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her hands, dejection overcoming her with force. ‘My father kicked me out, David. He told me to leave and to never come back.’
    ‘He’s changed, Eden.’ David came around the desk, but still kept a clear distance between them. ‘You’re so driven, so focused, and you are always there for others. Be there for them .’ His words were deep, imploring. ‘Apart from all of that, I’ve already told you that you are the strongest woman I know.’
    She sighed and gave him a small smile. ‘And I thought that was because I used to beat you at arm wrestling.’
    He matched her grin. ‘I used to let you win.’
    Her smile increased, her tension starting to dissipate. ‘I know.’
    David paused, his tone encouraging. ‘See them, Eden. Perhaps now is the time to put the past behind you? To start afresh?’
    ‘Next you’ll be saying that life is too short to have regrets.’
    ‘It is.’
    ‘Do you have regrets?’
    ‘Who doesn’t?’
    ‘I mean about me.’ Eden’s heart started pounding fiercely against her chest as she spoke. Could he see she wasn’t joking around or teasing this time? Could he feel that she needed some sort of reassurance? He’d rejected her and it had hurt. Then he’d left, adding even more pain and guilt to the rejection she’d suffered.
    David was silent, and she was about to tell him to forget it when finally he answered. ‘Of course I do. But we were both so young.’
    ‘You still rejected me, David. Rejection is never easy to handle. First you, then my family. Oh, I’d been used to being on the outside at school, in fact, ever since my parents moved to the “money” suburb after their lottery win, but rejection, especially at such a young and impressionable age, hurts.’
    ‘I tried to let you down as gently as I knew how.’
    ‘By leaving me? By cutting yourself off?’
    ‘If I wasn’t around, I knew it would protect both of us from heading in a direction which was—’
    ‘Oh, you don’t need to explain. I understand now, being older, but still, rejection is never easy to deal with. I would have gone completely around the bend if it hadn’t been for Sasha. She was the only one, still is the only one, who’s always been there for me. It’s why I needed to come back. She needs me and I’m here.’
    ‘Yet you didn’t make it to her wedding.’
    ‘We’ve discussed this, David.’ There was a warning in her tone, a warning not to push her, but he needed to know.
    ‘Not really, Eden. I still don’t understand why you didn’t come. It makes no sense. Too busy helping others? Researching? Writing papers? Couldn’t that have waited? Your best friend got married and she wanted you there.’
    ‘Sasha understood.’
    ‘So you say.’
    ‘No, David. Sasha really understood.’
    ‘Then explain it to me.’
    ‘I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. I’ve been on enough of an emotional roller-coaster for one day and I don’t need another turn.’ She walked towards the door, eager to put some distance between them—for when he looked at her with such cold confusion Eden’s heart started to break. She was far too vulnerable right now to discuss such a topic with him. Not only because it had been one of the darkest times in her life, but because she’d no doubt end up in tears again.
    ‘I should get back and check on Sasha, or at least chat to Robert if Sasha’s sleeping. He’s so perfect for her.’ Eden’s smile came naturally when she thought about the way Robert and Sasha looked at each other. Along with that smile came a natural yearning to one day experience that sort of love. Would she ever find the right man? Was he standing right in front of her?
    She was changing the subject and David let her, but hopefully she’d realise he wasn’t going to let the subject drop. It was important to him. He needed to understand, because not turning up for her best friend’s wedding had been so unlike the Eden he thought he’d know. He didn’t want to think he’d misjudged