She turned the water off, the accompanying thunk speaking of an old house with old pipes.By the time she’d dressed and poured a couple of glasses of wine, she was ready to eat.She flicked on her favourite playlist, the rock tunes helping to push away today’s stress.
The knock on the door made her smile.This was what she needed.A night with the woman who’d been more like a mother to her than her own.She swung open the door.“I’m starving—”
Oliver.
He gave a half smile from behind the bunch of brightly coloured flowers he held.“Sorry, I’m not sure if these are edible.”His dimple deepened and her gut clenched as she remembered kissing that spot.
Her smile faded.“What are you doing here?”
Oliver held out the flowers and she took them automatically.It was a collection of gerberas with a single red rose in the middle.He’d been to Lindsay’s supermarket today.Which meant Lindsay knew he was in town, and she had said nothing.Perhaps that was the real reason behind her invitation to dinner.Or maybe she hadn’t recognised him.
“I wanted to say thank you for rescuing us yesterday.”
She scowled.“I wouldn’t leave you stranded.”
“I still appreciate it.”He brushed his sun-bleached strawberry-blond hair back.“Did you find anything else this afternoon?”
Dot stiffened.Was he fishing for information?“That’s not your concern.”She had to get rid of him before Lindsay arrived.“Thank you for the flowers.”She started to close the door as another car pulled up out front.Damn it.
Lindsay got out with a wave and then reached into the back seat for a large pot.As she came over, she grinned.“Oliver, nice to see you again.”
“Likewise, Lindsay.”
The betrayal was sharp.So she had known he was here.Dot had to stop this before Lindsay invited him for dinner.“He was just leaving.”She shepherded Lindsay inside.“I’ll see you around.”She closed the door before either of them said anything else.
“That was rude,” Lindsay said.“The man brought you flowers.”
Dot said nothing as she dumped the bouquet on the bench.“You knew he was in town.”
She nodded.“I would have called, but he said he’d already seen you.”Lindsay set the crock pot on the sink while Dot got plates out.
“You rented your place to him,” Dot said, her muscles tense.“You could have warned me days ago.”
Lindsay held up a hand.“The university booked it.I didn’t make the connection until he walked into the supermarket.”
Oliver wasn’t a common name, but Lindsay had only spent a short amount of time with him.He probably hadn’t seeped into her thoughts and memories like he had with Dot.
Besides, Lindsay was a hopeless romantic, always looking for a happily ever after.
“How are you feeling about it, hon?”Lindsay found a vase and filled it with water.
Dot wanted to tell her not to bother, that she would throw them in the bin as soon as Lindsay left, but it would just make her ask more questions.“I’m fine.Why wouldn’t I be?”She cringed at her rookie mistake.Never ask Lindsay a rhetorical question.
“Because he was the love of your life, and he shattered your heart into a million pieces when he flew away without a backwards glance.”
“I’m surprised you let him buy anything from your store.”
“When he said they were for you, I thought maybe he’d seen the error in his ways.”
“Linds, it was years ago.If he had actually missed me, he would have been back a lot sooner.”
Lindsay smiled that knowing smile some mothers had.The one which read far too much into the words than what she meant.She dished up the curry and carried the bowls to the table.“He said you never responded to his calls.”
Shit.She hadn’t even considered the fact Oliver might run into Lindsay, hadn’t thought they would remember each other since she’d only brought him home once for a short week-long visit.“He left me.”
“For a temporary job.”
Dot shoved the curry into her mouth.She wasn’t defending her decision.He had betrayed her, hadn’t even discussed it with her.He proved she wasn’t important enough to him.She didn’t inspire loyalty or dedication.Even Nhiari had returned home when she’d got the chance.“This is good curry.”
