Remington's Sky

by LaShawn Vasser

  As he drove towards the house, Remington didn’t have any feelings nostalgia. It was more like dread.

  Remington didn’t have any qualms about leaving or divorcing Bella. Not one. Well, maybe one. He never should have left Charlie behind. He should have at the very least bought a home closer. Maybe if he had, she wouldn’t be in the hospital learning how to live a very different life than what he planned for her. In his defense, Remington hadn’t wanted to uproot her from the only home she had ever known. Dealing with divorcing parents was difficult enough. It was worth it to him to pay over a hundred grand a month if it meant his little girl could hold on to a piece of normalcy.

  “Thank you for giving me a ride home, Mr. Kneeland.”

  He had almost forgotten Yolanda was sitting in the passenger seat. “No problem. I hope I won’t have to remind you again that taking the bus to the city at your age is dangerous.”

  “No, sir.” She nodded. “I can’t believe I did the same thing that I told Charlie not to do the night she was injured.”

  “What? What was Charlie planning the night she was injured?”

  Yolanda started talking to herself in Spanish. “Oh, God. I promised. Me and my big mouth.”

  She didn’t realize Remington was fluent in Spanish. “You promised what? What happened that night, Yolanda?”

  Her eyes widened. “I said I wouldn’t say anything.”

  Remington’s chest began to feel tight. “I don't know how to help Charlie if I don’t know what really happened?”

  She thought about it for a moment and decided it’s was best to be as honest as she could without betraying too much of Charlie’s trust and jeopardizing her mother’s job. “Charlie had planned to run away. She was having some problems at school and was afraid of how Mr. and Mrs. Langston might react to her getting kicked out.” Yolanda left out the details about the abuse.

  His voice had an edge to it. “Why was she afraid of how they might respond? Should she have been scared?”

  Yolanda’s eyes were downcast. “I don’t know, Mr. Kneeland. I just know she wanted to leave. I can’t tell you anything else.”

  Remington inhaled deeply then blew it out slowly. He didn’t want to scare the child, but if there was something nefarious going on, he needed to know about it. Something in his gut told him something other than the story he had been fed happened that night. Remington didn’t want to come across as too much of a hardass. He attempted to soften his voice. If there was more information to be gleaned from Yolanda, the whole flies and honey analogy came to mind. “Thanks for telling me what have. If you remember anything else, or if there is ever something you need,” He reached into his inside suit jacket and handed her his business card. “Call my assistant, Ashleigh. She’ll get in touch with me.”

  Slowly, Yolanda lifted her head and one corner of her mouth ticked up into a small smile. “Thanks, Mr. Kneeland.”

  “No problem.” His rental car rolled to a stop in front of his former home. Yolanda’s mother was standing outside in her maid’s uniform wringing her hands. As soon as Yolanda exited, she received a tongue lashing in Spanish.

  As Remington stepped out of the car, Sophia spoke. “I’m sorry that my daughter bothered you, Mr. Kneeland.”

  “Yolanda is not a bother. She’s a good kid. If I’m honest, I should have thought to ask if she wanted to visit sooner since the girls have always been close. It did Charlie good to see her.”

  “REMI?” He saw Bella walking towards them as she sang his name.

  Dammit. His goal of making a quick exit was foiled.

  “Goodnight.” Sophia and Yolanda moved quickly to enter the house.

  “How is Charlie?” Bella asked.

  “You would know if you spent more time at the hospital.”

  “Don’t start.” Her voice softened as she ran a finger up and down his arm. “We just got back into town last night and were recovering from jet-lag.”

  One minute Bella hated him. The next, she was unabashedly flirting. The woman was mental. He thought. Remington ignored her and used the back of his thumb to scratch the side of his head. He asked the question that had been on his mind for weeks. “Bella, what happened the night of the accident? Why was Charlie out in the wee hours of the morning?”

  She wrapped her arms around her body. “There is not much more to the story than I’ve already told you. She fell off the horse.”

  His voice began to rise. “She had no damn business out that time of night, to begin with. Something is not adding up.”

  “Why do you always look for more to a situation than there is? If you don’t believe me, then ask her.”

  The rage in his chest was about to burst out. Remington clenched his teeth. “She doesn’t remember.”

  Kane came bounding out of the house and down the stairs towards them. He was pissed. “Remington. What are you doing at my house?”

  “Your house? Are you fucking kidding me?” The prick had a lot of nerve. “I suggest you take your ass back inside before I lay you out where you stand.”

  Bella got in-between them. “Now now, boys. No need to be fighting over me.” She ate up what she thought was jealousy over her. “Remington was just asking about the accident.”

  “If your daughter hadn’t been out chasing the security guard by the stables for a mid-night rendezvous maybe none of us would be in this situation!”

  “What?” Remington saw red.

  “Yes. Your precious angel was trying to hook up with a man almost twice her age. In her effort to show off for him, she fell off the damn horse.”

  “Is that true?” Remington glanced at Bella.

  Her face blushed. “She’s just a child, REMI. She probably thought she was in love.”

  Remington glanced from Kane to Bella. He didn’t for one second believe a word that came out of either of their mouths, but if he didn’t want to get brought up on murder charges, it was best to leave. And that was precisely what he did.

  Remington got into his car and slammed the door. His tires squealed as he peeled out of the driveway.

  He made a mental note. Call the lawyers. Put the damned house up for sale.

  Chapter 18

  “I just got your text. What’s up?” Sky walked into Charlie’s room the next morning.

  She struggled to sit up on her own but managed. “I was hoping you would come before my dad comes back from the cafeteria. Can I talk to you about something?”

  Sky pulled up a chair and sat down. “Of course.”

  “I mean, you have to promise not to say a word especially to him.”

  “As long as it doesn’t put you in danger, I’ll take it to my grave.” Sky crossed her heart and gave the Boy’s Scout salute.

  Charlie pursed her lips together. “I am a little nervous about moving in with him.”

  “Okaaaay. Would you rather live with your mother?”

  “Oh, god. No!” Charlie wrinkled up her nose.

  Her reaction went a long way to confirm her suspicions.

  “It’s just that I’ve changed a lot in three years. What if—what if he doesn’t like me?”

  “Are you saying that you haven’t spent time with your father in three years?”

  She shook her head. “No. I spent Father’s Day, his birthday week, two weeks out of the summer, and spring break with him. Both my parents travel too much for the every other weekend thing. When it was his time to have me, he was always busy working. He left it to his assistant to keep me busy.” Charlie sighed. “Who am I kidding? Now that I think about it, I’m sure that’s what will happen when I move in. He’ll hire a glorified babysitter. I guess I’ve answered my own question. Too bad my legs don’t work. At least, I could run away. I can’t even sneak out anymore.”

  Sky chose her words carefully. “I have a feeling that your father is going to try to make some changes in his life. I think he knows that he made mistakes with you, and more than anything probably wants a chance to do better.”

  The door to Charl
ie’s room opened, and there stood Bella in all her pageantry glory.

  “Dr. Kirby isn’t it interesting that you think you know my REMI so well, enough to advocate on his behalf.” She strutted further into the hospital room in full red-carpet attire. “Hi, darlin’.” She floated over to Charlie and kissed her on the forehead as if she hadn’t been MIA. “How are you feeling today?”

  Charlie didn’t make eye contact as she mumbled. “Okay.”

  Slowly, Sky stood. She did not like that woman. Bella was a self-absorbed, vapid piece of work. But for Charlie’s sake, Sky would play nice. “Charlie is showing marked improvements every day. At this rate, she could be released to a rehabilitation center very soon.” If you were around more, you would know that.

  “Okay? Just okay? How am I supposed to go to this industry thing tonight if my baby-girl is feeling okay?” Bella had never been more animated.

  Charlie turned her head towards the wall. “It’s never stopped you before so I don’t know why today would be any different.”

  Bella’s porcelain white face turned three shades of red. Before she could respond, Remington sauntered into the room carrying a bouquet of balloons. Sky was in his line of vision, and his grin grew wide the second he saw her.

  For a brief moment, Sky’s eyes locked with his, and then she remembered they weren’t alone.

  Bella saw the exchange, and she did not like it. “There you are REMI?” Her high-pitched voice was all sweet like saccharine.

  It made Sky want to vomit. She also realized Bella was the reason she hated the name REMI.

  The smile on his face faded as soon as he realized Bella was in the room.

  Sky attempted to make a graceful exit. “I have a few patients to see.”

  “Oh. Good. I was starting to think Charlie was your only patient.” Bella’s words were full of venom.

  Charlie squealed. “Mom! Stop. Pleassse.”

  Remington’s voice joined Charlie’s as it hardened. “Stop with the shenanigans, Bella.”

  Sky wasn’t in a Michelle Obama kind of mood. But out of respect for Charlie and Remington, she wouldn’t go low and snap. Instead, she focused on Charlie. “It’s fine. I’ll see you later.” She wasted no time leaving.

  *****

  Sky was elbow deep in paperwork when Bella entered her office. “We should have had a conversation a long time ago. But, since we didn’t, now is a good a time as any. It’s obvious I need to set a few ground rules.”

  Sky looked up, placed her elbows on her desk, and linked her fingers together. “Pray tell, what would those rules be, Mrs. Langston?”

  Bella wasn’t used to people not kowtowing to her. She was an Academy Award Winning Actress—Bella damn Lord-Langston, and she planned to make sure Dr. Kirby recognized it! Her eyes narrowed. “Stay out of my family’s business. If you can’t, or won’t, don’t think because you’re fuckin’ my ex-husband that I don’t have the power to have your ass replaced!”

  Sky was deathly calm as she spoke. “Just so you understand, threats don’t work on me. They usually have the opposite effect, and for the record, who I’m sleeping with is none of your business.”

  “Maybe I need to be a little clearer. If REMI wants to sleep around with any old thing, that’s on him. My priority is Charlie. You need to know that you’ve only remained her surgeon because we needed you in a pinch. She’s awake. We no longer need you.”

  Sky leaned back in her chair and steepled her fingers together. “Really?”

  “Really. So, if you want to continue to get all of this positive press coverage at the expense of my daughter, follow the damn rules. Otherwise, this little career you’re trying to build might become a casualty of my wrath.”

  “Since we are being brutally honest, you should know, the only rules I follow are my own and certainly not the ones of a has been aging actress trying to hold on to her youth. If Charlie was really your priority, you wouldn’t pop in and out of her life like she was a pet. Where the hell have you been these past weeks? Furthermore, why was she out at three in the morning and even in a position to harm herself? Chasing whatever you are chasing, you are failing her. There is not a movie, a script, or anything in this world that would take priority over my daughter’s well-being.”

  “Bitch, you don’t know me! Don’t you dare try to tell me how to be a parent.” Bella was ready to jump over Sky’s desk and punch her.

  Sky wasn’t finished. Her eyes narrowed. “I see you clearly, and the only priority you care about is yourself.” Sky sat up on the edge of her seat. “Another thing, I’m Charlie’s physician because I’m the best at what I do. I’m in the media because I’m making history about things that actually matter. Long after you stop getting movie offers and awards, I’ll still be using my Harvard and John’s Hopkins education saving lives. As a matter of fact, up and coming doctors will learn how to be better doctors from my work.”

  Bella placed both palms on Sky’s desk and leaned in slightly to make sure she heard her every word. “You really don’t want to mess with me. I can crush you like a bug.”

  Sky stood placing her palms on her desk. She leaned towards Bella as they stood face to face. “I’d like to see you try.”

  The stare-off lasted for seconds but seemed like an eternity. Sky would die before she blinked first. Fortunately, she didn’t have. Bella lifted her chin slightly, then turned and left.

  Chapter 19

  Sky opened the door and stepped out onto the roof of the hospital. It only took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She spotted him sitting alone with his legs dangling over the side of the building like it wasn’t an insurance risk. Or something Sky hadn’t done a million times herself. She walked over to him. “Hey. I got your text? You wanted to meet on the roof?” After her run-in with Bella, Sky debated coming.

  “A little birdie told me this was a great place to collect your thoughts.” Remington turned around to see the woman who had been haunting his dreams. “Is that a six-pack of beer?”

  Sky lifted it a little higher. “Actually, it’s a five-pack.” Even though Remington made her feel things she shouldn’t, Sky was glad she made the decision to meet with him. Just being in his presence made everything else going on in her life fade into the background.

  Sky rambled. “My best friend bought it a few days ago. I put it in my office refrigerator. It’s missing a bottle because she had no problem downing one—or two. I can’t drink while I’m on duty. Fortunately, I’m off. Anyway, I figured you could use a cold one—or two.” She took a seat next to him and let her legs dangle over the edge of the wall too. Fortunately, there was a ledge below, so if for some reason they tipped over they wouldn’t fall thirty stories to their death. She handed him a bottle.

  “I mistook you for a wine type of woman.” Remington twisted the cap off and turned the bottle up. He took a long pull. “Just what I needed.”

  “I am. But, every now and again, nothing beats a nice cold beer.” Sky took a drink from her own bottle.

  Remington seemed lost in thought. “It really is nice up here. It’s like another world where problems don’t exist. Thanks for telling me about it.”

  “It’s peaceful. It’s gorgeous in the early morning, but more so at night. When I don’t have time to go home, sometimes, I’ll come up here to recharge my batteries.” Sky continued to admire the night. She sighed. “Speaking of home, when was the last time you left this hospital?”

  Remington raised an eyebrow. “I should be asking you that same question.”

  Sky shrugged. “There is a difference between us. It’s just me. I don’t have anyone that depends on me. You, on the other hand, do. You need to take care of yourself so that you can care for Charlie.”

  “Maybe you should try to change that—it’s just you thing. I guess my little speech about the walk on the beach didn’t register.”

  “Funny you should say that. I’m still looking into rescue dogs trying to find the right one. I hear they love long walks on
the beach.” She laughed more to herself than him. “Seriously, until I find the right partner, might as well make myself useful here at the hospital. But, back to you. You never answered my question. When was the last time you left this hospital?”

  “Months. Home is in Phoenix, and I was in China for a while. But, to answer your question, I left the hospital today to shower at the hotel I’m paying for but never sleep in.” As much as Remington fought it, he enjoyed Sky’s company which was why he broke down and texted her. Remington knew he was asking for trouble when the words left his mouth but he couldn’t seem to help himself. ‘I didn’t know you were looking for a partner?”

  Sky pulled her lower lip into her mouth before answering. “I’m not looking per se. But if the right man came along, I might be willing to re-think some previously held positions.”

  His eyes followed the small action of her lips. “Positions like no marriage and children?”

  “Maybe. I’m sure I was being a little dramatic that day when I said that. My mother can bring out the worst in me. But, at some point, I want a family. However, the man I’m with would have to be really incredible for me to even consider either of those things.”

  Remington glanced out into the darkness. “Being a parent is the hardest job in the world. My situation makes dating almost impossible. Not sure if I would be able to figure out how to balance the time. Charlie really needs me. It’s been difficult to be away from her even for a second.”

  “I bet. Charlie’s amazing.” Sky got the message loud and clear. He didn’t have any space in his life for her. It was more than understandable.

  Maybe if things were different Remington would pursue Sky. He rationalized his wanting to spend time with her as just a way to keep a good relationship with his daughter’s physician. However, when they were together, Remington couldn’t ignore the fact that Sky had been able to do what no one else had in a long time—feel at peace even in the midst of madness. Speaking of peace, he could win a Nobel Prize for keeping his hands to himself over the past couple of weeks. Even though he had been conflicted about what he wanted, it didn’t matter since Sky had put the kibosh on anything romantic between them. Sometimes, the glances that passed between them made him think she was also conflicted about the nature of their friendship. There was no rationalizing the fact that friends don’t typically make a man’s body ache, and Sky had his in a state of semi-arousal every time they were together.