Learn To Love Again

Chapter 3

I tossed and turned in bed, trying to find a comfortable spot. Every now and then I would begin to dose, then I would start seeing images of my very last moments with Patrick and I would be bolt awake again.

This had been happening quite often in the last two years, especially in the first few months after Patrick's death.

I finally gave up trying to sleep and sat upright in bed. I reached onto the night table and took up the framed photograph I kept there. It was a picture if me and Patrick, taken by my cousin, Tatiana, at our wedding reception. We were both laughing and holding up glasses of champagne, toasting to a long and wonderful life together, to being together forever.

That's overrated! I thought, wiping away the few drops of tears that had escaped my eyes.

"It's been two years, get over it already!" I told myself as I opened the nightstand drawer and placed the picture inside.

I leaned against the bedframe and closed my eyes. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

I woke up to the mouthwatering smell of bacon and eggs coming from downstairs.

Tossing the sheets and getting out of bed, I slipped into my bed slippers and grabbed a small pocket knife I kept in the drawer of my nightstand.

Why was I smelling bacon and eggs? I lived alone!

I slowly descended the stairs into the living room, the knife raised in front of my face. As I peered into the kitchen, I breathed a sigh of relief and lowered the knife.

Erika was standing over the stove, stirring something in one of the two pots there, and Monique was stretched out in the sofa munching on some chips and flipping through a fashion magazine.

"How the hell did you guys get in my house?" I asked as I entered the kitchen.

"You left your keys in my car yesterday," Erika said, as she began to dish out some bacon and eggs.

I laughed. "If that didn't smell so good I'd charge you with breaking and entering." I made some coffee and poured some for me and Erika, then made some ginger tea for Monique.

"We didn't break and enter. We had a key." Monique said as we both sat at the breakfast table.

I laughed. "You have a point," I said.

Erika handed us the plates and joined us at the table.

We talked about random things as we ate. After we finished eating, I went upstairs to get ready for work, then returned in about an hour.

*****

"Don't forget to feed him those drugs I gave you," I told Ms. Pinkerton. "And let him get plenty of rest."

I had just finished looking after her 7 months old cat, Sylvia, and now she was leaving. She nodded and I waved at Sylvia, whose head was resting on her shoulder, as she disappeared out the door of my office.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the door and Hilda, my secretary, peered inside.

"There's someone here to see you," she said. "He doesn't have an appointment but he says it's very important."

I sighed. "How important?" I asked her.

"He has a bleeding dog," she said. "It looks pretty serious."

"What?!" I exclaimed. "Send him in!"

As Hilda hurried away, I quickly rolled out my small operating table and pulled on a pair of latex gloves.

The door was pushed open and a man stepped inside with a large brown terrier in his arms. My eyes shifted from his face to the dog then to his face again as recognition kicked in.

"Malcolm?" I said, surprised.

"Hey, Anna," he said with a smile as he placed the dog on the table. "Fancy seeing you again."

I shifted my attention to the door and was surprised to see a trail of blood leading to the table. Most of the dog's fur was stained a crimson color that seemed more concentrated just under its right arm.

I quickly got to work, cleaning and stitching the cut, then bandaging it and cleaning the bloodstains on it's fur. I could feel Malcolm watching me as I worked.

"How did this happen?" I asked him as I finished cleaning the dog.

"It's kind of a long story," he answered.

I smiled. "Is that so?"

"Yeah," he answered. "How about I tell you about it over lunch?"

I look up at him, surprised. "What was that?" I asked him.

"I can tell you about it over lunch if you wish," he answered with that beautiful smile of his.

I smiled back, then thought about how nice it might be to actually go out to lunch with him. Then I felt guilty for actually considering it. How could I have?

"I'm sorry, but that the won't be possible", I said, as thoughts of Patrick came rushing back. As always, sadness consumed me and I went into a world of nostalgia.

"Are you okay?" His voice cut through my thoughts.

"I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I wasn't trying to hit on you or anything. I'm just really starving and I don't really know anywhere around here," he explained.

I mentally kicked myself for feeling the way I did.

So what if he were hitting on me? Patrick died two years ago, for Christ's sake!

A moment of awkward silence passed.

"I guess not then," he said with a smile. "Nice to see you again Anna." He extended his arm for a handshake.

I looked at his hand but just stood there. My body refused to move for some reason.

He dropped his hand. "Or not."

He picked up his dog and turned to leave then stopped and asked, "I pay the secretary, right?"

I nodded. It was all my body allowed me to do.

As he walked out the door, I finally pulled myself together.

What the hell just happened?!

________________________________________________________________________

A/N:

I'm so sorry it took me so long to update, I've been really busy. I'll try to update at least twice a week from now on.

Anyways, I hope you are enjoying this book so far. Don't forget leave your feedback.

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★It's Carmen. Love y'all!★