The Best Next Thing

“No, Miles. I’m not toying with you.”

“Don’t ask me questions you’re not ready to hear the answers to.”

“Maybe I am ready.”

“Goodnight, Charity.” The words were abrupt. Final.

Her lips quivered and a sob caught in her throat. This hadn’t been a good idea. She had believed that maybe if they could start talking again, they could work their way toward regaining what they had lost. But this just felt like more loss.

“Goodnight, Miles.” The words emerged on a tremulous voice. Her fingers were so tightly clutched around the phone, they actually ached.

“I’ll speak with you again soon.”

He disconnected the call without waiting for a response…Totally oblivious to the fact that he had just thrown her a lifeline and saved her from drowning.

Her eyes flooded, and she carefully set her phone aside to bury her face in her hands as reaction set in.

He was going to speak with her again.

Soon.

Thank God.

This is so strange. The words echoed through Charity’s head as she moved from person to person, mingling, chatting…laughing at silly jokes and making even sillier ones herself.

So damned strange.

It felt as if her life had come full circle. Just five months ago, so many of the people in this room had gathered in her name to say farewell. And now they had all assembled at her brand, spanking new consultation rooms, to celebrate her opening in two days’ time, on Monday.

After passing her clinical competency test a month ago, Charity had wasted no time renting a couple of rooms in the tiny business center on Riversend’s Main Road. The center also housed a tax attorney’s practice, an accountant’s office, the pediatric clinic, a dentist’s surgery, and the vet’s office. And since the building was situated right next to the sports store slash gym, Charity was hoping for a lot of referrals.

Setting up a chiropractic practice was an expensive endeavor, and Charity had taken great joy in using the money from Blaine’s estate to buy state-of-the-art equipment and the most luxurious, tasteful furniture she could find. There was enough left over to provide a financial cushion if the first six months of business proved slow.

Whenever her gaze swept around the tastefully appointed reception area of her chiropractic practice, she felt a surge of nerves and the thrill of achievement. It was surreal how much her life had changed in so short a time.

Her parents, as well as Faith and Stuart, had flown in to celebrate this attainment of one of the many dreams she now had for her future. Since it was summer vacation, Faith, Stuart, and Gracie had arrived a few days earlier to help Charity move into her new home, while she focused on setting up the consultation rooms. It had been a busy few weeks. Made even more frantic because they had to race to get all her professional equipment and tools delivered before the supply companies closed for the Christmas vacation.

The country pretty much shut down for the entire month of December as holidaymakers sought to take advantage of the summer weather and many bank holidays. A lot of companies were closed for business until January. Charity had known trying to set up her practice in the weeks before Christmas would prove difficult, but it had been much more frenetic than she had expected.

She had been exceedingly grateful for everyone’s help. Lia—on vacation because the kindergarten was closed for summer—had proven invaluable with the admin, while Daff had helped with leaflets and marketing. George had done so much driving for her, his daughter, Nina—an interior designer—had helped with the office décor, despite being just a few weeks shy of giving birth. Amos had insisted on helping with physical tasks that involved way too much manual labor. Not wanting the old man to hurt himself, Charity had instead given him her exact design layout plans, and had tasked him with ensuring the movers got everything in the right positions.

And Greyson’s wife, Olivia, had kindly offered to cater tonight’s party at a discounted rate.

Coming back to Riversend—home—had been the right thing to do. Her family fully supported her. And once she was fully settled and found a larger place to live…they would visit often.

Everything was going phenomenally well.

Except for one thing…

She dug into her skirt pocket for her phone and checked the screen.

Still no messages.

She hadn’t heard from Miles in five days. No texts, calls, not even the occasional picture of Stormy. She had grown so used to hearing from him every day for the last six weeks, that his sudden silence filled her with dread.

“Hey, stop mooning over your phone and pay attention to your guests!” Faith, ever the drill sergeant, commanded her. Charity grimaced and guiltily slipped her phone back into her pocket.

Her sister slid an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze, before handing her a glass of bubbly.