Brothers, Hope & Hearts

New York City

Liam’s Apartment

August 1

1:30 p.m.

Liam Reade was home. She could hear a sporting event on the TV—most likely watching a soccer match he’d already seen.

She’d been waiting in front of his apartment for ten minutes, and the door still hadn’t opened.

He doesn’t know you’re here.

With a shaking hand, Elsa knocked. She tapped rapidly twice, rested a heartbeat, and then followed with two more rapid ones. Once she did, she could picture exactly what was happening inside.

He’d turn down the television and toss the remote onto the coffee table. Then he’d glance around the room to see if he needed to put anything away. Finally, he would take the necessary steps to reach the door—for him, probably only four or five. Those were the benefits of having long legs.

After that ….

Elsa thought she was ready for the door to be yanked open—but she wasn’t. It was impossible not to be affected when faced with six feet of deliciousness.

“Elsa.” Liam’s sexy baritone slithered along her skin. “Did we have plans?”

Don’t stare at his bare chest.

“I’m sorry to drop in like this.” She mentally patted herself on the back for sounding somewhat normal. “I, I need to tell you something.”

Don’t admire his flat abs exposed by the cut-off sweats hanging low on his hips.

“Come in.”

He stepped aside, and as she entered, Elsa held her breath. She didn’t want to smell his musky cologne or feel the heat from his body. If she did, it would be so much harder not to step close and bury her nose against his furry chest. That would make it too difficult to do what needed to be done.

“I’ll not be long.”

Unless ….

“It’s fine, love. It’s just Liverpool.”

Her hands were sweating, and her heart was racing.

Liam waved toward the sofa. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.”

Just spit it out.

“I …” Elsa took a deep breath. “I came to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye? Are you going on vacation?”

Told you he wouldn’t remember.

“In a way.”

“Elsa, love.” Liam stroked the top of her hand with his long fingers. “What’s going on?”

“I’m moving. Remember? I told you a month ago.”

Liam’s blue eyes darkened, and his brows drew together in confusion. She knew him well enough to know that he was trying to place the conversation.

“Moving? When? Where?”

She wanted to say something, but somehow, she knew words wouldn’t matter. If he’d cared, he would have listened.

“I finished my residency.” She stayed with the simple explanation. “But I got a better offer than Queen’s Court.”

“A better one?” Liam brushed his hands through his hair, a sure sign of agitation. “What could be better than working for Queen’s here in New York City?”

Say it.

“It’s a place where I’ll have more control. I want a life, Liam. This allows me to see both office and hospital patients without working twelve to sixteen hours a day. Tate promised it was possible.”

“Tate?”

“Doctor Tate Doolittle,” Elsa explained. “Head of Swan Harbor General’s pediatrics.”

“Wait, you’re moving to Swan Harbor?”

Ask me to stay.

“I am.” Elsa forced herself to stand. “Anyway, I just wanted you to know before I … well, leave.”

“But.” Liam glanced around the room, and there was almost a wild look in his eyes. “But …”

Ask me.

“Liam.” A buxom redhead stepped from the bedroom. “I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed a shirt. Mine …”

Elsa’s mouth dropped open, and all she could think was he didn’t wait long to find someone new. “I’m sorry. I should go.”

“Wait,” Liam began.

But Elsa wasn’t in the mood to hear any of his excuses. Neither was she ready to meet his replacement girlfriend.

“I need to finish packing.” She pushed past him and walked straight to the door.

“Elsa, wait,” Liam called again, and this time, he lightly touched her elbow. “When are you leaving?”

“In a couple of days,” Elsa shrugged. “It will depend on how long it takes to get everything done. I’ll …” Then she made the mistake of looking at him.

Liam’s hands were curled into fists and held close to his side. His body was rigid, but it was his eyes that said what he couldn’t say out loud.

I’m going to miss you.

Please stay.

I’m sorry.

“Take care of yourself.”

At the last minute, she kissed him goodbye and rushed toward the door. She worried if he said anything, she wouldn’t be able to hold back the tears clogging her throat. Before she could escape, Liam caught her wrist.

“Elsa.”

Don’t look.

“Look at me. Please.”

Her heart twisted, but she knew herself. If she looked into his navy blue eyes that spoke volumes, she would be lost.

“I can’t.” Elsa tugged her hand free and hurried to the elevator.

The first tear fell just as the door closed.

Crap.

She couldn’t cry over him.

It hurts.

He’d already moved on.

“You’ve done it now, Elsa,” she muttered as she crossed the street into Central Park. “There’s no going back.”

* * *

Liam shut the door and, on his way to the sofa, slipped a shirt over his head.

“What the hell was that?” Barbi came from the bedroom wearing one of his dress shirts and her jeans.

“What?” he asked, the nonchalance in his voice a perfect accompaniment to the ‘neutral’ question. So perfect he didn’t think anyone could see beneath it.

But Elsa …

Barbi dropped into a chair and tucked her legs beneath her. “Come on, Liam. You care for that woman. Why did you just allow her to leave?”

“Of course I care for her. We’ve been friends for a while and work for the same hospital.”

“Cut the bull,” Barbi snapped.

“I’m not—”

“It’s just like Debi Monroe.”

That name still had the power to create an ache in the center of his chest. However, his feelings at twenty-one couldn’t be compared to what he felt now.

“This is nothing like that,” Liam retorted. “Nothing.”

Only because you refuse to ….

“Sometimes we have to let go of the past in order to move toward the future, Liam. You know that.”

Just like Killian had done.

“Are you trying to knock some sense into Liam, Hon?” Justin, her husband of a year, entered the room. “You know he’s too stubborn to listen.”

“I’m beginning to remember that,” Barbi grumbled. “But Liam, you really should set her straight. She thinks you and I …”

“Look, it’s no big deal. Do you want to grab a bite to eat?” Liam glanced from one to the other. “I’m suddenly hungry.”

“You’re always hungry.” Justin laughed. “Right now, we should check on the clean-up crew at our apartment.”

“Think they’ve started?”

Barbi sighed. “I hope so. We don’t want to overstay our welcome.”

“You’re fine,” Liam assured her. “I’m happy to help.”

“We’ll let you know if we need a place tonight. But Liam,” Barbi’s gaze met his. “Go talk to her. Tell her I didn’t spend the night.”

“But that would be a lie.” Liam’s blue eyes twinkled. “Wouldn’t it?”

“Oh, you!” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and flounced out of the room.

“Does she always pout when she doesn’t get her way?”

Justin laughed. “Don’t ask me. You’ve known her longer than I have.”

“You’re married to her.”

“True,” Justin grinned. “In this situation, though, I agree with Barb. Talk to your lady friend. She deserves to know the truth.”

Liam turned on the television sound, hoping Justin and Barbi would ignore him on their way out. He hadn’t offered them a place to stay so they could dig into his psyche. It was all about helping a couple of friends because their place smelled like smoke. Nothing more, nothing less.

Are you sure about that?

What else could it be?

A way for you to bury your head and not have to deal.

Liam scoffed at his thoughts.

“We’ll see you later, Liam.” Barbi waved. “Remember what I said.”

Once he was alone, Liam tried to watch the match, but he couldn’t focus. Besides, Liverpool was ahead by three goals.

It has nothing to do with the score.

That’s not true.

It wasn’t long before he could no longer stand the quiet apartment and went looking for something to eat.

He meandered past Queen’s Court Medical and the bar, O’Toole’s. It was too late for lunch, too early for dinner, and he didn’t have to work. Right then, nothing sounded interesting.

Face it, you want to see her.

Who?

That he could imagine his inner voice raising a brow in disbelief was unsettling. It was equally annoying that he could imagine its facial expressions. However, those were heavy thoughts he wasn’t ready to deal with right then.

That’s what you always do.

Do not.

Then, just to prove he was in control, he ducked into Nathan’s. Even after eating a hot dog and fries, the same sense of needing to be somewhere remained. It felt like an invisible thread was pulling him, and where it was leading was beyond his control.

Liam hurried through Central Park to the Upper West Side. He took a right, then a left, and walked two streets over until he stood in front of Elsa’s apartment building.

He’d been to her apartment many times since January. It was modern to his ancient, homey to his sterile, and he’d been completely enamored. Knowing that she was dangerous to everything he believed didn’t seem to matter, though, as he’d jumped in with both feet. Could he let her walk out of his life?

You have no choice.

But was that the truth?

It’s the only truth you’re ready to hear.

Meaning?

Meaning sometimes we have to look inside to find the answers.

Like Killian did?

Yes.

I’m not suffering from the same issues as Killian.

Aren’t you?

No! And even if I was, there’s no Violet out there waiting.

True. But Elsa is waiting. Isn’t she enough?

* * *

Guilt at the way she’d left things with Liam chased Elsa all the way home. Yet, she knew she’d done the only thing possible. With her residency completed, she had to take care of herself. If that meant she had to tell a lie, then so what? He’d never know.

Are you sure?

She’d asked herself that question several times over the past few weeks. When she did, the answer remained the same. Yes.

Liam Reade had plenty of friends to keep him entertained and wouldn’t come looking for her. It also appeared he had replaced her with a new friend.

Crap!

“I’m so not going there,” she muttered, stacking the box on the cart.

Elsa took one last look around, left her keys on the table, and locked the door behind her. She’d told Liam she was leaving when everything was done. That she was leaving earlier than she’d anticipated, well …. 

Since she was only taking a few suitcases and some boxes, it didn’t take long to store them in the car. She’d just loaded the last box when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

“Going somewhere?”

Crap!

Elsa slammed the lid and turned to face Liam. “What brings you to this side of the park?”

* * *

Liam took two steps toward her. Close, just not close enough to make her feel like he was trying to intimidate her. “You didn’t answer my question. I asked if you were going somewhere?”

“What makes you think that?”

“I saw you push your cart full of boxes out the back hall.”

“So?”

“Why’d you lie?”

“Wha … What are you talking about?”

“Come on, love,” Liam’s voice dropped into a lower range. “Why?”

Several emotions flitted across her face, and she seemed to wilt before his eyes.

“Why do you care?” she asked instead of answering his question. “Did your new girl not give you what you were after?”

“My new girl?” Then he remembered Barbi’s plea. “About that. Barbi isn’t my new girl. I’ve known her forever.”

“Forever?”

“Her brother was my best friend in high school. And,” he took another step closer, “she’s married to Justin. Remember? I told you about him.”

A little pucker developed between Elsa’s brows, and he could practically see the wheels turning inside her head. “Justin? Your old partner?”

“Yes. Barbi’s first husband was a prat, and after he left, she was pretty messed up.”

“So you introduced her to your old partner?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Her question surprised him. “Why what?”

“Why did you introduce them to each other?”

“I don’t know.” Liam shrugged. “I thought they’d be good together.”

“Oh. Well, if that’s all, I need to return this cart.”

Oh? He couldn’t decide what she meant by using the word. It meant one thing to him, but something told him its meaning was more important to her.

“I’m still waiting for an answer.”

“Which was?”

He wanted to grin because there was no way she didn’t remember what he’d asked.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“I told you,” Elsa replied. “I’m moving to Swan Harbor.”

Liam propped his hands on his hips. “But you said, and I quote, ‘I’m leaving in the next day … or two.’ I know sometimes I confuse things, but it’s only been a few hours since you said that. Not,” he popped his T, “a day or two.”

“I told you when I got things done.” She pushed the cart past him. “Well, I got things done.”

“And so you’re leaving—just like that?”

“I said goodbye,” Elsa sighed. “I don’t know what else you want, Liam.”

For things to be like they were.

“But why, love? Why are you moving so far away?”

“I,” she began. Then, almost as if she changed her mind, she pulled her shoulders back and stood a little taller. “You’re a smart guy, Liam. I bet you can figure it out. Now, I have to go. Look me up if you come to Swan Harbor to visit.” Then she walked away.

Liam stared at her retreating figure, all the while rubbing circles in the center of his chest.

Heartburn. He blamed it on the chili dog he’d eaten. Couldn’t be anything else.

* * *

Swan Harbor

Veterinarian Clinic

August 1

6:00 p.m.

Emma Foster was trying to focus on work, and checking Daisy and her puppies for worms seemed mindless enough. Yet, no matter how many times she reminded herself of what she was supposed to be doing, her thoughts kept returning to Elsa. Something was going on with her friend of over ten years, and for the first time in their friendship, their roles were reversed.

She’d first noticed the change in April when Killian said something about his brother. Since Liam had been seeing her best friend for months, the conversation was in what wasn’t said. But when Elsa came to Swan Harbor in June, Emma could tell things were different. They hadn’t talked, though. It left her with the question of how to help when her friend wouldn’t share her burdens.

Sound familiar?

Yes, but …

No buts. What has Elsa always done when you weren’t ready to talk?

Be there.

Exactly. When she needs you, she’ll reach out. In the meantime …

I have a fiancé who …

The thought had barely formed when the air shifted, and the man who rocked her world invaded her space.

“Hello, Doc.” Killian buzzed a kiss next to her ear. “Eww, what’s that smell?”

“You’re an investigator,” she teased. “What does it smell like?”

“It smells like shi–”

“Puppy poop,” Emma interrupted. “Be nice. I’m sure you’ve smelled worse.”

“Aye, that’s true.” He sighed, and she knew he was thinking about cases he’d seen on the job. “But I don’t relish getting a whiff of it every time I nuzzle your neck tonight.”

“Oh?” She grinned, still feeling the need to pinch herself at how far she’d come in less than a year. “Were you planning on doing that tonight?”

Killian’s blue eyes darkened. “As often as possible. Got a problem with that?”

“No.” She kissed him. “I definitely don’t have a problem with your nuzzles.”

“Good.” Killian placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward the door. “Now, go shower.”

“But,” she gestured at the mess scattered across her worktable. “There’s stuff to be done.”

“I’ll clean.” Killian kissed her ear. “You can reward me later. And …”

Emma slid her arms around his neck. “What else are you promising me, Killian?”

“I’ll even start dinner.”

“Oooh, a girl could get used to that.”

His expression turned serious, and he brushed her hair over her shoulder. “I hope so. I just want to make you happy.”

“You do, Killian,” she replied breathlessly. “I love you, you know?”

Killian tugged her closer, aligning their hips. “Ditto, Doc.”

“Ditto. What kind of declaration is that?”

“It’s a …” His phone buzzed. “It’s Liam. Go. I’ll see you upstairs.”

Emma rushed through her shower, eager to hear what Liam had to say. She didn’t think he was calling to ‘just talk.’ Something told her it had to do with what she’d been worried about for weeks.

When she walked into the kitchen, Killian was standing in front of the stove. He’d tucked a towel into the waistband of his pants and was rhythmically stirring the ingredients in a pot.

“You’re making spaghetti with your world-famous sauce, aren’t you?”

“Aye.”

Emma leaned against the cabinet and waited for him to look at her. “What did Liam have to say?”

Killian didn’t respond right away, which meant he was wrestling with something. The longer he remained quiet, the more concerned she grew.

“What has Elsa said the last few times you’ve spoken to her?” he finally asked.

“Wait a minute, Killian.” Emma frowned. “Everything between them is okay, right?”

He sprinkled something else into the sauce and then offered her a taste.

Her eyes flared. “Oh, that’s good. You changed the recipe, didn’t you?”

“Of course,” he teased. “A good chef never spills his secrets. Now, I laid out the vegetables for the salad for you. I’m going to make a bruschetta.”

Since she assumed he was working his way around to what to say, she focused on the salad. It wasn’t until he’d slid the bread into the oven that he looked at her expectantly.

“Did you know Elsa was moving?”

“Moving?” Emma’s gaze collided with Killian’s. “As in leaving New York City?”

“Aye.”

Her thoughts traveled back to the last time she’d seen Elsa.

“You were standing there when she told Liam about her job offers. But as for taking one of them, she’s been pretty quiet. Why?”

“She showed up at Liam’s today and told him goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” Emma dropped the knife she’d been using to cut the tomato and frowned up at him. “She’s said nothing. Where’s she moving?”

“Here, Doc.” Killian hesitated while he pulled the bruschetta from the oven. “It seems your friend Elsa has left my brother and is moving to Swan Harbor.”

Emma dropped into the chair, fighting her initial reaction. She really wanted to protect her friend and blame Liam, but where would that get them?

“Why’s she moving to Swan Harbor?” Emma murmured. “Unless …”

“Unless what?”

Killian flicked off the burners, drained the pasta, and prepared her a plate before she’d wrapped her head around her thoughts.

“Tyler.”

“Tyler?” Killian repeated. “Tyler James?”

Emma smirked at the territorial tone in his voice. She knew at one time he’d worried there was something between her and Tyler.

“Yeah.” Her gaze met Killian’s. “At one time, Elsa loved him and thought he was the one.”

A tic began pulsing on Killian’s jaw as if he were clenching his teeth and working to hang on to his temper. “You don’t think she’s moving here to be with Tyler, do you?”

The low, menacing quality of his voice worried her. “I don’t know.”

“Bloody hell, Doc!” Killian stood so fast his chair fell over. “She’s your friend. How can you not know?”

“Just wait a minute! Why are you mad at me? Did you ever consider the possibility it’s Liam’s fault?”

“Aye.” He brushed his hand through his hair, causing it to stand in several directions. “And if it is, you’ll blame me.”

“Oh, Killian.” Emma flew across the kitchen into his arms. “What are we going to do?”

“Same thing they did for us, love. Just be there for them. Now come here.”

When their mouths met, something told her being on the ‘supporting’ side was going to be just as challenging as the relationship side had been.

                                                                                                    ***

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