Page 52 of Just One Chance
Avery didn’t answer. She was too busy thinking about what to do first. She needed to talk to David, but she probably ought to take a shower before she did. Even though he’d already seen her once that morning, she was suddenly self-conscious and wanted to look her best when she told him she loved him, too.
Her heart jumped at the thought. Shedidlove him. How had it taken her so long to realize it?
So, shower. That was the first thing on her list.
She glanced at the clock. It was just past nine, which meant she was officially late for work. She’d been so caught up with her thoughts out on the beach that she’d completely lost track of time. Sothatwas the first thing on her list. Call in and take a sick day. A twinge of guilt filled her chest, but she shook it away. Shenevertook sick days. And knowing her boss, and the way she fawned over her own marriage and family, she’d likely consider beingheart sicka perfectly justifiable reason to stay home.
Call work. Take a shower. Find David.
Avery’s stomach growled loudly and Avery amended her list again.
Call work. Eat food. Take a shower. Find David.
“Are you ready to tell me what’s going on inside that brain of yours?” Melba said. She leaned against Avery’s counter where, bless her, she’d already started a pot of coffee.
Avery rifled through her purse that hung over the back of one of the chairs at her kitchen table and pulled out the letter David had given her when he apologized. She pulled the letter out of its well-worn envelope and handed it over to Melba. “Here. Read this.”
Avery had told Melba about what Tucker had done and about David’s involvement in how she had figured it out. But she’d never told her about his apology. She’d never told her about the letter.
Melba gave her a quizzical look but took the letter and read it without asking any questions.
Avery bit her lip, growing antsy while she waited for Melba to finish.
When she looked up from the letter, Melba’s eyes were misty. “Child, why are you standing here with me when there’s a man close by that feels this way about you?” Melba gave the letter back. “When did he give this to you?”
“A month ago. Right after everything happened.”
Melba frowned. “And you never did anything about it?”
“I didn’t knowwhatto do,” Avery said. “I was angry at him, Melba. I needed time to sort out how I felt, plus I had to give myself a little time to get over Tucker, to get him out of my system.”
Melba huffed. “Bet that didn’t take long.”
Avery’s pride wouldn’t let her admit it out loud, but Melba was right. It hadn’t really taken long to get over Tucker. She could still work up some anger if she thought about him for too long, but she didn’t miss him.
“He kissed me this morning,” Avery said.
Melba’s eyes went wide. “Who? David?”
Avery nodded. “He was out on the beach and was feeling pretty emotional, I guess. He said he lost a patient last night. I just sat with him for a little while, figuring he probably didn’t want to be alone, and then he kissed me. He told me life was too short and he was tired of waiting. It’s now or never. I either want him or I don’t.”
Melba couldn’t stop smiling. “Well, which is it? Do you or don’t you?”
Avery grinned. “I do, Melba, I really, really do.”
“Land sakes, I thought you’d never figure it out. I’m so glad you finally have.”
After a shower and a meal and two full cups of coffee, Avery finally felt settled enough to find David. Since he’d worked the night before, she expected him to be home, but by the time she was ready to go, his car was no longer in his driveway. Hoping he’d only made a grocery run, or gone out to get coffee, Avery waited an hour, and then another.
Still, he didn’t show.
Melba had gone home when Avery had gotten in the shower, but she texted every twenty minutes or so, wanting to know if Avery had found him yet. It wasn’t helping. It made Avery feel as though she needed to be actually searching, rather than justwaitingfor him to come home.
She paced around her kitchen. Should she call him? Text him to check on him? He’d been pretty raw that morning. Maybe she needed to wait a little while? But waiting felt impossible. Now that she’d owned up to her feelings, she couldn’t bear the thought of living one more minute without telling David how she felt.
When two more hours passed and David still didn’t return, she decided he had to be at the hospital. Maybe a Tuesday afternoon at the ER would be slow enough she’d be able to see him. Did they let people do that? Just show up at the hospital and ask to see specific doctors? Would she need to fake an injury to get anywhere but in the lobby? Maybe she could show up at the hospital and then text David and see if he had a minute to spare? Something about that last option felt wrong. She didn’t want to text him. She wanted toseehim. See his reaction to her. See if he noticed that she was different.
She pulled into the hospital parking lot ten minutes later and made her way into the ER. The waiting room was mostly empty, which she hoped was a good sign. Avery stopped in front of the desk.
