Absent in the Spring (The Shakespeare Sisters 3)

‘What a shame, it’s a naked photo. I’ll recall it,’ she deadpanned. ‘You’re not reading your emails, are you? I haven’t met a man yet who can multitask.’

‘You’re being very sexist, Miss Shakespeare. Assuming I can’t multitask, and then thinking I’ll be distracted by naked photos. What kind of man do you think I am?’

‘Have you checked it yet?’

‘Of course I have. It’s a letter, not a photograph. And I’m disappointed now. I wanted naked Lucy.’

‘You’ve had naked Lucy.’

And he wanted her again. It was driving him crazy. ‘Come and see me this weekend. I’ll arrange for a flight.’

‘I can’t just fly out at the drop of a hat,’ she said. ‘And anyway, I’m busy this weekend.’

He traced his lip. ‘Then when can I see you?’ he asked her.

‘In court?’

He laughed. ‘Is that a threat?’

‘I was thinking it was more of a promise.’ Her voice was softer. He glanced at the clock on his office wall. It was nearly seven p.m. in New York, which meant it was almost midnight in Edinburgh. Strange how he added five hours onto everything nowadays. When he arrived in the office, he automatically knew it was lunchtime in Edinburgh, and on the rare occasions he actually had time for lunch himself, he’d imagine Lucy walking home through the wet streets of Edinburgh, avoiding the huge puddles that gathered in the uneven pathways.

In short, he was obsessed, and he knew it, dammit. He just didn’t know what the hell to do with that knowledge.

‘You should get to bed,’ he said, leaning back in his chair.

‘And you should go home and eat something,’ she replied, sounding tired. ‘Before you waste away.’

‘Good night, Lucy.’

‘Good night.’

‘Same time tomorrow?’

There was a smile in her voice when she replied. ‘I’ll be here.’

As far as he was concerned, it was a date.

‘Try not to worry, we caught it early this time. I know it looks frightening, but she’s in the best place.’ The nurse turned to look at him as she adjusted the monitor above his mother’s head. He didn’t recognise her from last time his mother was here – maybe she was new.

Lachlan nodded, trying to ignore the way every muscle in his body seemed to ache. He should be used to this by now – the frantic phone calls, the rushed booking of airline tickets, the crazy dash to the airport.

In all the madness he’d missed his evening call with Lucy, and not being able to speak with her was making him edgy. Like the time he’d given up caffeine, and his whole body got the jitters. He’d lasted less than two days without it. He was pretty sure he’d last even less without speaking with her.

The nurse gave him a sympathetic smile. ‘The night doctor will be around in half an hour. Why don’t you go and grab a coffee? It’s really not that bad for a hospital.’

Lachlan couldn’t be bothered to disagree, even though he knew better.

It all felt so familiar – the walk to the café through the whitewashed corridors, the electric doors that seemed to open in a rush. The empty chairs, the barista leaning on the counter looking as bored as hell. Lachlan played his role, ordering the coffee, tapping his phone against the reader, carrying the

Styrofoam cup over to the corner. He sipped it for a moment, not sure whether the extra shot he’d ordered made it taste worse or better.

He rested his head back on the wall, sighing, his eyes closing long enough for his breath to even out, his body relaxing into the chair. When he came back to reality with a start, half an hour had passed, and his coffee had gone cold. Stretching his arms, he walked back to the counter and ordered another one, this time determined to stay awake.

He pulled his phone from his pocket – turning it on for the first time since he’d arrived in Miami. Almost immediately her message flashed across the screen.

I missed you tonight. Hope everything’s okay. Lucy x

When was the last time anybody had told him they missed him? She’d been the only person to notice he wasn’t around. A few simple words, but they ignited a need in him that was impossible to ignore.