Page List

Font Size:

‘Yes, and we could’ve if we weren’t in different states and I hadn’t moved so quickly. I’m back on an early shift on Boxing Day so there really isn’t enough turn around. I’m sorry!’ Piper flopped herself down on the couch and stifled her groan as the cushions absorbed her. Emmett definitely knew a thing or two about comfort.

‘I hate that you’re so far away,’ Maree continued softly. ‘I like having all my family together. It’ll be Indy’s first Christmas with us and she’s going to miss out on your wonderful decorations.’

Piper looked around the living room. There was no tree, no tinsel and a beautiful fireplace without any stockings hung from it. Pathetic really. Emmett obviously wasn’t the decorating kind, and she couldn’t summon the enthusiasm this year. ‘Indy might like a quiet Christmas. She’s had a lot of change in the last twelve months. I know I’m looking forward to a quiet one this year.’

‘I suppose …’ Maree’s voice trailed off into acceptance and relief trickled down Piper’s spine. Her mum had always tried to hold her and Carter so tightly to her and when their dad died, the tightness had reached suffocation levels. Jonathan coming along and staying around had helped a lot, but Piper’s moving away had probably set all that progress back.

‘It’s just too soon for me to come back to Sydney. Maybe next year. Or you guys could come and stay with me. I should have my own place by then.’ Piper swung her legs to the ground, forcing herself to sit up.

‘Ah, shit!’ Emmett’s groan stole Piper’s attention, and she pressed her lips together at the sight of the piece of gingerbread that had cracked in half.

‘That’s a long time to stay away, Piper. What did Heath do to hurt you so badly?’

Reality crashed into her chest, and she folded forward, pinching the bridge of her nose. ‘It’s more what I did or didn’t do, I guess. Just leave it, Mum. It’s over and I’m not looking back.’

‘Honey, you and Heath were together for nearly three years. There’s no salvaging that?’

‘None. Honestly, it was probably over a long time ago, but we just weren’t in the same space at the same time to call it.’ Heat rushed to the back of her eyes and she took a deep breath, desperate not to cry. ‘I don’t want to talk about it anymore.’

‘Okay, we can talk about something else.’ Her mum’s voice was strained.

‘I’m crabby. I just got home from night shift. I need to shower and sleep.’

‘I was pushing,’ Maree said, her voice a little lighter. ‘I just want to see you happy like your brother, because I love you so much.’

‘I know, Mum. It’s okay. I love you, too.’

Piper hung up the phone and stood. The memory of standing in the kitchen of their city apartment swamped her. The phone had been hanging from her hand as she reeled from the conversation she’d just had with the hospital’s board of medical directors. Was she aware of Heath’s addiction? How long had it been going on? Why didn’t she report it to her line manager? So many questions that had caught her off guard. Didn’t Heath tell her they’d be calling? Humiliation had burned through her. How did she explain to a board of people who obviously all had their lives and relationships together that she had no idea about anything they were talking about? It was a disaster; the first time she’d actually stopped to take stock of her life and realise she didn’t like any part of it.

Tears welled in her eyes. How could she not see it? Something that bad. She may as well have been walking around with her eyes closed for six months. Or had it been going on longer? The tears overflowed and ran down her cheeks.

‘Piper?’

Emmett’s voice was hesitant. She couldn’t see him through the blur of her tears.

‘Are you crying?’

It wasn’t hesitancy. It was … dread.

‘I believe so.’ She blinked in time to see Emmett jump to his feet and look left. His head swivelled right then he looked back to Piper.

‘Tissues!’ He snatched at the box sitting on the counter beside the microwave as he took a couple of steps towards her. ‘Here.’

He thrust the box at her and either it slipped or he thought she had it, because it flew from his grip straight into her stomach.

‘Shit, I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s okay. It’s just a tissue box, it didn’t hurt.’ She sniffed and took a couple of tissues out. ‘I’m sorry, Emmett. You didn’t sign on for tears.’

She wished those were the magic words to make them evaporate but they just poured out more quickly. Wiping them away with the tissues, she jolted at the touch of a hand on her shoulder. Emmett was standing right there, patting her like she was his dog, a look on his face that said he’d prefer to be anywhere else. Major whined at the back door.

‘I’ve got to get to work.’

She nodded. ‘Okay.’

The awkward patting stopped and she heard the faint sounds of the front door opening.

‘Bye. Get some sleep.’