Winter Storms Read Online Free Page A

small amends for what happened.”
    Breathing deep, she closed her eyes. Was it better that he raised the topic? She didn’t know, but his skin looked pale and his eyes were flecked with red. He wasn’t the carefree Daniel she remembered.
    “Thanks for your help,” she repeated. “I do appreciate it and so will the lifeboat station.” She was tempted to ask where his fiancée was, but it would make her sound desperate.
    “I didn’t expect you to be doing things like this,” he said. “You never used to be interested in charity stuff.”
    “I was a professional sportswoman then. I’ve got more spare time now and it gives me something to work toward.”
    “Perhaps it’s not so unusual then, you always did like a challenge.”
    “Is there any reason for your visit, or are we just going to reminisce over old times?”
    He drew his head back. “Is this how it’s always going to be between us?”
    “I expect so, I can’t imagine us being friends again.”
    “It does look that way, which is a shame, because you were my best friend for years.”
    “That was before you destroyed my life.”
    He winced and she closed her eyes; that had been a cruel thing to say. But he brought out the worst in her, the angry, frustrated side she spent so long trying to control.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “It’s true though, isn’t it? We both know that.”
    His eyes were dark grey, narrowed, and his jaw set. Once, they’d been best friends, lovers; she didn’t want to hurt him, she just wanted him out of her life, he was disturbing her in a way she didn’t like.
    “Daniel … ” she said, then the door opened again and her friend Linda stepped in. Glancing at them both, her mouth fell open and she moved back.
    “Sorry, I’ll wait in the bar,” she said.
    “Meeting up for a drink?” he said, looking at Carly.
    “Yes, we are.” She gazed at him, without flinching and he stalked out the room, slamming the door behind him.
    Linda jerked as it crashed, then came around to the head of the table.
    “Was that Daniel?” she said. “I didn’t know he was back. He looks good, doesn’t he? Mind you, he always did.” Her smile faltered. “That was the wrong thing to say, sorry. It threw me, seeing him here. It’s been years.”
    “Two,” Carly said. Daniel hadn’t looked good to her, he looked exhausted and stressed, but she knew him better then Linda. “Hopefully he’ll return home soon.”
    “What’s up with you, Carly? You’ve been so moody these last two days. Is your leg hurting?”
    “Not my leg.” She dropped into her chair. “Sorry, I know I’m being a nightmare at the moment. Daniel unsettled me; I never expected to see him again.”
    “But his family lives here.”
    “I assumed he was enjoying his new life too much to remember Haven Bay.”
    “He’s not going to forget his own family, is he? Daniel isn’t like that, I suspect the only reason he stayed away is because he was avoiding you.”
    “Thanks!”
    “You can’t complain about him not coming back when it was you who ordered him to go.”
    “I know.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I couldn’t bear to see him so alive and well, while I sat in a wheelchair, with doctors shaking their heads over me and saying they might have to amputate. I couldn’t do anything on my own and I hated him seeing me like that.”
    “I think you were frightened of holding him back.” Linda said. “You loved sailing so much, you couldn’t bear for him to lose it as well. Which would have happened, I’m convinced, if he’d stayed in Haven Bay caring for you. Sorry if I sound harsh, but it’s true. By telling him to go, you let him have what you lost.”
    “I’m not sure it was quite that altruistic. There were many reasons, which all seemed right at the time, but I look at him now and wonder if I did the right thing. He doesn’t seem very happy.”
    “I don’t think either of you were in a state to