Heartless Hunk - Ann Omasta Page 0,23

then fight the competition for a spot. I chose to be a computer geek and spent most of my time locked away in the audio-visual room.”

He couldn’t have surprised me more if he’d grown a third eye on his forehead. How could this handsome beefcake have ever been a computer geek? It didn’t make sense and didn’t align with the outgoing, heartthrob he was now.

Seeming to sense my inner struggle with the disparity, he added with a naughty grin, “Of course, it was dark in there, and I wasn’t usually alone.”

“Ah, now I get it,” I said, nodding my head with understanding.

“At least you can say you were in the top twenty percent of your class, right?” Oliver said.

I gave him a sad smile. “Yep, always second best to Claire.”

Sadness overwhelmed me for the brilliant, bubbly girl I’d always admired. It didn’t compute in my mind that she was gone. She had always had it all.

Oliver brought me out of my solemn reverie by saying, “Ready to go introduce me to the magnificent woman who brought you into this world?”

“Magnificent might be a stretch.” I gave him a knowing smile before adding, “My mother would best be described as quirky.”

Unfazed by my gentle warning, Oliver stood to toss out our trash before holding a hand out to me. “Let’s go see your quirky mother.”

20

Oliver

Violet was like a rock star in this tiny burg. Half the people we passed stopped to talk to her or at least gave her a friendly smile as they strolled by. I couldn’t even imagine walking down the streets of my neighborhood and knowing almost everyone––and their personal business. I didn’t even recognize most of the people that lived in my building.

When Vi introduced me to Dr. Waters, the town doctor, I watched the wave of surprise, then delight, pass over the woman’s expression. “Lovely to meet you,” she said sincerely before turning her attention back to Violet.

“And it’s so nice to see you trying to move on. I’ve been quite concerned about you, young lady.” The woman had kind eyes, but I could tell by the way Vi shuffled from foot to foot that the doctor’s caring words were making her uncomfortable.

In an obvious attempt to shift the conversation away from herself, Vi said softly, “I heard Mr. Waters has been facing some health troubles. I’m so sorry.”

Dr. Waters nodded and gave her a sad smile, “I know, dear. One of these days, our roles might reverse, and I may need to come to you for advice on how to cope with losing a spouse.”

“I’m just a phone call away,” Vi promised sincerely before shifting the conversation to a lighter topic. “How is Dani faring in med school?”

Dr. Waters’ face lit up as she answered, “Oh, she’s doing fantastic. She’s almost finished with her medical residency down in Boston.”

Vi was nodding her head and making noises of impressed approval. Even though she didn’t ask, Dr. Waters added, “And Dean is finishing up his teaching certification. He’d like to teach at Brunswick Bay Harbor Elementary, but we all know no one ever retires from there.”

The woman chuckled as if it was a great joke, but I didn’t get it. Vi smiled politely, before saying, “Well, we’d better get going. We need to go see my mother. I don’t want her to hear through the grapevine that I’m back in town before I have a chance to visit her.”

“Oh, it’s a surprise? She will be thrilled.” Dr. Waters sounded confident as she moved aside on the sidewalk to let us walk by.

I nodded a polite goodbye to the woman. She took the opportunity to waggle her finger in my direction to say, “You take good care of our sweet Violet, or you’ll have to deal with a whole town-full of her fans.”

“I will,” I promised the woman with sincerity in my voice as we walked away.

Once we were out of earshot, I leaned down to whisper to Vi. “Do you think she recognized me?”

Violet immediately shook her head. She sounded scandalized when she said, “Dr. Waters? No, there’s absolutely no way she watches mindless reality television.”

By her sharp intake of breath, I could tell Vi realized how harsh her comment had sounded. “I didn’t mean any offense by that.”

“None taken,” I answered breezily. I’d never been a fan of reality TV either, and I certainly wasn’t now that I had experienced the harsh repercussions of its infamy.

As we approached the spot where we had parked the rental