by Robyn M Ryan
She no longer believes that love conquers all.
He questions his convictions.
Alone, each faces an uncertain future.
However, Fate has other ideas.
Just as Fate placed their lives on a collision course five years ago, Andrew and Caryn Chadwick’s paths cross once again in Toronto after a four-month separation. Despite Andrew’s assurances that he wants to repair their marriage, Caryn is wary, not certain she can trust him, and struggles with doubts and questions about his relationship with a member of his Rehab Team. Wracked with guilt, Andrew questions his determination to return to the Tampa Suns hockey team, and he seeks to convince Caryn their marriage will survive.
Fate intervenes with a gift at the worst possible moment.
Caryn can hide this secret for only a short time, but is Andrew capable of pushing his needs aside when he discovers the truth? Can she risk her heart and soul once again? This Piece of Our Being follows Andrew’s and Caryn’s journeys through a fragile reconciliation. Both vow to place honesty at the center of their future. But, will the secrets revealed heal their marriage or drive them further apart?
The conclusion to the Clearing the Ice trilogy, This Piece of Our Being delivers Andrew and Caryn’s Happily Ever After, but the path to reconciliation is rocky and missteps prove costly.
**Please note: For your best enjoyment please be sure to read THIS OF MY HEART and THIS PIECE OF MY SOUL before this book.**
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*The Following is a Preview of This Piece of My Soul*
One
Andrew Chadwick jerked awake as the phone vibrated on the bedside table. He glanced at the screen as he quickly pressed “ignore.” He slipped from the bed, hoping the noise and movement didn’t awaken his wife. His eyes adjusted to the darkness and satisfied that Caryn still slept, he grabbed clothes and headed downstairs. Don Wilson calling in the middle of the night can only bring news I don’t want to hear. Andrew quickly texted a response to his agent, then dressed and splashed cold water on his face. He grabbed a Coke, and quietly opened the door to the courtyard patio. He sat in the predawn light, staring at the phone a few minutes before he returned the call.
“Sorry to call so early,” Don apologized before Andrew could speak. “I know you’re headed out today and had to catch you before you two fall off the grid.”
“What can’t wait ten days?” Andrew twisted the bottle cap and took a long drink.
“Tampa sent an offer sheet an hour ago.”
“Hudson signed with Chicago?”
“Late last night.”
Andrew sighed. “How much?” He closed his eyes and his agent relayed the amount and terms. Not what I want to deal with today. “The Blues’ response?”
“Just got off the phone with Jenkins. Andrew, if you sign the sheet, the Blues can’t match the offer without making some quick moves. This totally blows up their salary cap.”
“No indication they’re interested in a deal?”
Don laughed shortly. “Oh, they might sign the deal we discussed last month.”
Andrew’s fingers drummed against the table. “Your take on the lack of interest up to now?”
“The Blues can’t afford you long-term; you’ll be traded before your current contract expires.” Wilson waited a beat. “The Suns are a contender right now, Andrew. They want you to fill a huge hole in the starting line. This may be the offer you can’t refuse.”
“How long do I have?”
“Obviously the Suns would like your answer as quickly as possible. They’re willing to fly us down so we can discuss this face-to-face, and you and Caryn can look at the area. I can hold them off a while, but probably not ten days.”
Andrew stood and walked across the patio. “No, I don’t want this hanging over our heads that long.”
“If you tell me your trip plans I will rebook it out of Tampa.”
“Good try, Don, but no, I’ll take care of that.” He laughed shortly. “Give me a few hours. I need to discuss this with Caryn and think things through.”
Slipping his iPhone into his pocket, Andrew stepped back inside. Way too early to awaken Caryn. His thoughts drifted to the trip they were scheduled to begin that morning. An anniversary tradition that began with their honeymoon two years earlier. Destination his secret; Caryn packing according to his ambiguous suggestions—casual or formal, warm or cold, passport just in case. Despite best efforts to pry information from him—even during their most intimate moments last night—Caryn never knew the destination until they arrived at the airport. Even then, he might insert a plane change mid-route.
Last year she thought they were going to California’s wine country, but when the plane landed in San Francisco, he took her hand and led her to another gate. He laughed softly as he remembered her expression of delight, mixed with pure panic at the thought of getting on another plane that would take them over the Pacific Ocean to reach the final destination, Fiji. He’d pushed her to her limit…well, beyond her limit. Despite the unforgettable ten days in the lush secluded villa, he carefully planned this anniversary trip to minimize her discomfort.
Andrew leaned against the counter and gazed out the kitchen window, the darkness slowly retreating. Tampa’s offer cast a shadow over their plans, not just the anniversary trip but the upcoming move back to St. Louis before training camp. Caryn had made that condo a second home, her client list managing corporate and individual social media accounts growing with new accounts—including many of his teammates. Not to mention that her best friend Lauren just landed a marketing job in St. Louis and planned to move from Vancouver in just a few weeks.
He pushed away from the counter and wandered to the living room, closing his eyes and sitting back in the chair. It’s a no-win situation. If I sign the Suns’ offer sheet, the Blues will either decline to match—or worse, trade teammates to keep me.
His linemates Dave Martin and Jim Andrews could likely find themselves playing in another city. What kind of resentment would he feel from teammates who remained with the Blues? His ambitions had never included owning one of the highest contracts on a team. But, if he didn’t sign the offer sheet, his agent’s prediction very likely would play out. Come March, he’d find himself playing on a different team—worst case, traded to one of the teams in the midst of rebuilding.
The Suns were a contender—they’d made it to the Final last season. They couldn’t re-sign the league’s leading scorer, but quickly extended the offer sheet to the Blues last night. The offer catapulted him into an entirely new level, both monetarily and the pressure of replacing the team’s leading scorer. Andrew knew he could fill the slot—on the ice at least—but at what cost to Caryn, their friends in St. Louis, the chemistry that existed among his linemates?
He didn’t hear Caryn approach until her hand rested on his shoulder. “You’re up early, Drew. I planned to surprise you with breakfast in bed.” She leaned and pressed her lips against the top of his head. “Happy second anniversary.”
Andrew closed his arm around her waist and drew her onto his lap. “My favorite day of the year,” he whispered before her kiss chased all thoughts of Tampa from his mind.
“Shall we just skip the breakfast part?” Her voice purred in his ear.
He closed his arms around her, his mouth finding hers. He shifted his body until he could stand with her locked in his embrace. He stepped across the room and gently placed her on the sofa, breaking the kiss with a soft curse as his phone vibrated in his pocket. He sat on the edge of the sofa as he pulled the phone from his pocket and glanced at the display. Don. Again. Now what?
“You’ve got something?” He caught Caryn’s questioning look at the impatient tone in his voice as he stood and began to walk across the room.
“Just spoke with Jenkins again. Wanted to see if they are open to revisiting our contract negotiations before you decide anything.”
“A
nd?” He stopped for a moment, anticipating the response.
“He said their offer is on the table.”
“Take it or leave?” Andrew felt Caryn’s hand grasp his shoulder, but he shrugged it off as he continued pacing.
“More or less. You owe it to yourself to talk with the Suns. The Blues best offer is two years only. You could be looking at a long-term deal with Tampa.”
“Yeah. Give me a little more time. I’ll call you back.” He ended the call and tossed the phone across the table before turning toward the door. The mounting frustration threatened an angry release.
“Drew?”
He held up his hand. “A couple minutes, Cary. I need to clear my mind.” Without waiting for a reply, he jerked the door open and stepped outside, closing it firmly behind him.
***
Caryn shut her eyes tightly, and then sighed as she picked his cell phone off the floor and set it on the table. Her first reaction when his phone vibrated centered on the fear that something had happened to his parents—or Tom. From the few words he spoke, Caryn knew Andrew had received some news from his agent. Don was the only other person she could imagine calling this early…and it sounded like this was not their first conversation today. Drew obviously hadn’t expected whatever Don told him. Taking a deep breath, she headed toward the kitchen to begin preparing the “surprise” breakfast. Maybe this would help to restore the anticipation and excitement the day had promised.
She grabbed a bottle of water and set the table after placing his favorite blueberry muffins—his mom’s recipe—in the oven. Checking the time, Caryn decided to take a quick shower and dress. She had no clue what Andrew had planned. She’d packed for warm weather as he’d suggested, adding some “just in case” clothes for cooler evenings. Ten days somewhere just the two of them, totally off the grid—no iPads, laptops, texting, and phones turned off. Only Tom knew how to reach them in case of an emergency. Drew called those ten days a selfish gift to themselves, giving them time to just be together before training camp and the season to come, bringing with it the many days they’d spend apart. She couldn’t wait to learn his plans for this year…even if it did involve another incredibly long flight over water.
***
The muffins sat cooling on top of the counter when Andrew returned. He quickly pulled Caryn into his arms and kissed her temple as he apologized for walking out.
“What’s going on, Drew?” Caryn moved back so she could see his eyes.
“I’m not sure what to think.” His blue eyes locked on hers. “Remember when we talked about Don working with the Blues on a contract extension?” When Caryn nodded, he continued, “I hoped to avoid the uncertainty of playing with a contract that ends at the end of this upcoming season.”
“I know you’re not happy with the length of the contract…just two years?”
“Yep, then we’re back in the same place we are now, without a ‘no trade’ clause.” He paused and gently brushed the hair away from her forehead. “The Tampa Suns submitted an offer sheet last night.” Caryn started to ask a question, but Andrew explained. “I’m a restricted free agent. Any team can offer a contract to a RFA, but if the player signs it, the current team has a week to match the offer.”
“Tampa wants to sign you?”
“Yeah—their leading scorer, a free agent, signed with Chicago last night.”
Caryn smiled as she softly placed her hand against his cheek. “And they hope to entice you to take his place.”
Andrew laughed quietly. “I guess. The Blues already told Don they can’t match it without moving a lot of players off the payroll—players like Dave and Jim who have great value to any team. If I sign the offer sheet, the Blues won’t match it.”
“I guess Don already spoke with the Blues about a contract extension?”
“Yep.” He shook his head slightly. “The offer they put on the table is the most they are willing to commit. I doubt I’m in their long-term plans.”
“Why not?” Caryn’s voice rose in anger. “You only scored the most points last year and the year before.”
Andrew placed his finger against her lips as he told them what Tampa had offered. “Don says the Blues can’t afford me long-term.”
Caryn broke eye contact as she looked down, processing everything. When she met his eyes again, she shrugged. “Would you want to play for the Suns?”
“Right now, I honestly don’t know. I do know that this is a decision we need to make together.”
“I’m happy anywhere, as long as I’m with you.”
Andrew shook his head. “You have friends in St. Louis—your best friend is moving there next month. Your business, your clients…”
“That’s the best thing about my job—I can work anywhere there’s a WiFi connection. Lauren and I do a pretty good job maintaining our friendship long-distance. I don’t expect to see her very much anyway; at least not when you-know-who’s in town.” She gave him a knowing look and a smile. “Don’t you think you should at least meet with them and see what you think?”
“You mind if we rearrange our trip a bit?” His blue eyes captured hers again. “Maybe a stop in Tampa before we go to…” He laughed softly as Caryn looked at him expectantly. “Before we go where we’re going.”
“Drew! That’s not fair.”
He replied with a shrug and glanced at the counter. “Are those what I hope they are?”
“Maybe. If I give you one, will you give me a hint?”
“I already have—told you what to pack.”
Caryn lightly swatted his arm as he reached for a muffin. “So…do I have to pack anything else if we go to Tampa?”
Andrew pretended to think as he bit into the warm muffin. “No, I think we’re good.” He guided her to the table. “Sit—I’ll serve you.”
Caryn’s eyes followed him as he pulled glasses from the cupboard and poured the orange juice. She shifted on the chair in anticipation of the upcoming ten days together—just the two of us.
He set a glass at each plate, and then brought the plate of muffins. He glanced at her as he sat beside her. “What are your feelings about private jets?”
“How small?”
“I don’t know. Don said the Suns would send a plane for us—unless that’s going to stress you too much.” A grin spread slowly across his face. “I can book commercial flights if you prefer.”
Caryn took a deep breath. “You know I’ll be glued to your side if I get on a private jet.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “Seriously, we can fly commercial.” She felt him watching her face closely for a reaction.
“No, I’ll be okay. I made it through those flights to and from Fiji last year–I think I can handle anything now. We don’t fly over water to get to Tampa?” she asked quickly.
Andrew laughed softly. “Only briefly if we do. It’s on a bay and the Gulf of Mexico.”
“Just so it’s not one of those really small planes.” Caryn bit into a muffin hoping to mask her apprehension.
“I’ll have Don check that out.” Andrew reached in his pocket for his phone, and then pushed back his chair. “That’s right, last time I had my phone I was throwing it across the table.”
Caryn bit back a laugh as she watched him stride toward the living room, and then reached for her orange juice. She pushed the thought of a move to Tampa to the back of her mind. Our true home will always be Toronto. Where we live the rest of the time really doesn’t matter. She heard Andrew questioning Don about the private jet and felt her cheeks flush as he walked back into the kitchen, meeting Caryn’s eyes as he listened to Don’s response.
“So no Cessna or propeller plane? Let me check with Caryn.” He looked at her with a grin. “He’s pretty sure it’s a Gulfstream G6; probably the latest model.”
“Just like my Dad’s. Okay, I’ll do it, but if I see anything that seats less than five, we’re going to renegotiate.”
Andrew’s laugh was soft. “I’m
with you on that one, babe.” He repeated her response, listened to a moment, and nodded as he ended the call. He slid into the seat beside Caryn. “Your stipulation’s now added to the offer.”
“Drew, he’s not telling them that?”
“Sounded like it to me.” He tipped her chin as he leaned to kiss her. “If they are willing to put that kind of money on the table, the size of your private jet will not be an issue.” He kept a neutral expression as Caryn felt her face redden.
“Great first impression—they’ll think I’m a bitchy diva or something worse.” Caryn buried her face in her hands. “Please call Don back and tell him never mind.”
“Nope. You think I want to get on some prop plane?”
“Then don’t make it sound like I’m one of those demanding…” Andrew silenced her with a kiss.
“I’m just teasing you. The jet’s been at the airport since they sent the offer—a nice big Gulfstream.”
Caryn lightly punched his arm. “When do we need to leave?”
“As soon as I finish these muffins.” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Did you pack your bikini?” His blue eyes were hypnotic as a smile spread slowly across his face.
“Do I need it? ” She teased him as she smiled innocently.
“Not necessarily.” He picked up the phone. “I’ve got just a couple calls to make—and, no, you can’t eavesdrop.”
Caryn leaned to kiss him before she stood. “Don’t worry, I have no desire to spoil your surprise.”
About the Author
Chicago born, honorary Atlanta native, Parisienne at heart. Proud 60’s Flower Child. “Fearless” barrier-breaker for female sports journalists and minor league “batpersons.” While at UGA, scored PR internship with Atlanta Flames NHL team, during its first season. Interviewed future MLB and NHL Hall of Fame members, published in a variety of print media. Wife, mom, PR professional, and finally, 35 years later, published author. Two Westie grand-dogs pretty much run our household.
