Then there was the whole seeing Oliver again.He was genuinely grateful for her bringing Tess to him.His plea to speak with her tomorrow had been one she couldn’t ignore.
She didn’t want to spend time with him.Every moment in his presence reminded her of what they’d had, and what he’d tossed aside at the first better opportunity.
She couldn’t let herself be sucked in again.
Dot peered in her fridge and spotted no groceries of note.When was the last time she’d done a proper grocery shop?Lindsay could probably tell her.She’d have to make time to get some food this week.She was living off nuts and fruit, the only things she had time to eat while working.
There were a couple of eggs, some ham that smelled OK despite being several days past its use-by date, and a block of cheese which would be fine to eat if she cut off the mould growing on the sides.She shook her head.
Pathetic.
She’d always envisioned herself adulting much better than this.Hell, she’d been more of an adult when she’d lived at home with her parents, buying the groceries and cooking everyone dinner several times a week.
Dot rubbed her eyes.It had been easier to get the groceries since she’d worked at the supermarket.Lindsay would organise her shopping if she asked, but it seemed too much of an imposition.Dot was supposed to have her life together by now.
Her dreams at the academy had involved working with her best friend by her side and coming home to Oliver every day.They would have dinner together, and maybe by now, they’d have a couple of kids to expand their family and she could shower them with all the love she had to give.
At least her work life was on track.In charge at the station in her hometown, working with her best friend, and feeling as if she made a difference.Until Stonefish turned up to make a mockery of everything she stood for.
The personal portion was incredibly dismal.She’d become so standoffish that she didn’t like any physical displays of affection.Hugs made her realise what she was missing and made her yearn for more.
And there was no more for her.
Men were either intimidated by her job or wanted to use it for their own advancement.She’d stuck to the occasional hook-up with a tourist in town who didn’t know who she was.
She learnt she could only rely on herself for happiness.Trying to please people led only to being hurt.
She beat the eggs with far too much vigour and poured them into her no longer non-stick frying pan.It would be more like scrambled eggs than an omelette by the time she was finished, but it was food.
Occasionally, she and Nhiari would hang out, and they had a girls’ night with the rest of their friends once a month.But most nights it was this, coming home to an empty house and scrounging in the fridge for something to make for dinner.She could rarely be bothered to cook for one.Then she’d sit in front of the TV until it was time to go to bed, too tired to concentrate on reading a book.Lately all she had the energy for was listening to music to unwind.
Dot scraped the mess of eggs onto a plate and sat at the kitchen table.Damn Oliver for coming back into her life, and making her think ‘what if?’He’d left her so easily, so she should be grateful he’d done it then, and not before she’d been even more invested.
Who was she kidding?She’d been thinking about rings and weddings when he’d suggested they move in together.Foolish.
And still she couldn’t say no to him when he’d asked to speak with her, his puppy dog eyes full of hope.
To be fair, his request was to do with her work, so she could hardly say no, but the traitorous little leap of her heart when he’d asked needed to be squashed.
There was no happily ever after for her.
She washed her dishes and then spread her notes over the table.The Stokes had given her some valuable information, bits and pieces that hadn’t come out during her investigations but formed a more complete picture.She could be mad about it, but it wasn’t worth the time.She added items to her timeline, recording where people were on specific days, and going through police reports to review what was happening in town.
Her phone rang and she scowled, picking it up.Then she saw who it was.“Nhiari.”
“I’m fine,” Nhiari said.“I’m working on something with Lee, but no one can know.”
“It’s a dark night.”Dot waited for the response.
“But the stars are shining,” Nhiari responded.
Dot exhaled.“You went willingly with him?”
Nhiari laughed.“I wouldn’t say that, but it’s fine.I think someone in our team is working with Stonefish.”
“Yeah.I spoke with the Stokes last night and they filled in some blanks.I’m collating the information now.”
“Can you send it to me?I can’t keep my phone on for long in case it gets tracked, but we should share information.”
