(Complete) Nick has suffered sorrow and loss. He has relied on his family to help him survive. Can Nick ever find happiness and a love?
Sara has spent the better part of her twenties caring for the sickest people of the world. Realizing that her dre...
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"She shouldn't have come then." Nick was trying to joke and hide the crazy emotions going on inside of him.
He thought being with his family after his night with Sara would be hard, but now she was near, and he couldn't even touch her. It was hard enough pretending at work, and now he was forced to act indifferent again.
"Nick! Be nice. What is it with you?" Clare yelled at him.
"Sorry," he said, like a naughty boy. "It came out wrong. I just meant there's always drama."
He didn't want to look at Sara or he would remember her underneath him and sleeping in his arms most of the night. When he looked up, she had her own deer in the headlights look.
He called out, "Hey Sara. Welcome to Sunday with the crazy Burke family."
She nodded and turned her attention back to his children and his niece, Ava. The two of them had a lot in common. They both liked medicine and children. They were only six years apart in age.
Ella and her boyfriend were keeping their relationship secret and had a nine-year age difference. Sara wasn't twenty-one. Would Tim be upset if he found out?
Julie came out of the kitchen and stood next to Nick. She put her arm around him. "She has a way with our little ones, doesn't she?"
"Ava has loved them since the day they were born."
Julie pinched him. "I meant Sara."
"Ouch." Julie laughed.
He wished Sara could come spend time with him and his kids. He also wished she could spend the night again.
He watched as Julie approached Sara. "We're so glad, you joined us, but I hope you weren't strong armed. Did you have to cancel plans?"
Sara smiled. "Thank you for having me, Mrs. Burke."
"It's Julie, please."
Nick moved closer with the pretense of checking Jack's diaper.
"I typically spend Sundays with my Aunt and Uncle, but they're away so the only thing I'm neglecting is my laundry." Sara surprised Nick by turning to his mother. "My aunt mentioned that she has met you, Mrs. Burke."
"Who is your aunt, dear?"
"Poppy Yates." She eyed Nick slyly.
Nick bit his tongue to keep from smiling. Clare exclaimed, "Yates, as in David Yates!"
"He's my uncle. Actually, my guardian after my mum passed."
"I have met Poppy. I always enjoy talking to her. It was like a taste of home. Same with you dear, now tell me where in London did you live?"
Sara sat beside his mum and the two were in deep conversation while Clare and Tim pulled Nick into the kitchen.
"David Yates!" Clare whispered. "Did either of you know?"
Nick quickly decided that it was best to lie and shook his head, as did Tim.
"Do you think she knows?" Tim asked.
Nick said, "It would be unethical on his part to tell her."
Tim said, "What does it matter? It's the bastard's issue not ours."
"Yeah, but he's her landlord." Clare reminded them.
Nick preferred to forget about Sara living above the bastard, but it was hard. He would never trust that man.
"Clare, how can you work with him?"
"Nick, we've discussed this a million times. I ignore him."
"I don't think we need to worry about Sara's uncle. He is highly professional and was kind to me."
Nick met with him after the accident. He was still so numb and not yet angry with Miles. He had answered questions about their friendship with Miles. He couldn't lie. A friendship existed outside of the doctor and patient relationship, at least their friendship with him as a couple. It always came back to the unknown. Did Miles have a date that night? The real threat to his marriage was her career in New Jersey not another doctor in a small town in Maine. Still, he struggled with Miles' cockiness over the accident. Nick was certain, if they weren't involved, then Mel had confided in Miles that she had accepted the position in New Jersey. Either way Nick felt like a fool. Miles hadn't been cocky right after the accident. He was hurt and contrite, but Nick couldn't listen, and he pushed him away. In time, Nick's hatred grew as did their animosity towards one another.
On good days, Nick would imagine Mel coming home and telling him that the music was good for Portland and then tell him all about Miles and his date. Then he'd follow her as she peeked in on the children and they would curl up together. Maybe they would make love or maybe she would tell him about New Jersey. If she asked him to come and told him she needed him, he would have. He would miss his family, but he would have followed her anywhere if she loved him enough.
"Nick... Nick." He looked up and saw his father. "You're a million miles away, son."
"Oh sorry, I'm just tired. I woke up too early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep." He caught Sara's eye.
The memory of his night with Sara should push all his demons away.
