by Ava Miles
He gulped. That could have been her.
“I’m trying to focus on my blessings, but I have my moments,” she continued. “I have excellent medical care, a teaching position at one of the leading journalism schools in the country for as long as I want, and family and friends who care about me.”
God, could she be any tougher or more beautiful right now? It almost hurt to look at her. To listen to her.
“You don’t have to try to make the best of everything with me, Lucy,” he said softly. “You never made me do that about Kim. I know you must be angry. And…don’t hit me, okay? You’re probably scared too.”
Her eyes flickered down before meeting his. “I am scared, but that’s not anything new. I know how to handle my fears. Am I scared that my visual acuity and color vision may not completely return? Yes. Am I scared I won’t be able to take the same photos again? Yes. Am I scared to go overseas again if my sight does return? Yes. But it’s only fear, Andy.”
Only fear? Fear had been his living and breathing roommate since the first moment the doctors had revealed Kim’s diagnosis to them. And that fear hadn’t left him after her death. No, it had only gotten craftier. Now he had a freak-out if Danny got a cold. Worse, his sleep had been troubled ever since his mother told him about the benign lump her doctors had found in her breast. Then there was Lucy. He’d always fretted about her safety, and he’d been especially worried over these past few weeks.
When in the hell was the fear ever going to go away?
“I don’t know what that means,” he said, slumping back against the bench. “From where I’m sitting, fear is pretty much the biggest, baddest bully on the playground.”
That prompted a half smile from her. “Don’t you remember what I used to do to the biggest, baddest bully on the playground?”
His own mouth twitched. “You punched Jason Adams in the face, then kicked him on the ground.” And she’d gotten into big trouble for it—a whole week of after-school detention.
She nodded. “Exactly. Jason never bothered us again, remember? If you don’t fight your fears, you’ll always be a victim. I’m not a victim. Despite my little pity party.”
Even in her worst moment, no one could ever mistake Lucy O’Brien for a victim. She was a tower of strength. “Lucy, about your injuries. Who are you planning to see for them?”
“My doctor in South Africa said the rest of my injuries have healed. I need to recover my strength, but I don’t need to see anyone other than an eye trauma specialist. That’s why I stayed overnight in Denver. I had an appointment this morning.”
“Who is it?” he asked, tapping his foot in eagerness. “I might know him or her.”
“It’s Dr. Davidson. I like him a lot. He was in an accident himself. Rock climbing. Lost partial feeling in his face when his jaw broke. He’s tough and practical.”
“I’ve heard of him. Eric, right?”
She nodded.
“He has a good rep. I think I’ve met him at a few fundraisers. I wish you would have told me earlier. I would have gone with you today, Lucy.” Anger rose up, catching him by surprise. “You don’t have to do this alone, dammit! Besides, doctors go the extra mile for other doctors’ friends and families.” Not that it had saved Kim in the end, but the additional care had mattered to him.
She was quiet for a minute. “That’s the other reason I didn’t want to tell you, Andy. You don’t have to save me. In fact, you can’t. I’m not saying this to hurt you, but it has to be said. I’m not Kim.”
Something popped in his chest, like her words had physically cracked his ribs. “I know…you aren’t.”
She rubbed her thumb over his hand. “But I know you and all your superhero healing ways. I know you feel like you failed Kim as a doctor for not detecting her breast cancer sooner. I won’t let you be hurt if my right eye doesn’t return to normal. It won’t be anyone’s fault.”
“I don’t see you as a second chance!” He had to press his lips together to keep the angry words from spurting out. “First of all, you’re my friend, and that’s what friends do. Second, I’m a doctor. Even if it’s not my specialty, I can use my contacts to help. I can do some research, ask around. Don’t deny me the opportunity to support you.”
Turning, she settled back against the bench and crossed her feet again. “I didn’t mean to make you angry. I’m not great…at accepting help sometimes.”
No shit, he wanted to say. “Good thing I know that about you.” He let go of one of her hands to nudge her shoulder, but then he stilled, horrified. “That didn’t hurt you, did it?”
She barked out a harsh laugh. “Not really. It only made my kidneys twitch.”
Was she kidding? “Let me see your kidneys,” he ordered.
“You can’t, moron,” she said in an aggrieved tone. “They’re internal organs, remember?”
“I know that.” He let go of her other hand and reached for her shirt. “Are you sure your doctors said you only need an ophthalmologist? Everything should be looked at.”
“Let me rephrase. My team of doctors agreed the only doctor I need to see is an ophthalmologist who specializes in eye trauma, and that’s Dr. Davidson. And I am not showing you my kidneys. I was only kidding anyway. I had a few wounds and a little gash on my back, but they’re healing nicely.”
He wasn’t so sure he bought it. “Don’t make me pull out my Dr. Hardcase with you, Luce,” he said in a hard tone. “I mean business.”
“Don’t make me call for a police officer and get your ass thrown in jail.”
“I want to see your back,” he ground out.
She stood. “No. It will only make me uncomfortable. All you need to know is the stitches are out and everything’s progressing normally—to use one of your doctor terms.”
He stared her down, but she didn’t budge. “If something changes—” he started.
“I’ll take care of it,” she assured him. “Andy, I need you to promise not to tell anyone about this.”
Somehow he hadn’t seen that coming, although he should have known better. “Dammit, Lucy, your parents deserve to know what happened. They love you! Don’t keep something like this from them.”
“It’s my decision,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “I’ll tell them if and when I feel it’s right. I don’t want them to lose any sleep trying to fix something that can’t be changed. Besides, I don’t want them playing on the fears I already have about going back overseas.”
Standing, he gazed across the park. Decades ago, they used to swing together here. Back then, the worst thing she had to worry about was her braids being pulled by Jason the bully. Times had changed so much, and they kept right on changing. Everyone else seemed to keep up, so why did it feel like such a struggle for him?
“Fine!” he said, kicking at the gravel under his foot. “I’ll keep your counsel on one condition. You will keep me up to date on your medical progress.”
“What?” she blasted out.
“I’m not asking to go to your appointments with you, but I will if you’ll let me.” He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “Please don’t shut me out of this, Luce. It would…kill me.”
She turned her back to him, and he heard another unmistakable sniff. He took a few deep breaths to calm the messy emotions coursing through his own chest.
“Okay,” she said, “but I want your promise you won’t boss me around when it comes to medical things.”
“I’m not completely sure what you mean by that. I would never do anything that wasn’t in your best interest.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she said, looking weary suddenly.
He fought a string of curses. “Fine. I promise I will not do anything without talking to you first,” he said, hoping he could keep that promise.
“Or do anything period,” Lucy said, wrapping her arms around herself like she was suddenly cold. “I’m pretty independent. I don’t like being told what to do.”
He fought a smile.
“Don’t I know it? It’s one of your most charming and aggravating qualities.”
“If I wasn’t so tired, I’d throw a handful of gravel at you right now,” she said with a trace of humor in her voice.
“It’s a good thing I’m adept at ducking,” he said, making a show of his skills. “Just promise me something, okay?”
Her eyes turned wary.
“That you’ll remember you have people who love you. There’s no reason for you to tough everything out by yourself. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
She rubbed her forehead wearily. “All right.”
He held out his hand to her. “I’m glad you came home, Lucy.”
She took it, gripping it firmly. “Me too, Andy Cakes.”
Chapter 3
Moira Hale was a little embarrassed of her fangirl moment, but the way Lucy saw the world and photographed it…few people had that kind of gift. Moira had always admired her for her courage and abilities, but the five-year age difference between them had felt a lot larger when they were kids. Now that Lucy was home, for however long, Moira hoped they might become friends. And if she could learn anything about photography from her, she would be in seventh heaven.
She had been watching the door, waiting for Andy and Lucy to walk back in—hoping she was wrong about there being some dire reason for Lucy’s return, knowing she was not—but maybe it was time for another drink. Something to pass the time until they returned. She stepped up to the O’Briens’ makeshift bar in the dining room of their house and considered her options.
Her phone vibrated in her jeans pocket again, and she almost cursed aloud. Her new boss had no right to hound her like this! Moira reached for something stronger than her earlier Guinness. An Irish whiskey might remove the bad taste in her mouth from her boss’s ongoing texts, not to mention her worry about Lucy.
“You’re going for the Knappogue Castle single malt?” her brother, Matt, asked, crowding close. “What’s wrong? This isn’t just concern about Lucy. You’ve been checking your phone more than usual.”
Before heading to the O’Briens’, their family had gotten together at Natalie and Blake’s house for an early dinner. She’d stepped out twice to call her boss back.
“No, it’s not only Lucy, although I practically had to shove Andy toward her.”
“I noticed you giving him a pep talk,” Matt said, a half smile on his face. “I knew he was in good hands.”
She nodded, pouring herself a hefty shot of whiskey. “The other reason is my boss. She’s driving me nuts! I’ve had a lot of bosses in the past ten years, and not all of them have been a peach to work for. I always end up winning them over in the end. But honestly, Taylor Brennan makes all the others look like cupcakes.”
“She still giving you a hard time?” Matt asked, pouring himself a whiskey. “Jane is driving, so I’ll join you.”
“Yeah,” Moira said, taking a measured sip even though all she wanted to do was knock it back. “I think Taylor is trying to push me out. I’m going to have to start looking for a new job.”
Her brother put his arm around her. “I was afraid of that. Based on everything you’ve told me, there isn’t anything more you can do.”
“No, I think she made up her mind about me in our first meeting,” Moira said, taking another sip of the whiskey, remembering the frigid way Taylor had asked her to summarize her hiring suggestions in the company for the last six months. “I hate female bosses who see other women as a threat. It’s so freaking old school. A cliché. Shouldn’t smart, confident women support one another?”
“She’s obviously insecure as hell and doesn’t want anyone else catching on,” Matt said with a sigh. “Male managers do it too. Hence the Napoleonic syndrome. I saw it all the time at my old law firm.”
Moira was so pissed off she wanted to kick something. “I’ve made a good name for myself at Peterson Engineering.” Heck, she’d been promoted three times in the past five years and now served as the human resources director. “Part of me wants to tough it out just to spite her, but I’m done with all her late-night and weekend texts, last-minute deadline changes, and demands for information she could access on her own.”
“She’s a bitch,” Matt said, and then glanced over his shoulder. He was probably checking for Danny, who was talking to Jane and Caroline in the corner with their mom. “You’ll have no trouble getting another job.”
“I know,” she said, and this time the burn in her throat was from something other than the whiskey. “I’m going to get a forty percent increase on my salary too. I’m ready for six figures.”
“You go, girl,” Matt said, thrusting out his tumbler. “To bigger and better things.”
“What bigger and better things?” Natalie asked, appearing beside them. “Oh, no. Whiskey, Moira? Weren’t you going to drive home to Denver tonight?”
She gave her older sister the fish eye as she clinked her glass with Matt’s and then took another sip. “Caroline can drive.”
Sure, they’d taken her car, but it wouldn’t be the first time Caroline had driven it back to Denver. Moira’s phone vibrated again, making her see red. She slammed her glass on the table and dug it out of her pocket. Sure enough, Taylor had texted her again, asking if she’d received her last four texts—in all caps this time—noting that she needed the references for the computer programmer candidates they were hiring. Like the company would end if Taylor didn’t get them on a Sunday night.
Natalie leaned in and peered at the screen. “You weren’t kidding about her being a bitch. By bigger and better, did you finally decide to look for another job? I’ve been hoping you would. That woman has it in for you.”
“Yeah, she knows she can’t fire me. I have one of the strongest performance ratings in the company. But enough is enough. I can’t keep working with someone like that. Excuse me while I call her back and tell her how it’s going to be.” Maybe it was the whiskey talking, but the words felt right. And it felt liberating to finally walk away.
The mountains seemed to wrap around her when she stepped outside into the O’Briens’ backyard. The calm that washed over her told her this was the right thing to do.
Being as diplomatic as possible, she told Taylor that she was leaving Peterson Engineering for personal reasons, and would tender her official notice tomorrow morning. Rather than try to talk her out of it, Taylor said she’d prefer for the notice to be effective immediately. After all, the company would pay out her remaining vacation time.
That slapped Moira back. Taylor wouldn’t even give her the professional courtesy of two weeks to transition everything. Well, so be it.
When Moira ended the call, she noted it had only taken two minutes and thirty-eight seconds to change her life. But she felt free. And lighter.
Turning off her cell phone, she went back inside. Matt and Natalie were waiting for her, anxious looks on their faces.
“I quit,” she told them, “and Taylor is such a bitch she won’t even let me stay around for two weeks to help transition a new person.”
“She probably already has someone in mind,” Matt said, frowning. “Well, at least you’re done with her. You don’t want to work with someone like that. How much vacation do you have?”
“Six weeks,” she told them. “Plenty of time to find a new job.” And the payout would float her financially so she wouldn’t have to dip into her savings. Something to be grateful for.
“I’m proud of you for not staying in a miserable position any longer.” Natalie gave her a hug. “You’re going to find an even better job in no time.”
“Damn skippy I will.”
Caroline, Jane, and her mom came over, followed by her cousins, Meredith and Jill.
“Looks like there’s a celebration, and we’re missing out,” her mom said, ruffling Danny’s hair when he ran over to join them.
“I’ve had it with my boss,” she said, reaching for her whiskey again, “so I just gave my notice, which she accepted. I’m going to find
a new job with a nice boss.”
“Good for you,” her mother said, putting her arm around her. “I didn’t like how that Taylor woman has been treating you. If I were her mother, I would have sent her to time out. Matt, pour me a little of that whiskey so I can toast Moira’s decision.”
There was a chorus of agreement from her family. Moira already felt better. She always did when she was with them. When Andy returned with Lucy, she’d have to share her news with him. He was always reminding her life was too short to stay in a bad situation, something Kim’s death had taught them all.
“And do you know what?” she said, lifting her glass. “I’m going to take a spa day in Aspen and then spend some time in Dare Valley. Natalie, do you think I could use one of your cars? Caroline, you’ll have to drive back without me. Mom, can I stay with you?”
“Of course you can, honey,” her mother said in delight. “You deserve some time off in between jobs. Once you’ve rested, you can look for a new job. Maybe you’ll find something in Dare Valley.”
Her siblings all looked at her—they were well aware of their mom’s hope that all her chickens would come home to roost.
“Who knows?” she said to be agreeable to her mother. The last thing she wanted was to take a pay cut or a title dip, something she’d expect from the smaller job pool in Dare Valley. “There might be something.”
Either way, Moira was going to find the best damn job out there.
Chapter 4
Lucy lurched up in bed when a harsh pounding broke through her consciousness.
Was someone coming for her?
Her gaze flew to the door. For a moment, she didn’t know where she was. Congo? Her vision was blurry, which only pumped more adrenaline through her system. Then she recognized her old pine dresser, topped with a photo of her and her parents cross-country skiing. A younger George Clooney smiled wickedly at her from the poster her mother had left on her purple walls.
