Just a Little Hope

by Amy J. Norris

  Tori grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured herself a cup of the steaming brew and returned to her desk. Upon checking her email, Tori dialed the number for Pax’s cell phone, hoping she wouldn’t be disturbing her. Pax’s voice resonated through the speaker. “Good morning, Tori.”

  “Hey, girlie. What’s the verdict?”

  “I’m springing this joint today!”

  She leaned back in her chair and played with the telephone cord. “That’s exactly why I called you! Great news! Do you know what time?”

  “They’re saying anywhere from noon to four. Seb says it will be six o’clock then.” The faint sounds of his laughter rang in the background.

  “Well, did you decide where you are going to recuperate?”

  “I guess Seb gets what he wants. I talked to Mom about it, and she thinks it’s the best plan. I can be all on one floor. With his workout room, I hope I can even take my therapy sessions there. He seems to think he knows some people who can help me out.”

  She took a sip of her cooling coffee before responding. “Um, ya’ think? Like the entire St. Louis Cardinals training staff?”

  “Well, technically I don’t think they can treat me, but they know people who know people… That kind of thing.”

  Tori leaned forward and rested her elbows on her desk. “You’ll be on your feet in no time, and then you can have Mr. Parker back. He’s driving me crazy.”

  “Oh, Tori. He’s a sweetheart. He’s, you know, organized.”

  “Organized, my eye. He’s trying to drive me to an early grave.”

  “He’s doesn’t run one of the top car dealerships in the greater St. Louis area for nothing, you know.”

  She grabbed the Parker file from her desk and thumbed through it. “Sure. Sure. You know what? I am going to take these papers over there personally. Then he will know it’s done, and he won’t have to call me anymore with questions, comments or complaints. And who knows? While I’m there I might see if he’ll give me a good price on a new car.”

  “I think I’m the one in need of a new car. And you couldn’t afford the rear view mirror of one of Mr. Parker’s cars.”

  “I know, but it never hurts to look. Anyway, I’ll pop by the hospital this afternoon. Michael’s coming by, too, I think, although I don’t know when. If you get sprung before we come by, give us a call.”

  “I’ll do it. And be nice to Mr. Parker. We can use his advertising dollars, detail oriented or not.”

  Tori closed the folder with a flourish. “I hear ya’, I hear ya’. Come back soon. For my sanity, you have to come back soon.”

  ****

  Tori drove into the Lexus dealership at a slow speed, admiring the convertibles lining the front row of the lot. “One day, girl. One day. You’ll be behind the wheel of one of those.”

  ”Oh that jet black one is nice. I know I’d look good behind that…oh wait, look at the red convertible…”

  A sudden flash of silver caught her eye. She slammed on her brakes to avoid running into the car in front of her. “Oh no, please no.” The slight bump of her car dashed her hopes.

  “Is it Monday? I’m having a Monday, right here, right now.”

  Putting the car in park, Tori then banged her head against the steering wheel. A light tapping on her window forced her to lift her head.

  “You okay, ma’am?”

  Staring at her through the glass window were two bright blue eyes, the same two blue eyes she’d seen in the hospital parking garage just yesterday. Jumping out of the car, Tori slammed the door shut behind her.

  “Are you stalking me or something?”

  The blue eyes flashed with shock. “I think you hit me, Jessica Simpson.”

  She paused, struggling to come up with a retort. “Well, maybe I did, but you could’ve warned me. You know, tap your horn or something!”

  Shaking his head, he crossed his arms over his chest, blue eyes twinkling. Mocking her. “You are okay, right?”

  Distracted by the rippling muscles in his forearms, she eventually figured out he was talking to her. “Me? Yes, oh I’m fine. My car!” Tori ran to the front of her car inspecting the bumper inch-by-inch. “I guess it’s okay too. It’s got a tough shell.”

  “Much like its owner,” he uttered.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing. I think my car is fine too, so what do you say we just consider it a wash and dispense with insurance information, calling the authorities, that sort of thing.”

  “Are you sure? I’d appreciate it more than you know. I’ve got to get these papers inside for Mr. Parker before he sends out the Mounted Police looking for them.”

  He quirked his brow. “Oh, more papers? Or are these the same elusive papers from yesterday?”

  Once again, the muscles of his arms caught her eye. “Um, what?”

  “The papers? Are these the ones you were chasing all over the parking garage yesterday?”

  Tori tore her gaze away from his toned chest and glanced up. “Yes. The very same. You and the papers have something in common.”

  Jerking his head to the side, he laughed. “We do? What is that?”

  “You are both trying to keep me from getting my job done. Thanks for being so nice about the little car bump. I appreciate it… Um. I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”

  Extending his hand, he chuckled. “Carter. And I’m sorry to delay you any further. Good luck with Mr. Parker and the Mounties.”

  “Mounties?” After a few seconds, she remembered her earlier comment and shook her head. “Yeah, thanks.” She bent to get back in her car when his voice stopped her.

  “Wait. Do you have a name or do I keep calling you Jessica Simpson?”

  Turning to face him, she grinned as she slipped on her oversized sunglasses before climbing in the front seat. “It’s Tori, but you can call me Jessica if you want to.”

  Starting the car, she pulled away, waving as she passed by mumbling to herself. “Carter, is it? Well, Mr. Blue Eyes. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”

  Chapter Four

  Hurrying down the hall of the hospital, Tori hoped she hadn’t missed Pax. Her dealings with Mr. Parker went longer than she planned, although she should have anticipated it. He was a sweet old man. He just drove her to the brink of insanity.

  The sound of voices alerted her to someone inside Pax’s room, and she exhaled a sigh of relief. Not waiting to knock, she pushed open the door. “Good! You’re still here. Although I guess you wish you weren’t still here.” The words tumbled out of her mouth. “But I am glad nonetheless. Once I got finished with Mr. Parker…”

  Pax, sitting on the edge of the bed, shushed her and pointed to a stranger standing in the doorway of the open bathroom, his back to the room while he chatted on his cell phone. Tori grimaced. “Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t think you had company.”

  “No problem, dear. When I heard the clip-clapping of heels outside, I knew it had to be you.”

  “Funny. Where’s Seb? I figured he’d be standing guard over you.”

  “He’s gone to check on the progress of my great escape. Mom’s at his house trying to get organized for my arrival, and I’m just sitting here about to go stir crazy waiting.”

  Mindful of Pax’s injuries, Tori took care in sitting beside her. “How are you feeling? Little rough around the edges?”

  “I guess. I’m trying to stay on top of the pain yet not take so many painkillers I’m a big drooling mess of sleepiness all the time.”

  She squeezed her friend’s hand and nodded toward the bathroom. “I hear you. So, who’s in there?” She took more time to notice the masculine figure. He appeared to be in pretty good shape from the way his shirt tightened across his shoulder blades when he moved.

  “A teammate of Seb’s. He’s been nice enough to come by and check on me since the accident.”

  Tori smiled and crossed one leg over the other. Ah, that would explain his lean figure. “Wow. That is nice. What about the other guy? Have you seen them?�
��

  “Linc and Rangy? What do you think? Since Seb won’t leave me, they have taken to hanging out here until Traci calls demanding Linc come home to help take care of the twins.”

  “What would these fellas do without each other?”

  Pax nudged Tori with her arm. “I have no idea. It’s not like you spend every waking moment here when you aren’t at the office.”

  “Very funny. I do it because I care. Maybe I am like them, just a little bit. Not much. Maybe.” The girls giggled.

  The door to the bathroom closed. “Hmm. I guess we were being a little too loud. Sorry!” Tori found her curiosity now piqued at his behavior.

  “Oh. He’ll be fine.”

  “Like he’s not used to raucous noise coming from a locker room.” Laughter ensued again.

  “What’s going on in here?” Seb appeared in the door. “There’s way too much racket coming from this room!”

  “Oh, Seb. Please tell me you are bringing news which will cause me great happiness?”

  Caressing Pax’s face, he smiled. “They assure me it won’t be too much longer, sweetheart.” He glanced around the room. “Where’s Little Bro?”

  “He’s in there on his phone.” Pointing in the direction of the bathroom, Pax giggled again.

  Watching her friend laugh at the seemingly innocent behavior of the young man, Tori shook her head. “Our laughter might have driven him in there. Well, that,“ she pointed at Pax, “and I think her pain meds might have just kicked in. Instead of becoming drowsy, things seem to be becoming more and more hilarious in her world.”

  Pax emitted a loud snort that set Seb and Tori laughing until they cried.

  The bathroom door swung open.

  “What’s so funny? Wait… What are you doing here?”

  Startled, Tori looked up. No! Blue eyes twinkled at her.

  “You again?”

  ****

  Carter shook his head. It seemed the same girl showed up everywhere he went these days. Not that he minded. She was a cute little thing with her fiery red hair. And the way her green eyes flashed, he couldn’t help but sense an immediate attraction spike through his body.

  “Okay. You are without a doubt stalking me.”

  Carter’s eyes grew round. “Me stalking you? I believe I was here first. Much like the parking garage and the car dealership. You’ve got a totally warped way of thinking, Jessica.”

  He chuckled to himself when she narrowed her eyes at the use of the nickname. He pushed her a bit further. “So, what are you doing here? You need some help getting more papers out from under cars or perhaps my bumper needs another dent?”

  Pax’s voice interrupted their staring contest. “Wait? What? What is he talking about? Have you two met each other? And why is he calling you Jessica?”

  Carter didn’t move but kept his eyes on Tori, watching for her reaction.

  Tori held his gaze for another moment and then cut her eyes over to the bed toward Pax and Seb. “Remember when I brought you the papers the other day and they were a little worse for wear because they scattered all over the parking garage and someone helped me get them?”

  “Yes. You mentioned a Mr. Blue Eyes saved the day.”

  At this, Carter swung his head around to Pax. “Mr. Blue Eyes, you say?” His question caused the redhead to squirm and only made him want to see how far he could take this little competition. “Yes, Jessica. Tell them about Mr. Blue Eyes. I’d like to hear about him myself.”

  A smile tugged at his lips when Tori’s cheeks flamed to the same color as her hair.

  Her emerald eyes continued to pierce his in an apparent refusal to speak. Okay. A standoff? No problem.

  “Carter, I think she’s not gonna admit anything to you.”

  Carter’s shoulders started to shake as he tried to control his laughter. Turning toward Seb, he pointed a thumb in Tori’s direction. “I didn’t know she referred to the person who helped her out as Mr. Blue Eyes. But if that’s the case, I know him well. Quite well, actually. Jessica is evidently someone we know who might sacrifice comfort for fashion a little too much.”

  Tori stomped her foot on the floor and muttered under her breath.

  Seb leaned over in Tori’s direction. “What? I don’t think we heard you?”

  Carter loved the fact Sebastian wanted to play along. He chuckled when Tori spun abruptly in Seb’s direction, quaking in apparent frustration.

  “Okay. Yes. This…man is the one who retrieved an elusive paper for me in the parking garage the other day. He’s also the one whose car I might have grazed at the dealership this morning. Therefore, he is Mr. Blue Eyes. Are you happy?”

  Tori’s face reddened more than her hair. Though Carter registered an inkling of sympathy for her plight, he still couldn’t refrain from joining in when Pax and Seb started laughing.

  “Oh sure. Laugh at me. Laugh it up! Why is it these things happen to me?”

  To his surprise, she swiveled on her pretty pink high heels and stomped out of the room.

  Their laughter died down, and Pax looked at Seb. “Oh my! I better try and talk to her. Help me down off the bed. There’s got to be a wheelchair around here somewhere.”

  “Hey there. No way, sweetheart. You are in no condition to be running or wheeling after her right now. She’ll cool off. She’s just embarrassed. Let me go talk to her.”

  Carter reached out and pressed his hand to Seb’s shoulder. “Wait. I’ll go talk to her. I knew I could push her buttons. Perhaps I took it a little too far.”

  “Are you sure? I bet she’ll calm down in a few minutes.”

  “Nah. I don’t mind. I should try and show her I’m not a complete jerk.” Carter slipped out the door, and as he started down the hall, he thought he saw a flash of pink turn the corner at the end of the corridor.

  His running shoes made soft squeaks on the tile floor as he jogged in the direction of Tori’s escape route. Carter saw a small waiting room to his left. A few hard plastic chairs occupied the small space, and a TV played some kind of children’s show at a low volume. In the far corner of the room, Tori sat in a chair, legs crossed. The toe of her foot tapped in fury on the tile beneath her.

  Carter didn’t say a word but chose to sit in the aqua colored plastic chair to her right. The only acknowledgement of his presence was the slight tilt of her head in the opposite direction.

  They remained still for a couple of minutes. Carter kept hoping she might finally break down and say something, but when it became apparent she wouldn’t, he took a deep breath.

  “Look, Tori. I’m sorry for embarrassing you back there. I reckon when you started getting all riled up and those beautiful green eyes were flashing back at me,” he shrugged and gave her his best smile, “I couldn’t hold back on seeing how far I could push you. I didn’t mean to make you so mad.”

  She sat still without speaking. Carter started to fear he’d upset her more than he realized. He tried to think of something else to say.

  She whirled to face him. “What did you say about my eyes?”

  “Ahhh, they were flashing at me?”

  “No. Before that.”

  “Oh.” He remembered then and he felt heat creep up his face. “I said they were beautiful.”

  “That’s what I thought.” She turned back to the wall in front of her, and her voice drifted over the drone of the TV, a faintly whispered, “Thank you.”

  In an instant, she leaned over and nudged him with her elbow. “You’re forgiven. For now.” Then Tori stood and left the room, the rapping of her heels echoing down the hall.

  Chapter Five

  “Everything okay, Tor?”

  Tori glanced at her best friend before sliding into the chair beside the bed. “Yes. It’s fine.”

  “Look, I’m sorry for egging Carter on. I knew you were embarrassed—”

  “It’s okay, Seb. Really. Just forget it.” Tori closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking around. “Has anyone official been by to give you permi
ssion to blow this taco stand?”

  “Nope. We’re just waiting, patiently. At least, one of us is.”

  “I’m just so anxious to get home. I’ve had enough poking and prodding to last me a lifetime.”

  Seb rub his hand up and down Pax’s arm. “Well, don’t think more poking and prodding isn’t coming when you get home. Believe me, I know the torture — I mean joy — ahead with the physical therapy.”

  “Don’t remind me, Sebastian.”

  A light tapping on the door interrupted them, and a nurse stuck her head in the room. “Pax? I think we’ve got you all squared away. You ready?”

  Tori thumbed in Pax’s direction. “I think ready might be far too loose of a term to describe my BFF right now.” Seb nodded his head frantically out of Pax’s line of sight. Tori covered her mouth with her hand to keep a snicker of laughter from escaping.

  The nurse pushed a wheelchair in the room, one hand grasping the handle and some folded papers. “Here’s your release forms all ready for your autograph, and then we’ll head down stairs. I left my pen at the nurses’ station. Hang on.”

  “No, wait. Tori, find a pen in that monstrosity you call a purse.”

  Tori snatched up her handbag and rifled through it until she finally laid hands on a pen buried at the bottom under receipts, sunglasses, and her wallet. Grabbing one of the receipts, she scribbled on the paper to make sure the pen still worked and handed it off to Pax.

  As the nurse pointed out each place to sign, Pax wrote her name and the date. She flipped the pen back to Tori.

  “Dr. Kohler wants to see you back in one week, so be sure and get the appointment on your calendar once you get home and settled.” The nurse glanced around the room. “I’ll grab a cart to put all your plants and flowers on. Let me track one down, and I’ll be right back.”

  Seb and Tori helped Pax into the wheelchair. Seb walked to the door and looked down the hallway. “I guess Carter decided to leave.”

  Tori sat down on the bed and played with a thread hanging from the hospital blanket. “Um, I left him in a waiting room down the hall.”