Sessions Interrupted

by Kristi Pelton

  At the hospital, I found Andrew’s room after checking in with the information desk. No visitors were there to keep watch over him. I frowned, sadness settling in my heart. If he were my son, I would never have left him alone.

  His tiny body lay motionless on the oversized bed. An IV bag hung overhead with tubes leading down to his arm and a skinny feeding tube through his nose. My racing pulse steadied at the sounds of his breathing. The window was covered by the largest balloon bouquet I’d ever seen, which was tied to a candy bar basket. I smiled.

  Quietly, I sat in the chair next to his bed. The overwhelming smell of bleach or antiseptic was in the air and burned my nose. Reaching through the bars of the sides of the bed, I touched Andrew’s hand.

  I could count on one hand the number of times I’d prayed in my life…I mean really begged God for help and direction. This was one of them. This poor boy was a victim of his environment. When he wakes, he’ll find the brother he idolized dead. He’ll still be in the home of an alcoholic mother who cares more about her booze than his safety. He’ll find the temptation of the streets more appealing than the suffering of everyday life. Without a father, he’ll look now to his brother’s friends, who will feel an obligation to take him in and show him the way. My heart broke for this little being.

  Unexpectedly, his fingers moved and though it scared me, my eyes darted to his face. He blinked his eyes but didn’t seem to recognize me. I leaned forward and caressed his forehead.

  “Hey, buddy,” I said softly.

  He blinked as I quickly debated whether or not to yell for a nurse. He didn’t look in pain or suffering in any way so I decided against it.

  “I’ve missed you,” I said. “I need you better real soon.”

  He pointed to the balloons and the corners of his mouth barely turned upward.

  “They’re so pretty, aren’t they,” I asked. “Somebody loves you.”

  His mouth spread just a bit further into a semi-smile.

  Maybe he hadn’t seen them yet. I made my way over to the window and grabbed the card so I could tell him in case no one else had. The card read: Love, Megan Clark

  What? I instantly smiled so that he wouldn’t see that I didn’t have a clue about these.

  “Wow, buddy. This is way bigger than I thought it would be,” I said knowing I hadn’t ordered anything. Sadly, I couldn’t afford to.

  He closed his eyes again and I returned to the bed, holding his hand. I stayed for another hour and he didn’t stir even once but I had a feeling he was going to be OK.

  Kieran…he had to have sent the balloon/candy bar bouquet in my name. I actually lifted my shirt off my chest when it felt as if my heart would burst through.

  I leaned over Andrew, kissing his forehead and squeezing his hand. I saw movement on the mattress and looked down at his fingers when he moved them and the I love you sign was laying on the bed. My cup runneth over…

  Chapter 25—Kieran

  Shit! The second time knotting my tie was a failure. I was sweating and uncomfortable wearing these damn pants. Finally, the third time was a charm. Perfect at the neck and the end of the tie met my slacks. The collar felt tight to my neck and I stretched my chin up high trying to alleviate the tension in the starched shirt. I took all my dress slacks and shirts to work…I didn’t need Megan running across them, yet.

  In the Porsche, the air was on high, improving my perspiration situation but I assumed it wouldn’t officially stop until I walked through the company door to establish what little credibility remained.

  When I pulled up to the suspended arm of the parking garage, I was shocked to see Calvin still working. He had to be pushing 80.

  I rolled down my window.

  “Well. Well. Well. Lookie here. Mr. Kieran. How are you?”

  A full smile spread over my face. He was totally gray and life had etched lines in his face. “Calvin. Good to see you. How’s Dorothy?”

  “She’s as beautiful today as she was sixty years ago when I married her. Haven’t seen you ‘round here in a while.”

  I nodded. “I know.”

  “I reckon you’re back to stay?”

  “I reckon I’m gonna see what kind of reception I get,” I said with a wink.

  He smiled. “Go crack some skulls, son.”

  We bumped fists as I drove past, and if that was any prediction as to how my day was going to go, I was going to be happy.

  I was nervous as hell when I walked into the lobby of my father’s company; Winnie spotted me first. I couldn’t help it; I bared my whites to her in about three seconds. She covered her mouth and I think she started to tear up.

  “Kieran!” she screeched out loud and came around the corner to give me a hug.

  “Hi, Winnie.”

  She shoved me backward. “Winnie? Listen, Mister. You called me Weenie for twenty years. I will always be Weenie to you. You got that?”

  I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “Kieran. You’ve always been handsome but you have turned into a striking, beautiful man,” she said patting my cheek.

  “Thank you.”

  “We love you sweetheart. You here to stay?”

  I shrugged. “Just feeling things out for now.”

  “Remember who you are. That should get you far.”

  I rode up the elevator to the fourth floor, nerves truly getting the best of me. But, when I stepped off Alberta squealed with delight. She’d been my father’s assistant for as long as I could remember.

  “Oh dear God, hell has frozen over!” she blurted out, gradually making her way around the big mahogany desk.

  My heart hurt when I saw how slowly she moved—her back hunched over. Dad would have forced her to retire by now. He adored Bert.

  “Bert. You look ravishing.” I winked.

  She swatted at me. “I know. I can still pull guys like it ain’t nothin’.”

  I laughed out loud, hugging her.

  “Sit your sexy ass down, Kieran, and tell me what brings you here because I guaran-damn-tee ya, every woman in here is creaming her panties right now and I need them to be working. The quicker I get you outta here, the quicker work production will go up.”

  A chuckle rumbled through me as I plopped down in the chair across from her desk. “Damn, Bert. I’ve missed you.”

  After talking to her for over an hour about life and my plans to start coming back part time, the conference room door came open and out strolled Walt. The hour long irremovable smile on my face quickly faded and I rose to my feet.

  “Well. Kieran. Good to see you. What brings you up this way?” Walt asked, extending his hand.

  Walt Brown. Biggest dick on earth. Ringleader of trying to oust my father. From the time I was 15, I despised the man. He used to speak to Kat and me rudely and my mother inappropriately. When I was 17, I remember seeing him grab my mother’s arm and that was the first time I punched a grown man. I didn’t care that he was my father’s colleague. No one, and I mean no one, was going to be rough with my mother.

  “Business, Walt.” I refused his hand.

  “Business?”

  “Yes. Business…Occupational…Trade…Profession.”

  “Yes, Kieran. I know what it is. What sort of business do you have here?”

  I glanced at Bert and gave her a wink.

  “Well, given that my father built this multi-million dollar company from the ground up and it was given to me, I’m coming back. Part-time for now but it will be full-time, eventually.”

  Walt cleared his throat and eyeballed some dicklick next to him, who scoffed at my words. I wondered if that fucker knew I could fire him on the spot.

  “Kieran, with all due respect, you have been MIA for two years. You can’t just waltz in here and take over,” Walt said.

  I picked up Bert’s hand, kissed the top of it and said, “It was great seeing you, my lady.”

  “You too, babe.”

  I turned toward Walt, firmly patted his face and stared into his black eyes enjoying
that I had physical prowess over him. “Walt, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. And tell the kid next to you that if he ever snickers with regards to me, he’ll be in the unemployment line.”

  I winked at the kid then hit the elevator button. After a long, slow, deep breath, I realized this felt good. Being here was right. And…I think my dad would be proud.

  Chapter 26—Megan

  When Ruthie, Jerry and I unloaded the few boxes into the garage, I noticed the Harley was gone and I wasn’t sure if I was happy about that or not. The day after I willingly tossed my virginity to the wind…and nothing. I checked my phone about every five minutes for a text from Kieran. Nothing there, either. I’m not sure what I expected but I thought I might hear something from him today.

  Inside the house, I could smell him and found a new note on the kitchen counter.

  Doc- Had to work. Come have a drink!!!!!!!!

  Momentarily, I laughed at the excessive use of exclamation marks, then I chewed on my cheek as I chewed on his offer. Invitation? I felt 12 trying to figure out what the guy in my sixth-grade class was thinking…or what he meant…overanalyzing every single word while trying to talk myself into not overthinking everything, but decided the ten exclamation points were his way of emphasizing, so…throwing caution to the wind yet again…I decided to go.

  I was forced to park two blocks away from Winks, which was the closest I could get. I slid the heels from my feet to make the trek to the line then put them back on as I neared the end. The line was over twenty deep of some of the most beautiful, fake girls I’d ever seen. Tight dresses. High heels. Caked-on makeup. Big hair. I wanted to go up to Todd, who sat on his little perch in front of the bar, but I was still a little embarrassed about him catching us sleeping together. We had NOT had sex but his eyes danced with assumptions that morning and now…well now…we had had sex… My credibility as a therapist in Portland was going to be shit.

  “He sits at the back door. You know that, right?” the pretty girl in front of me said.

  “I know,” the other heavier girl squealed. “Last week, Maddie and I waited three hours and never got in.

  “I call dibs if we do get in,” she claimed.

  “Why don’t we let Mr. Scott decide who he calls dibs on?”

  Mr. Scott? They were talking about my Mr. Scott? I glanced down at my fitted sundress; it was cute but didn’t compare to their more expensive dresses. And suddenly I hated my heels. I was back to second-guessing my decision to come.

  “Stacey said he’s incredible in bed and you know Stacey’s been with a lot of guys. Bad news is, he apparently doesn’t repeat.”

  Stacey? Bile inched its way up the back of my throat.

  A whistle hung in the air and all the heads at the back of the line turned toward the door. Todd was waving with two-fingers to come up there. The two girls giggled and started walking up. Then he whistled again, waved them off and pointed at me. I pointed at myself—like as in a who-me gesture. He nodded.

  The girls who were in front of me were now eyeballing me with their overly made-up eyes and fake eyelashes, and, well, if looks could kill… I glanced at my watch as we passed.

  “Get your ass inside,” Todd growled as I strode up.

  My brows shot high. “Did I do something to piss you off?” I said right back.

  “I’m not pissed; but he will be if he finds out you were standing in line. She’s coming in,” he said gruffly into his little cord thing.

  By this point I was more annoyed than not and the damn heels I thought were a good idea were killing my feet. And what did the skanky girls mean he didn’t repeat? My heart was not going to endure Kieran; I had a sick feeling at the pit of my stomach.

  That’s when I saw him. The same place he sat when I was here with Lucas. God, that seemed forever ago. He flashed me a devilish grin from across the bar. Everything that had weighed heavy on my mind…evaporated with that one smile. I tried not to think about the way he touched me last night, and I tried not to think about the things those girls were saying. Just be cool.

  As his eyes moved lazily down my body, I felt every piece of me respond to his stare but then his brows scrunched together and I wasn’t sure of his expression. With my feet aching, I gracefully hobbled over to him.

  “Hey,” I greeted.

  “Why do you have that on?” he said. The band wasn’t playing but there was still soft music.

  Those six words cut me. I’d become pretty strong…immune and tolerant to mean words after five years in and out of foster care. But that stung. I thought I looked nice.

  I shrugged and glanced at the dance floor.

  “You look beautiful, Doc. That’s just not you, I guess. I like your Converse.”

  I shrugged again. “My Converse don’t match this dress.”

  I never had the courage to go to a bar alone and now I knew why. Kieran was the extent of my friends in here and, well, it had officially become awkward.

  “Can I get you a drink?” he asked.

  “No. I’m good. I’ll grab one.”

  “OK,” he said. “Then come back over here.”

  Behind the bar, the guy that yelled at Kieran the night he was outside with the other girl, smiled as I approached. He winked at me, which caught me off guard. Was he flirting?

  “What can I get you?”

  “How about a red wine?” I asked, and he winked at me again. Shit!

  When he handed it to me, he waved off my cash and winked again. Now this was pissing me off. Was Kieran like a 15-year-old boy running his mouth about us having sex?

  “What kind of beer does Kieran like?” I asked, knowing he was drinking Bud Light at home the other night.

  “Darlin’, the question is what doesn’t he like?” he joked and again with the damn wink. “But no more than three beers a night on the job.”

  “Well, I’d like to buy him a beer.”

  He smiled and winked again. What the hell?

  He went to the cooler, retrieved a bottle, twisted the top, handed it to me and winked freaking twice!!

  “He told you didn’t he?”

  His smile broadened. “Told me what?” He winked!

  I was officially irritated. “That we slept together!” I said with a raised voice.

  Now this guy smiled all out and said into his little cord, “Todd, they slept together. K—you’re busted.”

  Appalled, I spun around, glaring at Kieran, who was shaking his head and speaking to Todd and this winking guy through his little cord. He held his arms out to the side when I looked at him—as if I told them? Was this a game to him? He shook his head in my direction and, annoyed as hell, I beelined it toward him.

  “Why would you tell Wink that we slept together?” he asked with questions in his eyes.

  “Wink? And me tell him?” I asked handing him his beer.

  “Wink is the owner of the bar. Hence the bar’s name, Winks. He winks all the time.”

  Blood slowly drained from my head and I covered my face with the hand not holding the wine.

  “Thanks for spreading my business to my co-workers,” he said, smiling and tipping his bottle back.

  “Kieran! I thought he knew something. He kept smiling and winking and I thought…”

  “My business is my business, Doc. As far as I’m concerned, they never would have known a thing.”

  “Oh, there were two girls out in line who knew a lot of your business and were hoping you’d get up in theirs.”

  He shook his head, chuckling, and took another swig.

  “Hi, Kieran,” a girl from outside said. You’ve got to be freaking kidding me. How quick did that line move? Could the night get any worse?”

  “Ladies,” Kieran cordially addressed them, then turned his attention back to me.

  I had somehow managed to drink my glass of wine as if it was water, then back stepped away from Kieran.

  “Don’t go,” he said, and the girls once again scowled at me.

  “I…I’m just gonna get
another glass,” I stuttered, feeling that first glass already messing with my mind. I regretted not eating before I came and a tingling sensation floated into my arms and legs that only alcohol could produce.

  “Kieran. Stacey said…”

  I didn’t hear the rest because I rotated around and ran smack into someone.

  “Megan?” I heard the voice I had grown to hate.

  My eyes moved up his body to his face. “Jared?” I barely spoke his name. I didn’t need this now.

  “How are you?” he asked in a stickily sweet voice.

  Apparently this night could get worse.

  “I’m great,” I said walking toward the bar to get that second glass of wine.

  “You look great,” he complimented and something in his voice sent a shudder down my spine. Maybe it was because I knew what his fist against my face felt like. Though it only happened twice, it closely resembled Dad’s.

  The Wink guy winked and I held up my glass. When he actually winked again, the corners of my mouth turned upward this time and I wondered if he knew why I confessed to him. How could I not be amused by how that transpired?

  “I’m sorry for thinking you knew. Us…being together…it was dumb and it shouldn’t have happened. I’m more ethical and responsible than that. I really am a good therapist.”

  He winked and smiled and I tried not to take offense. I was trying to maintain a shred of credibility but it seemed to inch away at every turn.

  “Darling, you just made me and Todd $1,000 richer.”

  “Hey Meg. Come dance with me,” Jared requested from behind me and I scoffed at such an idea.

  “A thousand dollars, really?” I said back toward the bar, ignoring him.

  Wink, of course, winked. “We’ve never really seen Kieran like this so we were a little unsure.”

  It was like I had a fever and the thermometer in my mouth was shooting straight to the top…internal mercury on the rise.

  “Unsure of Kieran?” I asked.