The Interview: New York & Los Angeles Part 2

by Sandi Lynn

  “Are you coming?” he asked as he held the limo door open for me.

  “Nah. You go ahead. I’m going to walk over to Starbucks first and then I’ll take a cab home.”

  “Are you sure? I can go with you to Starbucks if you want.”

  “You need to get back to work.” I pressed my finger into his chest as my lips brushed against his. “I’ll be fine. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He smiled as he hugged me goodbye.

  I walked down the block to Starbucks, ordered a coffee, and hailed a cab. Traffic was horrible, and the cab driver was flipping people off right and left and screaming at them out the window.

  “Listen, buddy. I’m going in Friday morning to have a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball removed from my head. I’d sort of like to get it taken out before I die.”

  “Gee, lady, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Thanks. Just try to calm down. Do you meditate?” I asked as I sipped my coffee.

  “No.” He shot me a weird look.

  “I think you should.” I pointed at him and winked.

  We were stuck in traffic, bumper to bumper and barely moving.

  “There’s an accident up ahead,” the cab driver spoke.

  “Of course there is.” I rolled my eyes.

  I looked out the window, and a few feet ahead, something caught my eye.

  “I’m going to get out here.” I took some cash out of my purse and handed it to him.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  I climbed out of the cab and just as I was about to shut the door, the cab driver spoke, “Hey, lady, good luck with your surgery.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Laurel

  I pulled open one of the green double doors and stepped inside where silence filled the air. As I stepped into the main area, dark mahogany pews with red seat coverings occupied the beautiful ornate space, as well as the breathtaking stained-glass windows all around. I took a seat towards the front. Why? I didn’t know. I had the entire church to myself. I could have sat anywhere but sitting in the third-row pew just felt right. I sat there in silence for a few moments, with my hands clasped and resting in my lap.

  “Hey.” I looked up. “I know you’re probably thinking what the hell—oops, sorry. You’re probably thinking why is she here? Laurel Holloway doesn’t go to church. Yeah, I’m sorry about that. But I did spend a month in a monastery in Thailand. Does that count? I hope so. Anyway, I’m here because I need to ask for a favor. I know I haven’t been the best person on your list. I’ll admit that my relationship with my family wasn’t great. I had way too much casual sex. I swear a lot, but I’m working on that. I did cause Rori LeMay to lose a client. But hey, she deserved that.” I pointed up to the ceiling. “You know what a bully she is. Aside from all that, I’m a pretty good person, right? I’m going in for brain surgery in two days and I’m scared to death. See, I love my life and I have a lot of people who love me, especially Wyatt. We have plans. We’re getting married next year, which I’m sure you already know. You put me in his path and in his life for a reason, and I was hoping that you could make sure I stuck around for at least the next sixty years or so. I just fell in love for the first time in my life, and I don’t want it to end so quickly. I know I’m in good hands with Dr. Finn, but a little extra power from someone like yourself wouldn’t hurt.”

  An older man dressed in all black with a white collar sat down next to me.

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a prayer quite like yours before.” He smiled.

  I smiled back as I lowered my head, and he placed his hand on mine.

  “You’ve come to the right place, my dear. God hears you and he’ll be with you during your surgery.”

  “I just keep asking why me?”

  “It’s not for us to question why. It’s for us to seek the purpose and the lessons behind any challenge we face in life.”

  “My fiancé didn’t ask for this, and I feel horrible that he has to go through this with me. He doesn’t deserve this. I sometimes feel like I’m such a burden.”

  “Did you ever stop to think that God put this man in your life because he was who you needed to get you through this?”

  “No. I guess I never looked at it that way.”

  “God places exactly who we need in our lives. Your fiancé sounds like he’s a good man.”

  “He is.” I smiled.

  “Keep your faith strong, my dear.” He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

  “Thank you, Father.”

  I had just arrived home when my phone rang, and I saw that Craig was facetiming me.

  “Hey you!” I smiled brightly.

  “Hey, Laurel. I was just calling to see how you’re doing.”

  “I’m good. How are you? Hey, Big Tom!” I waved as I saw him in the background.

  “Hey, Laurel! Good luck on Friday. You got this, girl.” He held up his fist.

  “Thanks. I got this!” I held my fist up.

  “Maddy and I will be flying in tomorrow afternoon.”

  “We can pick you up from the airport.”

  “I’ve already arranged for a car service, and we’ll be staying at a hotel.”

  “Craig.” I pursed my lips.

  “Laurel, you and Wyatt need your time alone. It’s not up for discussion. There’s somewhere I want to take you and Wyatt tomorrow before dinner.”

  “Oh, we’re having dinner together?” I smiled.

  “Wyatt already made the reservations. He didn’t tell you?”

  “He may have, and I just can’t remember. You know,” I pointed to my head, “tumor and all.”

  He gave me a sympathetic smile. I heard the elevator door open and turned the phone towards the foyer.

  “Wyatt’s home. Wyatt, say hi to Craig.”

  “Hey, buddy. Getting ready to fly out tomorrow?”

  “Yeah. I told Laurel that I want to take you guys somewhere before dinner.”

  “Sounds good.” He smiled. We’ll be ready.”

  “I need to get going, Laurel. I want to finish up some things here at the restaurant before I go home.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I blew him a kiss.

  ****

  Wyatt

  We were stuck in traffic when I looked out the window and felt compelled to do something.

  “Ryan, I’m going to get out here for a few minutes. When traffic starts moving, pull around that corner and wait for me.”

  “Sure thing, Wyatt.”

  I climbed out of the limo, walked down the street a few feet, and pulled open one of the green double doors that led into the church. I looked around and saw there was only one other person sitting in a pew, a gray-haired woman who looked to be in her seventies wearing all black with her hair securely placed in a bun. I took a seat in one of the pews in the middle and took in a deep breath. As I was sitting there, with my hands clasped together, Father Rossi sat down next to me.

  “Wyatt Coleman. It’s good to see you, son.”

  “Hello, Father Rossi.”

  “I haven’t seen you here since your grandfather’s memorial, and before that, your mother’s.”

  “Sorry about that.” I sighed.

  “Everything all right, Wyatt?” he asked in a quiet voice.

  “Not really, Father.” I stared straight ahead. “My fiancée was diagnosed with a brain tumor and she’s undergoing surgery on Friday to have it removed. I thought maybe I’d just stop in and have a little chat with the big guy.”

  “You know he’s always listening no matter where you are, son.”

  “I know. I want to make this as easy as possible for her, Father. I’ve been doing some research and the recovery is going to take some time.”

  “I’m sure it will, and God will be with you to help both of you through it. The most important thing is to keep your faith strong.” He placed his hand on my arm.

  “Thank you, Father
.”

  “I’ll let you get back to your chat with the big guy.” He smiled. “It was good to see you again, Wyatt.”

  “Good to see you too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Day Before Surgery

  Laurel

  The alarm went off and I slowly opened my eyes, only to be plagued by a massive headache. Moaning, I reached over and turned it off. A wave of nausea swept over me as I stumbled out of bed, high-tailed it to the bathroom, and graced the porcelain god with my presence.

  “Sweetheart, are you okay?” Wyatt asked as he came up from behind and grabbed hold of my hair.

  “Not really.” I vomited two more times.

  When I was finished, I sat on the floor with my head between my knees while Wyatt grabbed a washcloth and ran it under cool water.

  “You need to take your pill, Laurel,” he softly spoke.

  “I’m afraid. What if I throw it up?”

  “What if you don’t?”

  He sat on the bathroom floor next to me and pulled me into his lap as he held the cool washcloth against my head. My body began to soften in his arms as his lips pressed against the top of my head. Coco Chanel came running in with one of her toys hanging from her mouth. She dropped it and began to lightly lick my cheek.

  “Shoo,” Wyatt spoke.

  “It’s okay,” I whispered.

  She looked up at Wyatt and then began licking his hand that was holding the washcloth against my forehead.

  “For fuck sakes, stop it!” he spoke with irritation as he lightly pushed her away.

  “I think I’m ready for my pill now.”

  Wyatt helped me up and led me back to bed. He shook one of the large white pills from the bottle into his hand and handed it to me with a glass of water.

  “Go back to sleep for a while. I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”

  “You need to go to work,” I sleepily spoke.

  “I own the company. I don’t need to do anything.” The corners of his mouth curved upwards as he kissed my forehead.

  “Wyatt?”

  As he approached the door, he stopped and turned around.

  “After my surgery, I want to go to the ranch for a while. It’s quiet there.”

  “Okay. We’ll go to the ranch. Get some sleep, sweetheart.”

  ****

  Wyatt

  I walked down to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and Coco Chanel followed me.

  “Go back upstairs with Laurel,” I spoke to her.

  She meowed and ran out of the kitchen. Tomorrow was Laurel’s surgery, and as much as I thought I was prepared for it, I wasn’t. My phone rang, and when I answered it, it was the nurse calling that I’d hired for Laurel.

  “Wyatt Coleman,” I answered.

  “Mr. Coleman, this is Lettie Knowles, the nurse you hired for your fiancée.”

  “Yes, Miss Knowles, what can I do for you?”

  “I’m sorry to inform you that I will no longer be able to accept the job. I have a family emergency that requires me to be out of town for the next couple of weeks. I’m so sorry for the short notice.”

  Shit.

  “Please, don’t worry about it. I understand. I hope everything is okay.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Coleman, and good luck to you and your fiancée.”

  I ended the call and sighed as I set down my phone. Now what the hell was I supposed to do? I grabbed my coffee and went upstairs to check on Laurel before I headed in to my home office to do some work. She was sound asleep and looked like an angel.

  As much as I tried to focus on my work, I couldn’t. I was riddled with worry and I didn’t know how to stop it. As I leaned back in my high back leather chair, Coco Chanel took it upon herself to jump in my lap, place her paws up on my chest, and stare me in the eyes.

  “What? Why do you insist on tormenting me? Can’t you see I’m in deep thought?”

  “Meow.”

  I placed my finger under her chin and began scratching it.

  “Fine. You win. Happy now?”

  Her purr sounded like an engine roaring.

  “Listen, Coco, your mom is going to be gone for a few days. She’s having a very serious surgery and I need you to be on your best behavior when she returns home. Deal?”

  She turned her body around, curled up on my lap, and went to sleep.

  “Seriously?” I sighed.

  ****

  Laurel

  I opened my eyes and my headache was almost gone. Which was good, because there was no way in hell I was sitting around all day. I needed to keep busy, especially for my sanity. If I spent too much time alone or cooped up, all I’d think about was tomorrow and I didn’t want to do that. There was something I needed to do.

  I got dressed, threw my hair in a ponytail, brushed my teeth, grabbed my phone, and headed downstairs.

  “Wyatt?” I called out his name.

  “In my office, sweetheart.”

  I walked into his office and melted when I saw Coco Chanel curled up in his lap.

  “What’s going on in here?” I asked with a smile as I walked over to his chair. “Did you finally win, baby? Mama taught you well.” I pet her, and she meowed.

  “Yeah, well, I told her not to get too used to it,” Wyatt spoke. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better. Let’s call George and Eric and have them meet us in Central Park for lunch.”

  “Are you up to that?”

  “Yes. Of course. I feel a lot better, plus, the outside air will do me some good.”

  “Okay. Do you want me to call them?”

  “No. I will.” I grinned.

  I walked out of his office and called George.

  “Hey, you. Eric and I were just talking about you.”

  “Is he with you?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I’m in his office.”

  “Good. Put me on speaker.”

  “Hey, kid.”

  “Hey, Eric. Wyatt and I would like to know if the two of you want to meet us for lunch in Central Park?”

  “Sure,” George spoke. “When?”

  “How about an hour?”

  “Sounds good. Where in Central Park?” Eric asked.

  “Cherry Hill.”

  “We’ll be there, Laurel,” George spoke.

  “Great! See you guys soon.”

  I ended the call and grabbed the picnic basket from the closet.

  “Can they join us?” Wyatt asked as he walked into the kitchen. Coco Chanel came running after him.

  “Yeah. I told them to meet us at Cherry Hill in an hour. I would like to stop at the deli around the corner and pick up some sandwiches and maybe stop at the market and get some fresh fruit.”

  “Then we better get going now. Are you sure you’re feeling up to this?”

  “I’m fine.” I smiled as I tapped him on the nose as I walked by to grab the blanket.

  We stopped at the deli, picked up some sandwiches, and then headed over to the market for some fruit and cheese. Right next door was a bakery, so while Wyatt was paying at the market, I walked over and picked up some cookies. We arrived at Cherry Hill and set our blanket down by the lake. A few moments later, Eric and George arrived.

  “Hey, bestie.” George smiled as he hugged me.

  “You look good, kid.” Eric hugged me.

  “Yeah well, admire me now, because come tomorrow, part of my head is going to be shaved.” I smirked.

  Being the sensitive soul he was, Eric looked away and George gave me a sympathetic smile. We all sat down on the blanket, opened the picnic basket, and had a great lunch. I grabbed my phone from my purse, pulled up the camera, and set it to video mode as I filmed the four of us talking, laughing, and enjoying our time together.

  “I’m going to send you what I have for the article I’m writing about my journey. I thought you could publish it in pieces,” I spoke to Eric. “Then, after the surgery, I’ll write some more.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Laurel. We’ll definitely do it that way.
”

  “I’ve also written a brief article about my situation and how it’s going to affect Everything Laurel. Just so people know what’s going on. I think it’s a good idea to inform them.”

  “You’re right, and that is a good idea. We were just going to suspend Everything Laurel until you were feeling better. But, letting our readers know why it won’t be published for a while is a great idea.” His eyes filled with tears.

  “Eric, I’m warning you!” I pointed at him.

  “Sorry, kid.” He wiped his eyes.

  While Eric and Wyatt talked, I noticed George standing off in the distance staring at the lake with his hands tucked into his pants pockets.

  “What’s going on with you?” I asked as I hooked my arm around him.

  “I know you, Laurel. In fact, I probably know you better than you know yourself, and I know why you wanted to have lunch with me and Eric.”

  “Because you’re my friends, you dork.” I shoulder-bumped him.

  “Is that the only reason?” He glanced over at me with a serious look.

  “What other reason is there?”

  “Maybe because you wanted to have this special time with us in case something goes wrong tomorrow?” His eyes filled with tears.

  I turned away. I hated that he knew me so well. He always had, and he always would.

  “Nothing is going to go wrong. You’re going to have that damn tumor removed and then you’ll be back better than ever,” he spoke.

  “I hope so,” I spoke in a low voice.

  He hooked his arm around me and kissed the side of my head.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Wyatt

  Eric and George left to go back to the office and I asked Laurel if she was ready to go because the clouds started rolling in and it looked like it was going to rain.

  “I want to stay a while longer,” she spoke as we sat on the blanket and she laid her head on my shoulder.

  “Okay. We’ll stay.”

  A raindrop hit me in the face. I held up my hand as a few more hit it.

  “It’s starting to rain,” I spoke.

  “I know. I feel it,” she whispered.

  “Well, don’t you think we should get going?”

  “Why? It’s just rain.”