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My heart sank, and I wanted to cry as I sat in my car. One of the receptionists walked past on the way to her vehicle. I put my head down and pretended to be looking for something in my glove box. I would go home and have a glass of wine, or maybe the whole bottle. Having some time on my own to think was what I needed anyway. It just wasn’t what I wanted.
As I drove, all I could visualize was Ryan sitting somewhere, talking to a past lover. I liked him a lot but I didn’t own him. I could not go down the road again of feeling anxious about my relationship. I should just accept that life was easier when you were on your own.
I opened the fridge door but didn’t feel like eating. Instead, I grabbed the bottle of white wine. Drinking wasn’t a solution to problems, but sometimes you just needed to chill.
Sitting outside beneath a tree and watching the sun going down, I took a deep breath. In truth, I hadn’t really known what I wanted when I came to Australia. One thing I did know was that I did not want stress. If Ryan was involved in another relationship, I was sensible enough to get out before my heart got broken anymore.
The front doorbell rang. That was odd, as Ryan had his key and said he was out. Maybe it was Dorothy. I had not seen her since I had gotten back from my trip to the caves with friends. She probably wanted to catch up on all the gossip.
I opened the door and my breath caught in my throat.
Jonathan stood there.
I shook my head as if I was imagining him. Nope, he was still there. How the hell did he find out where I lived? Plus, why wasn’t he on a plane back to the UK?
“What . . . how did you get here?”
Jonathan gave me that big smile as if he’d never done anything wrong in his life. I was sure in his head he hadn’t. He walked in, hugged me, then strolled over and lounged on the couch. Anyone would think he lived there. My mouth hung open as I was stuck to the spot but forced myself to move.
He picked up my glass and smiled. “I don’t suppose I could have one, too? It’s been a while since we last saw each other. We should celebrate.”
Like a robot, I went and got a glass and poured him a drink. What the hell was I doing?
“Celebrate what? Our divorce? That came through long ago. You didn’t answer my questions, Jonathan. How and why are you here?” I had to regain some semblance of control here even though my head was spinning.
Jonathan sipped on his wine and leaned back. “I saw Grant at the conference. He said you’d caught up and gave me your address, so I thought I would pop in and see you. I couldn’t come all this way without a hug from you.”
“That is a bare-faced lie. Grant told me he’d bumped into you and told you zip. Plus, the Blue Mountains are not just around the corner from Sydney. You don’t just pop in here.” Something was going on, and I wasn’t falling for his lines anymore.
“It’s true. I made a special trip. I needed to see you.”
There was that word. Need. It should be a warning sign flashing above Jonathan’s head like a neon light. I would get to the bottom of this and chuck him out. My doctor side came to the front for a minute. Was he sick? Then again, he knew lots of doctors. “What’s wrong?”
“After I saw you at the reunion, I went back to Scotland and took up my position at the hospital. I have to admit, it has turned out to be more demanding than I’d thought. Geraldine is busy with her business, and I came to understand how much you were always there for me.”
So, he was not sick. My momentary sympathy went out the window. Where was Jonathan going with this? Was he asking for us to get back together again? I might be only here on a working visa, and the man I was interested in was out meeting another woman who was having his baby, but I had pride.
None of this mattered as I could make it on my own, couldn’t I? For a split second, and out of desperation, I contemplated getting back with Jonathan. No. I could honestly say I didn’t want that anymore.
“I’m flattered that you appreciated what I did when we were together, but we are not together anymore.”
“You always made me calm down whenever things got too much. I need you beside me to help me through this rough time.” Jonathan moved closer along the couch and placed his hand on my knee.
I froze as I stared at it. The hair on my neck stood on end as if I was being trapped by a spider in a web. I had been there once before and was not going back.
Jonathan moved closer and cupped my cheek as he peered at my lips. He was going to try to kiss me. There was not a single cell in my body that wanted him.
I pushed myself back on the couch to get away. “Are you really trying to kiss me, Jonathan?”
“See, I knew you would understand. I would love you to come back. Every time I come down to London, we could have time together.” His hand started to move from my knee up my thigh.
My stomach turned at his touch. Then I laughed when I caught on to what he was saying. This man had some nerve. I wasn’t interested in him but wanted to check something out.
“Hang on. Are you still engaged to Geraldine? I thought from the way you were speaking that you had broken up.”
“We are apart.”
“Permanently?” I stood, wanting to get as much distance as possible between us. I couldn’t keep the smirk off my face.
