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Sarah stood as well. ‘Thank you, Marisa. I appreciate your faith in my abilities.’
The older woman flashed one of her rare smiles. Sarah returned her grin before seeing herself out.
Shoulders back, head held high, she returned to her desk with a spring in her step. She kept nails clenched tight into the palms of hands to stop herself from shouting with joy. She’d done it. She’d landed the job of her dreams. The version of Sarah who’d arrived in London nearly a year ago was almost a distant memory. No longer the quiet, broken-hearted wisp who faded into the background of any room she was in, Sarah was now confident, capable and ready to call this city home.
She needed to compose herself before she returned to her workspace with the other two interns, but her excitement was reaching nuclear levels. Grabbing her coat, purse and phone, and mumbling something about needing fresh air, she headed for the elevator and the bustling Kensington high street. There was a coffee cart in the building, but she preferred the cafe half a block away. Plus, she wanted to call Heather, her roommate, and tell her she was staying in London and didn’t want to be overheard by any of her colleagues.
For a moment, Sarah thought about calling her mother. She did a quick mental calculation and realized it was ten o’clock at night in Glendale and her mum would be in bed by now. Better to leave it. Better to focus on the future.
At the cafe she placed her order then stood facing the window to wait for her name to be called. Heather had shared her excitement when she phoned on the short walk over. They made plans to meet at their local pub after work to celebrate. Over the past few months, she’d started to feel closer to Heather. She hadn’t kept in touch with anyone from back home, not that she’d had any close girlfriends in the past. Maybe now, she could start to let Heather in a bit more. Even make some more friends? She shivered in anticipation, feeling as though the whole world was opening up for her.
A blaring horn brought her attention back to the mid-morning streetscape in front of her. People rushed back and forth, going about their business. Sarah smiled. She was one of these people. This was her home.
‘Sarah? Skinny cap with one sugar.’
As she turned toward the counter, a figure across the road drew her eye. Her breath caught in her throat and something akin to panic sent her spine tingling. She moved forward to get a closer look, her heart skipping a beat when a bus obscured her view for a moment. People continued to walk back and forth; traffic stopped and started. There was nothing unusual on the street. Yet Sarah could have sworn she just saw the one person she never wanted to lay eyes on again.
ChapterTwo
Alex Riley cursed under his breath as he made his way to the back of the paper shop. Grabbing a magazine from the motoring section, he opened it without glancing at the pages. Keeping his eyes fixed on the door of the shop, he consciously slowed his breathing. Noise from the traffic outside momentarily dulled the talkback radio playing at the counter as the door opened. His pulse ratcheted up a notch at the sight of a blonde-haired woman, only to settle when he heard the wail of her toddler.
Fuck, Riley. Get it together.
He’d just wanted to see her, convinced that would be enough to satisfy a year of pain and sacrifice. If Sarah was safe and happy, that’s all he needed. Instead, the sight of her had taken his breath away. The desperate need to call her name and take her into his arms.
Had she seen him, or maybe sensed him in the same way he’d felt her presence moments before she came into view? This was how it had always been with them - an invisible thread that drew them together, binding them tight. He thought he’d butchered that thread a year ago, making it impossible for her to love him, even though he couldn’t stop loving her.
Not a day passed when he hadn’t thought of Sarah. The pain had been unbearable, almost. He’d only experienced this much anguish once before, and he’d been a seven-year-old child then. Alex had gotten past that and he told himself he would get past this. He had to. It was the only way – for both of them.
An older woman dusting the shelves to his right cleared her throat. She scowled at him and tapped the sign above her on the back wall: ‘This is not a library!’
Plastering what he hoped passed for a repentant smile on his face, he closed the magazine and strolled to the counter.
‘No Jared, I said one chocolate.’ The blonde woman was trying to extract the multiple sweets clutched in the chubby fists of the toddler, his face growing redder as his protests grew louder.
She threw an apologetic glance at Alex. ‘I’m sorry, do you want to go ahead?’ Up close, he could see the woman’s hair was dyed, unlike Sarah’s natural blonde locks; her eyes a dull brown compared to Sarah’s sparkling emerald.
‘I’m in no rush.’ He gave her a smile before sweeping his gaze over the street outside. He needed to make sure he wouldn’t walk straight into Sarah.
In the distance he caught sight of a lime green coat over familiar long black-clad legs and impossibly high stilettos. Alex was still coming to terms with Sarah’s new fashion choices; he couldn’t remember ever seeing her in stilettos, or outfits that flashy. She’d worn summer dresses and shorts and tanks when they’d been together. He watched, spellbound, as Sarah approached the building she worked in. She stood aside to let some people exit, smiling her thanks as they held the door for her. Still Sarah - always kind and considerate to others. The reflective glass swung back into place, removing her from his sight once more.
‘Just the magazine?’ The man behind the counter raised his eyebrows at Alex. So caught up in watching Sarah, he didn’t even notice the woman and her child leave.
‘Yeah.’ He shoved his hand in his pocket and found some crumpled notes. Placing the offered change in the tip jar, he nodded his thanks and returned to the street.
Alex had been in London for two days. He knew Sarah worked on the eighth floor and the chances of her loitering in the foyer were minimal, yet he walked in the opposite direction. His exit from Australia had been well-planned, and he was fairly certain he hadn’t been followed. But when it came to Sarah, he’d come too far to take any chances on her safety.
So, why couldn’t he make himself leave? It was clear he couldn’t think straight when he was near her. After so long apart, the very sight of her had him losing all sense of anything else around him. Another risk he couldn’t afford to take. Besides, she’d never forgive him. Not after the way he’d treated her.
‘I’m not your fucking lapdog. You can’t just order me around. I have a life.’
‘A life you won’t let me be part of.’
‘Exactly, Sarah. You’re not part of it. You never will be.’
‘But I want to be part of your life, Alex.’
‘Jesus, are you deaf? I don’t want you in my life. And I don’t want any part of yours. What exactly would you have me doing in London? Cleaning the house and washing your clothes? Fuck that.’
