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“Again, I’m afraid. I did an internet search on her and told her about it.”
Aunt Janice’s mouth had dropped open before he’d finished speaking. “I’ve always wondered why you’re not married yet. Now I know. Seriously, Aiden, in what universe would that be okay?”
He threw his hands up. “She’s hurting, I can see that. I thought maybe I can help.”
“Snooping around in someone else’s life isn’t helping, sweetie. You should apologize.”
“I can’t. I… I discovered something else about her last night. About how their parents died, actually. They…”
Aunt Janice put her hands against her ears. “I don’t want to hear about it. If they wanted me to know, they would’ve told me.” She looked at her watch. “I’m on my way to school, and this afternoon Charlotte Roberts and I are going to Bozeman to get more supplies for the ball. She’s also teaching at the school, and we’ve become close friends.” She picked up her bag and gave him “the stare” as he and Craig and Riley used to call it. “Take the time to apologize to Vivian. If you’re looking for something to do, they still need volunteers to help at the hotel.” And with a quick wave, she left.
Well, hell. So now two women were mad at him. Maybe even three; Annie probably also knew.
Gulping down his coffee, he stood up. Apologize to the Millers—that seemed to be the first thing on his to-do list today. And then he should chase down the elusive feel-good story his boss was looking for.
For the first time since yesterday, he grinned. He had an appointment with Tommy Williams later in the day, and maybe, just maybe, he’d have his story.
Chapter Seven
By the timeVivian drove down Main Street on Monday afternoon, she had a splitting headache. The real estate agent’s offices were next to the gift shop, she remembered, but because her mind was on other things, she was struggling to focus and had probably driven past both.
Rubbing her temple, she grimaced. Not other things, another person. She should at least be honest with herself.
After a quick look in her rearview window, she made a U-turn in the street. Hopefully, there weren’t any law enforcement officers in the vicinity. Her shift had ended at lunchtime, but as usual, there had been reports to be written, ruffled feathers to smooth down before she could leave, so she was late for her appointment.
She’d hardly slept last night. Again. On the plus side, she’d discovered the things one had time for deep in the night were endless.
Also, trying not to think about Aiden O’Sullivan meant she had to find something else to focus on. That was when she’d consciously started to think about her future.
Weighing all her options and making her lists took up most of the night, and by early morning, one thing at least had been clear: she had to do her level best to stay as far away as possible from a certain Irishman.
Although she’d found all the information about doing her pediatric residency in San Francisco online, she’d come to the conclusion it was too far away from her siblings. Life was difficult enough without a caring Annie or Mitch in it. She’d miss them way too much.
Yes, there were things she’d have to get used to in Marietta, but in the end, family trumped the cold and the gossiping.
Working temporarily in the ER suited her at the moment, but it wasn’t something she wanted to do the rest of her life. There was never time to really talk to patients, to find out more about them. A family practice, where the patients mattered, like the one her dad had back in Sacramento, was what she wanted.
And a home. Their parent’s house had always been home and then… Memories flooded her thoughts, threatening to suffocate her. Opening the window, she inhaled the crisp, cold air. She still didn’t couldn’t bear to think about the way they’d died.
She loved Annie’s house, but it was her sister’s place. She wanted, no needed, a place of her own. A place she could call home.
As she turned into the street again, she noticed a man and boy approaching the flower shop. It was little Tommy and… she stepped on the brake. Aiden O’Sullivan, if she wasn’t mistaken. What on earth would the two of them be doing in a flower shop on a Monday afternoon?
Slowly, she drove past the flower shop. Tommy was talking and motioning with his hands, and Aiden was nodding as if he agreed with everything the little boy was saying. They disappeared into the shop.
Something warm and fuzzy nestled in a corner of her heart. Muttering and berating herself, she turned into the parking space in front of the estate agent’s offices. She didn’t want to like him. It was easy to be angry with him while thinking of him in his nosey reporter mode. It was much more difficult to stay angry after the scene she’d just witnessed.
He was a reporter, though; that was probably the only reason he was going into the flower shop. It was a good place to get more info about the people of Marietta. She refused to be impressed by what she’d just seen.
Oh, really?Even the pesky little voice in her head was laughing at her.
*
“So, which flowersdo you think girls like?” Tommy asked as he inspected the buckets filled with flowers, most of them shades of red. Of course, it was the second week of February; Valentine’s Day was fast approaching.
The friendly woman behind the counter stepped closer, smiling. “Hi, Tommy, are you looking for flowers for Valentine’s Day?” She held out a hand toward Aiden. “I’m Risa Davison, the owner.”
“Aiden O’Sullivan, nice to meet you.”
