
‘Does this mean you’re thinking about moving to Melbourne?’
She’d sighed and nodded. ‘If I have to, yes.’
‘Huh. Surprising but good. Or would you prefer George to move to Sydney?’
‘I don’t care if we both move and end up in Far North Queensland or overseas, I just want to be with him, Ethan. I love him.’ Her job was to wait and hope and pray and love George from afar, giving him the space he needed so he could sort out what he wanted. Melody hoped it was her.
