CHAPTER 40

April's day flew in, she was busy arranging all the work that she had missed in the last week and before she knew it, it was home time. That was when she looked down and saw that her phone had been inundated with messages from Dean.

(Hope you are having an amazing day babe xx)

(Don't forget to relax and of course think of me often xx)

(You're working and not looking after yourself, wait till I get you home later xx)

(Your hubby is outside xxx)

April bit her lip and knew she was in trouble, she hadn't replied all day and he had asked her to text him this morning and she had been so caught up on work she had forgotten to check her phone. She was completely new to all this as James had not given her his phone number never mind asked her to text him. April packed up and rushed out.

"Why are you rushing?" Asked Aarna.

"My boyfriend is outside and I forgot to text him all day," April replied as she hit the lift button and entered.

Aarna laughed, "You have a boyfriend and didn't tell me? There I am spilling my heart out to you."

April smiled, "Sorry, it all happened last week when I was recovering."

"Ohh, is he a hot doctor? You get all the luck" Aarna pouted.

April laughed she didn't dare say her boyfriend was Dean Adler the Cities most eligible bachelor. She may not get out of the lift alive.

They both exited the lift and April rushed out of the lobby of Walker Interiors.

Bang

"I am so sorry." She had walked right into a human wall, looking up she saw James and she frowned and started to walk around him.

"Wait!" James called out. He had called into her work earlier but her Manager had said she was still off and he ended up having a meeting with her instead and although Emily was pretty he had his sights now set on April.

"Can we not get to know each other over drinks or dinner? What do you say? We can have some fun together." James stood in front of April sure that with his looks and their childhood history together he more or less had her.

April crinkled her nose, "I am not like the others. That is where you made your first mistake."

She has the intuition of an angel and fire like a dragon, Dean thought as he watched her demeanour total flip like a switch when she saw James. Dean smirked in the car completely satisfied and proud of his feisty kitten.

"Come now didn't you used to love me and chase after me when we were children", James stood tall not fazed by Aprils change.

April smiled and laughed, "There are all types of love in this world but never the same love twice and sometimes giving a person a second chance is like reloading a gun because they missed the first time." She then walked around the pest in front of her.

"Wait… hold up a minute you can't pass this opportunity up, I may not ask again," James announced.

"I am worth more than you bothered to spend on me emotionally, spiritually, romantically. Or maybe you just didn't have it in you, too shallow to go a little deeper. Too selfish to invest a little more of your heart. Maybe you couldn't handle me, even though I am really quite easy to please, as long as I know I am loved, appreciated and wanted. I am worth more than you cared to invest. I am tired of trying. I am worth more than that. I have someone now who loves all of me, flaws and all, he is honest with me and gives me the moon when I feel lost, he gives me the stars when I need guidance." April then noticed Deans car parked and she ran towards it and got inside the passenger side.

Dean beamed and although he didn't hear their conversation he was proud of her. A good woman loves hard; she doesn't know any other way to love. So when she is emotional, it's not because she is holding back… it is because she is giving it everything she has got. He had a feeling she had finally let go of her past and was now embracing a future with him.

"Hey, sorry I didn't message back," April said apologetically.

"It's okay, let's go home." Dean then reached over and buckled her in safely.

"That's it?" April was used to the fight, used to being judged. Sometimes the relationship you have after being in a toxic relationship is the hardest because you are not used to being loved and cared for.

Dean knew she needed a pep talk and reassurance and he would happily do it a million times if it eased her heart, "Look I know that it is going to be difficult but what matters is what I am willing to do for a future with you. What we are willing to do. This is what sets us apart from whether or not we achieve our goals or not. Do you want to know why I won't quit? Because I appreciate more than just your good moments that we have had. I learned that you have to accept the sh*tty moments too. When you do that, that is when you realise what's most important. What is worth struggling and fighting for."

"Thanks let's go home then," she smiled but saw that Dean didn't drive yet. She then realised he needed her to reassure him, "I am okay, if you don't let the past die, then it won't let you live."

Dean nodded and took her hand in his as he drove them home.

She looked out of the window and daydreamed of her past life. No matter who would have shone the light on James, no matter what they had tried to say to her. No matter where they showed her to the right path, she had to see it for herself. She had to see the light for herself, she had to take the steps now onto a new path and forge her way forward. Her life was now what she dreamed and envisaged.

She glanced out of the window and spoke as Dean continued to drive, "You know I lost many years in a cage like a chained soul, I had a tied tongue to match. I learnt that the more I spoke the more they didn't care for my words so I stopped speaking. Now freedom flows like a liquid in my veins and I soar honestly met with love or hate I will not hold back. I will not go back to that prison."

"So what do you want to do now?" Dean held her hand and kissed it. Happy she was opening up and sharing with him.

"I have a problem", She looked up at him wondering if he could help or find her crazy.

"How can I help?" He asked with a hint of affection

"You may think I am crazy but my father takes these tablets and they were given to him by my stepmother… I want to check them." April replied.

"No problem, let's go to the hospital. I have a friend that can help us with that." Dean took the next exit and headed for the hospital knowing she would be keen to head there first.

"Really? Just like that?" she asked with a huge smile on her face.

Dean glanced at her face. There are seven billion smiles in this city and only her pours life into him.

Dean had stopped the car and April had still stared out of the window lost in her thoughts throughout the short drive towards the hospital. He had wondered if James had really had affected her that much that she now fell into a deep contemplation. He knew it was irrational but he was petty enough to be displeased that she would even think of James even if it was in a negative light. Wanting to break her train of thought away from James he poked her soft bouncy cheek in a teasing manner.

"Hey," April responded as she rubbed her cheek and glared at her assailant.

"Hey yourself, what are you thinking so deeply about that you didn't notice we have arrived?" Dean asked.

It was only then that April noticed that they were now parked outside of the hospital as she looked at the white building in front of her. She had always been alone, her responses were always I got this, don't worry about it. She had always held on strong and silent through any storm but seeing Dean's furrowed brows and concern written all over his face she sighed and decided to give in. It was time for the lone warrior to share her concerns.

She knew now that she deserved a call me anytime love, pick you up from work love. A love note left out for her kind of love. A chicken soup on a sick day type of love. A laugh at your bad jokes type of love. A reminder that it was snowing and that she may have to wear a jacket kind of love. A bring you a brownie because you have had a bad day kind of love. A listening love, a requited love that would last. Thinking that she knew communication was key.

"I am not the silly romantic type of girl. I don't want you to give me the moon and stars, as we can be each other's light. I don't want gemstones or gold. I can get those myself. I want a steady hand, a kind soul. I want to go to sleep and wake up knowing my heart is safe. I want to love and be loved." April earnestly replied. She wanted to offer Dean a way out now if he wanted it. Her life was full of ups and downs and she certainly didn't want him to be involved in the chaos.

Dean nodded he saw through her words and her intentions. He certainly wasn't one to run though, his running shoes were off. In this lifetime he promised to keep hold of her and be her strength and he knew, in turn, she would do the same for him.

April didn't make eye contact she kept her head down, afraid of the answer Dean would give her.

"April." Dean's low voice was startlingly loud in her ears but she kept her head lowered bracing herself for the impact of his words. In her experience when someone said your name in that way they had something to say and now she didn't know if she wanted to hear it or not.

Dean remembered the first time he saw her, that feeling when he took her all in. The free fall of his heart and how it crashed into hers without warning. She stood in the cold night against the night sky in her white dress and at first glance, everything fell into place for him. He craved her inside more than the outside, her heart and soul were precious to him. He was addicted to everything she was made of and at that moment he knew she was his to protect at all costs. She was his angel, his eternal light.

Dean sighed and lifted her head up with his left hand so that they were now eye to eye. He saw fear and uncertainty in her eyes, "I won't let you go, you only get one chance at a love like this. I will do all I can to keep you safe, happy and feel loved. I didn't just fall in love with you dork, I fell in love with your voice, your smile, your eyes, your laugh, and I fell in love with everything about you."

April was a badass with a good heart, soft but strong, unapologetic and honest. April was the type of girl you go to war beside not against.

Dean knew she was an independent woman and he only wanted to be her teammate and not let her do things alone. She had obviously been in turmoil over asking for his help and he automaticallyknew that was difficult for her. He didn't wait for her to ask he offered so she could see he would be there for her. She had been through so much in life and her walls were tall and surrounded her heart, he would work hard to knock them down and build her trust brick by brick.

April didn't expect his words, she never thought that one day love would come in the form of someone that would give more than take, in that second she realised that this feeling she felt was rare. Dean was sweet like summer honey and kind like an autumn afternoon.

April stared into his deep loving brown eyes and gave her answer straight from her heart, "I want to be your new home. I want you to pack up your life into brown boxes, rent a van and move in. I want you to fill me with your favourite trinkets, picture frames, candles and decorate me until I feel like yours. I want to find our favourite take out place down the street, I want to wake up together to the birds singing in the morning. I want to be silly and dance around the living room shaking the floor together creating butterflies in my stomach. I want you to be comfortable and happy… I don't want you to leave me."