There was something in her voice that told him it was imperative he did, and he nodded.
‘But when you and I broke up I was devastated. Not for anyone else, not over what people might think—I was devastated for us. For you and for me. And if you can understand that, then you’ll know why I’m prepared to wait. Maybe you’ll come back a different person—maybe I won’t fit into your picture any more. And if that’s the case then all you have to do is say so. I’ll survive. I’ll just carry right on. But if you do come back, and if you do still love me, then I’ll be right here waiting.’
‘Can I talk now?’ Flynn’s voice had all of its usual flip assurance, but the tears in his eyes told her he was moved. She sat down, the emotion of her speech having left her drained, almost numb. Nothing more could hurt her now.
‘You don’t have to wait for me, Meg. You don’t have to wait for me because I’m not going anywhere without you.’ He sat beside her and took her trembling hand as hope flickered on her face. ‘I can’t go anywhere without you. We’ve both been to hell and back, and we’re both coming out of it, but we’re coming out of it together. We’re going to disappear for a month and lie on a beach in the day and hold each other at night. I want to grieve for Lucy, and I’m ready to do it now, but I want you beside me, Meg.’ He took her in his arms then. ‘I can’t do this without you. Does that sound strange?’
She didn’t answer with words. The tiny shake of her head against his chest told him she understood.
‘When you were in my office, when you asked me why I came back to Emergency, it made me realise that I didn’t even know what the hell I was doing there. What it was I was trying to prove.’
‘You’re not going to leave too?’ She half-laughed, half-sobbed.
‘No,’ Flynn said slowly. ‘Because even though it hurts like hell, even though it’s sometimes the last place I want to be, it’s still the best job in the world. And I know that deep down in there…’ He tapped gently at her chest as he kissed the top of her head. ‘Deep down in there, you love it too. Don’t hand in your notice, Meg,’ he whispered. ‘Not yet. You need a break, a rest, and then, if you’re still feeling the same when we come back, go for it—move on without a backward glance. But don’t throw your career away just yet. You’re tired and you’re burnt out, but you’re still a wonderful nurse.’
‘I don’t really want to leave,’ Meg admitted. ‘But I can’t go on doing it feeling like this.’
‘Those days are gone now, Meg,’ Flynn said, his voice trembling with emotion. ‘You’re never going to be crying in the car on your way home from work again because there’ll be no need. You’ll be coming home to me.’
She closed her eyes, revelling in the soft caress of his words, the glimpse of the future with Flynn beside her.
‘We can’t promise each other that we’re going to make everything all right, can’t promise that we’re going to take away all the pain. But we can be there for each other, and surely that can only make things better?’
Her kiss was his answer, and hot salty tears were mingling, uniting, as they held each other close. ‘I’d marry you tomorrow if it wouldn’t steal Kathy’s thunder.’
Meg laughed, but he noticed she was chewing her lip nervously.
‘What? Come on, Meg, you can’t not tell me.’
Meg pulled away. ‘Flynn, about going on holiday… There’s nothing I want more than to go away with you, but I don’t think I can. I know you’ll think I’m silly. It’s just…’
‘Just what?’
Meg swallowed. ‘Mum would have a fit if I told her I was going on holiday with you—with any man, come to that.’
‘But you’re twenty-eight, for heaven’s sake.’ There was a humorous glint in his eye but Meg was too worked up to notice.
‘I know, but it’s just the way she is. I wouldn’t expect you to understand. I just can’t hurt her like that.’
‘I think you underestimate your mum.’
‘Believe me, I don’t,’ Meg muttered.
‘Oh, yes, you do.’ He popped a kiss on her nose. ‘I’ve already asked her, and she’s fine with it.’
Meg’s jaw dropped to the floor. ‘You never did?’
‘I did.’ Flynn grinned, then winced dramatically. ‘A slight exaggeration—she wasn’t exactly fine, but she soon came around.’
‘How?’
‘Are you busy today?’
‘Impossibly,’ Meg said, bemused. ‘I’ve got to pick up Aunt Morag, my cousins, do some shopping…’ she glanced up at Audrey, smiling demurely from the mantelpiece ‘…pluck my eyebrows.’
‘Well, add ‘‘Buy an engagement ring’’ to your list,’ Flynn said blithely, but there was a small muscle flickering in his cheek. ‘Because if there’s not a ring on your finger by the wedding tomorrow then the deal’s off. According to your mother it had better be a ring that can be seen from the back rows of the church.’
‘She never said that.’ Meg laughed.
‘And plenty more besides.’ Taking her hands, he stood her up. ‘Come on, we’d better get a move on.’
Though Meg couldn’t wipe the smile off her face, she wondered how Flynn could even think about shopping at a time like this! ‘I’d better get dressed first.’
His fingers were toying with her crop top. ‘You’d better, hadn’t you?’ He gave a dramatic sigh. ‘And if we’re going to have any hope of getting things done today I guess I’ll just have to give you a hand.’
Aunt Morag, her hair, her eyebrows—they didn’t even merit a thought as he slithered the top over Meg’s head.
Flynn was beside her now.
They’d get there in the end.
* * * * *
ISBN-13: 9781460377796
Emergency at Bayside
Copyright © 2015 by Carol Marinelli
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