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As they continued to work, April couldn't help but feel angry. She was tired of always being the one who had to listen and follow instructions. She had her own ideas and opinions, but it seemed like her father never wanted to hear them.
She had always wanted to prove herself to him, to show him that she was capable of doing things her way. But every time she tried, he was quick to point out her mistakes and correct her.
She wondered if he even realized how much his constant criticism was affecting her. Did he know that every time he corrected her, she felt like a failure?
April tried to push those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. She carefully measured each tile, making sure to get it just right. And when it came time to lay them down, she finally got the row back on track.
Her father nodded in approval, but April felt no satisfaction. Instead, her anger simmered just below the surface. She couldn't take it anymore - the constant criticism, the lack of acknowledgment for her hard work and effort.
For now, she would have to grin and bear it. In just a few weeks, he would probably be gone again.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Deciding to take her mind off the stress she’d been under, April decided to take a more relaxed approach the next morning. She took a stroll around the quaint downtown area. The sun was just coming up, painting the sky in shades of pink and purple. A light breeze rustled through the trees, providing welcome relief from the summer heat of season past.
The city felt like it was coming to life. Again, she felt at home in its streets.
The sound of creaking doors and laughing children reached her ears. The murmur of conversation and the clatter of dishes.
April passed a coffee shop, and the delicious aroma of coffee wafted out. She was tempted to stop at the small café for a latte.
For a split second, she thought about the time she and Nigel went to the same coffee spot. She didn't want to think about Nigel, but she couldn't stop herself from wondering what else he might be up to.
She cared for him more than she wanted to admit.
Maybe she should text him. That way, she'd know what he was up to and if he was thinking about her too.
No, she thought, shaking her head. She should call. It was the right thing to do. Plus, he was one of the only people that could help her relax after a day like she was having.
The phone rang and rang as she listened intently. April sighed as she heard the phone ring for the fourth time. Still, no answer. She couldn't help but feel disappointed, although in hindsight it was foolish to hope that Nigel would pick up her call without any warning.
The sound of Nigel's voice on the other end of the call excited her, but she quickly realized it was the same voicemail recording she'd heard several times before.
April continued to walk downtown, but she knew exactly where she had to go. Giant's, Nigel's burger joint. There, she could talk to him face to face.
As April approached Giant's, the familiar smell of sizzling beef patties and freshly cut fries greeted her. She pushed open the door, the sound of the bell announcing her arrival.
Several patrons sat at the bar, while almost all of the booths were full. The sound of the bustling crowd made it difficult to hear anyone more than five feet away.
She searched the bar for Nigel, not finding him anywhere. She could pick him out of a crowd like it was nothing. But it was busier than normal for this time of day. He was probably in the back helping the cooks like he always did.
April walked towards the kitchen, the sounds of the sizzling grill and the clanging of pots and pans getting louder as she approached. She could hear Nigel's booming voice over the noise, barking out orders to the cooks.
As she looked through the kitchen window from a stool at the bar, she expected to see him walk by. But after a minute or so, he didn't. They must have really been swamped for him to not even make an appearance bustling about the place like usual.
Searching for the bartender she knew, April looked left and right. When she finally found his face, she was surprised to see it leaning across the bar, talking to a beautiful woman.
He wasn't usually that friendly with newcomers. She struggled to see a face to get some clarity on the situation. And that's when her stomach dropped.
Sitting across from the bartender, folded over in laughter, was Lily. It was Nigel's ex-girlfriend. She was at his restaurant again.
April couldn't believe it. She felt a pang of jealousy in her chest that she couldn't ignore. It was clear now that she still had feelings for Nigel. This would be the third time she'd tried to talk to him this week.
Nigel said that he didn't talk to her, but maybe that wasn't true. Maybe her intuition was right, that they were talking again. That she was trying to steal away Nigel and run off into the sunset.
April's mind was in a frenzy as she watched the pair from afar, unable to tear her gaze away. The woman's laughter was like a knife to her gut, twisting and turning until it felt like she would never be able to breathe properly again.
It wasn't like she was talking to Nigel. But the fact that she would show up at his place of work so many times, it infuriated April.
