Doctor's Delight by Angela Verdenius

the middle of the pavement, she stared unseeingly into the
nearby park. Sure, she had hope that one day some man might find
her desirable, some man who would accept her, generous curves and
all. Some man who would see past her physical appearance and know
that she was a nice person, that she had a lot of love to give the
right man.
    That man
couldn’t be Rick Reed. No way. Granted, he was everything a woman
dreamed of in a man – well, apart from the startling caveman
attitude – but not the kind of man she’d ever imagined would be
interested in her.
    But he had
certainly seemed interested. He’d come to her house, he’d kissed
her, he’d told her he’d be back to…a shiver curled right through
her, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head before
clutching low in her loins…ravish her.
    Could a man
like Rick really say something like that and not mean it? Could he
be that cruel to play her along? He certainly didn’t seem that kind
of man, he was no juvenile with cruel intentions. Not that she
really knew him, but one could never be certain about everyone.
    Still musing,
she returned her attention to the pavement in front of her and
started walking. Hearing a familiar voice, she glanced up and came
to a dead stop. Not far from her was parked a dark blue BMW and
beside it stood a tall, slim, blonde woman she recognized as
Annabelle Forbes. Facing her was Rick. He was speaking very
quietly, so none of his words could be heard from far. Even as
Cherry watched, Annabelle reached up and laid one hand on his
cheek. Rick also reached up, taking her hand and curling his
fingers around hers, lowering that elegant hand to hold it in his
as he continued talking.
    Cherry
shattered inside. Her heart dipped, her stomach lurched, and she
felt the world tilt a little. Turning around, she hastily took the
pathway leading into the park, moving quickly so that she could be
hidden by the tall hedges.
    “You idiot,”
she muttered. “You fat, foolish, idiot.”
    Rick Reed was
meeting with the slim, gorgeous Annabelle Forbes. He wasn’t
interested in Cherry, or only as a side fling. Screw the chubby
chick for laughs, but concentrate on the beautiful and slim for the
ever after.
    “Hey, hippo!” A
young male voice rang out. “Move your fat arse out of the way!”
    She leaped
aside and a bicycle went whizzing by, a lanky young teenager on it
and his two friends following fast behind.
    The last youth
turned around and flipped her his middle finger. “Go home, fatso!
Hide your fat arse! You’re hurting my eyes!”
    They laughed
cruelly and disappeared around a curve in the path.
    Slowly, Cherry
recommenced walking. Every hope in the day had leeched out, every
secret enjoyment of the masterful kiss and words that Rick had
given and spoken fading away under a haze of hurt. Normally she
could shrug off biting words, but right now those cruel words from
the thoughtless youths raked deep.
    Reaching up,
she wasn’t really surprised to find a tear on her cheek. It had
been a long time since she’d cried. Seemed like the drought was
over.
    “Oh, my dear.”
Cherry glanced back to see an elderly woman behind her. The
withered hand reached up and touched her shoulder, concern in the
wise old eyes looking up at her. “Ignorance is the bane of youth,”
the woman said softly. “You’re a lovely soul, my dear. I can see it
in your eyes.”
    “I’m all
right.” Cherry smiled, feeling it wobble on her lips. “Thanks.” She
left fast before any more tears could fall.
    The old lady
called out to her but Cherry kept going, not wanting to break down
and cry in front of her. She was horrified at the lump in her
throat. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Stupid to cry when she knew those
teenagers were simply ignorant, when she knew she was worth so much
more. But something had broken through her little wall and now the
dam was threatening to overflow, and she didn’t know why.
    Yes, she did
know.
    Rick Reed, his
words, his kisses, and his