Chasing Destiny

by Nikki Rittenberry

  Yes, of course! New York City had numerous hospitals with outstanding physical therapy opportunities available. She was optimistic about her future, both professionally and personally. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and brushed her long blonde, wavy hair. She slipped into a white tank top and a pair of worn, light denim jeans before settling down on the fluffy, maroon couch.

  Jacob arrived back at the apartment with dinner. They both decided it would be more comfortable to sit on the floor, surrounded with an abundance of throw pillows to eat; just like they used to do back in New Orleans. As the evening progressed, Jacob began to notice Cassie was beginning to become withdrawn. She somehow seemed distracted, as though her mind and her body were disconnected.

  “What are you thinking about Cass?” He asked.

  She let out a loud sigh. “I can’t believe the weekend is almost over. I feel like I just got here yesterday.”

  “That’s because you did just get here yesterday.”

  Cassie chuckled softly and nudged her chow mein gently with the tip of her chopsticks. “Yeah, that’s probably why…”

  Jacob studied her for a moment. “Is that all? I mean, you’re not starting to have second thoughts about us, are you?”

  Cassie hesitated for a moment before meeting his gaze. “Of course I’m not. I’ve had the most incredible time with you this weekend. For a while it almost seemed like things were back to normal, you know? I just… I just don’t want to leave you again.”

  “I know—me too.” He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. He knew she loved him, but he felt like there was something else bothering her; something that she wasn’t revealing. His gut was sending urgent Mayday messages to his brain. Something’s not right. She’s withholding valuable information—proceed with interrogation. He wanted to comply with his distress calls, but instead held back. This was her last night and the last thing he wanted to do was spend it arguing. He decided to let it go for now.

  Jacob spent most of the night awake. He thought about the person he used to be. He had a reputation for being a bit of a player. He’d never thought twice about having a one night stand. He used his charm to pursue many women over the years, but Cassie was different. He knew from the very beginning that she was the exception. She was everything he had ever dreamed of and so many wonderful things that he hadn’t. She was breathtakingly beautiful, intelligent, funny, classy—and did he mention beautiful? She made him want to be a better person. He lay beside her, propped up with one hand supporting his head. He always thought it was such a cliché to watch someone sleep; something you saw on T.V or read about in one of those mushy romance novels. But there he was—guilty as charged. He watched her chest rise with every breath and felt an overwhelming ache in his heart at the thought of being in his bed alone the following evening.

  * * *

  Cassie zipped her suitcase and wheeled it to the front door. Her flight was scheduled to leave at eight o’ clock. She took one last look around the room. It was hard to leave, but comforting to know she would soon be calling this apartment home.

  “Are you ready?” He asked.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

  They went downstairs, hailed a taxi, and headed to the airport.

  Cassie stared through the tinted glass as they left Manhattan. She’d kept quiet during most of the ride; her mind occupied with visions of her time spent with Jacob and her unwillingness to leave him again. Her hand was interlocked with his and the reassuring caress of his thumb comforted her soul more than any words he could have spoken.

  The taxi came to a halt along the curb and the driver removed her luggage from the trunk. She exited the cab and Jacob followed.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you in?” Jacob asked.

  “I’m sure”, she softly replied.

  He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and stared intently into her hazel eyes. “I had an amazing time with you this weekend”, he added.

  “I did, too.” Cassie smiled. It took every bit of her strength not to cry.

  “I want you to call me as soon as you get home. I want to make sure you’re safe.”

  Cassie shook her head; she was unable to speak.

  Jacob leaned closer and pressed his lips against hers before finally wrapping his arms around her. “I’ll see you next month in New Orleans,” he whispered.

  He kissed her again, but was quickly interrupted by the sound of a loud horn. Apparently the taxi driver had grown impatient with their lengthy goodbye. Cassie grabbed her luggage and headed inside to the ticket counter. As much as he wanted her to, she never looked back.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Cassie returned to her apartment shortly before noon. She was overwhelmed with emotions. It would be another four weeks before she would be able to see Jacob again and it seemed like a lifetime. After getting settled, she reached for her cell phone and called him to let him know she’d made it back home safely. She wondered how on earth she would be able to concentrate during classes and clinicals. It would be incredibly difficult, but doable.

  As the days went by, she found that remaining focused was particularly challenging. Jacob had taken up permanent residence in her mind, his face always visible whenever she closed her eyes. She often slipped into a daze, reminiscing about her recent trip to New York, fantasizing about their future together. There was usually enough distraction throughout the day to keep her fairly busy, but when she was alone at night in her cozy apartment she longed for him. She kept a calendar on her nightstand and attached a small picture of Jacob with a paperclip. After gazing into his eyes each night, she would meticulously mark through the date and count the remaining days until they would be reunited again.

  * * *

  Jacob spent almost every waking moment over the next few weeks preparing for his big debut at the Anderson James Architect Firm. This presentation, he’d predicted, would put him on the map and attract attention to his undeniable talent. Senior partners, Herman Anderson and Ken James, were rumored to make an appearance which was certainly unheard of. Most interns would crumble under that kind of pressure, but not him. Jacob excelled in situations like these. He knew the plans he’d devised to turn an old, abandoned brick building into a modern upscale condominium were exquisite and coupled with his natural magnetism, his presentation would be talked about for years to come—maybe it would even be legendary. Well, at least in his mind he hoped it would be.

  With his deadline quickly approaching, he had very little time to converse with Cassie, although she was always present in his mind. At least a dozen times a day he would catch himself daydreaming about their time together during her recent visit to the city. As much as he wanted to dive-in and surround himself with visions of the two of them entangled in each other’s arms, he knew he had to do his best to tune her out of his thoughts—at least temporarily. Nailing this presentation would do more than land him a prominent position in the firm. It would also land him a very generous bonus, which meant he and Cassie would be able to start their lives together more financially sound.

  * * *

  Cassie sat on the side of her bed and reached for the acceptance letter she’d received several weeks ago from the Denver Therapy Institute. She unfolded the paper and silently read it again.

  Dear Cassandra Warner,

  It is our pleasure to announce your acceptance into our distinguished Physical Therapy Internship Program. You, along with nine fellow candidates, were hand-selected amongst thousands of applicants to further your training and begin your promising career at our world-renowned facility. Please respond no later than December 1st in order to reserve your place. Failure to respond will result in forfeiture of your position. We at the Denver Therapy Institute look forward to hearing from you and participating in your quest to further enhance your knowledge.

  Cassie let out a deep sigh, folded the letter and placed it back inside of the top drawer of her nightstand. She repeatedly told herself tha
t turning down this opportunity and moving to New York with Jacob was what she wanted; her mind was definitely made-up. Yet, every time she read the letter she couldn’t bring herself to pick up the phone, contact the program director and explain she would be declining their offer. She leaned back and collapsed on her bed, her legs still dangling off the side. She closed her eyes trying her hardest to clear her mind of the burden she’d been carrying with her for the last few weeks. Exhaustion soon overpowered her, allowing her mind to rest for the first time in days…

  She dreamt she was back in New York with Jacob. She’d arrived back at the apartment after her first day of internship at one of the area hospitals and found him sitting on the couch waiting for her. She was so happy to see him, but the look on his face didn’t reflect her own.

  “What’s wrong?” she’d asked him. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

  Jacob sat perfectly still on the couch; completely void of any emotion. She looked down at his lap and suddenly noticed the acceptance letter she had received from the Denver Therapy Institute. He never said a word—he just looked at her—through her. As if on cue, the phone rang and Jacob finally broke his silence.

  “Do you mind getting that? I told the director at DTI you’d be home at six o’clock. Pack your bags; you’re moving to Denver…”

  Cassie awoke abruptly, startled by the sound of the phone ringing. She’d had the same, recurring nightmare ever since she’d received the acceptance letter. Her decision to keep the letter a secret weighed heavily on her conscience. The phone rang again and she quickly rolled over and reached for it.

  “There she is.”

  “Jake—oh my goodness; it’s so good to hear your voice!”

  “I’m sorry to call you so late. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “You did actually—but that’s ok. I miss you so much.”

  Jacob closed his eyes, trying to envision her as he spoke. “I miss you too—more than you know. It’s almost over, Cass.

  “I know. I can’t wait until all of this is finally behind us. How did your presentation go today?”

  “Oh, you know… I nailed it!

  “Jake—that’s wonderful! I’m so proud of you! So, tell me what happened.”

  “Well, Herman Anderson and Ken James were both there. It was perfect. I had everyone eating out of the palm of my hand—hanging on every word I said. They loved the plans and especially appreciated that my proposal came in under budget! After the presentation I was approached by Mr. Anderson and Mr. James. They said there was a lot of hype surrounding my proposal and I without a doubt lived up to it! Then, they handed me a pretty substantial bonus check, patted me on the back and officially welcomed me aboard!”

  “Wow, looks like you’re really making a name for yourself there, Mr. Nelson!”

  “Yes I am. Just a few more projects like this and who knows… maybe one day soon my name will appear above the firm’s doors.”

  “I don’t doubt it for a minute!” Cassie couldn’t help but smile, his confidence was one of the many things she loved about him.

  “You know, this bonus money couldn’t have come at a better time. We could start looking for a bigger apartment. A buddy of mine at the firm told me about this realtor he and his wife used a few months back. Maybe we can have him show us around a few places after your graduation?”

  “Sounds perfect”, she replied.

  It did sound perfect, didn’t it? Cassie took a deep breath. She believed with all of her heart that Jacob was the one. The distance between them had been devastating, but she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Jacob would be arriving in New Orleans to spend Thanksgiving weekend with her in a couple of days and that would certainly reaffirm her decision to forego the opportunity in Denver as well as justify her reasons to keep her acceptance into the internship program a secret from him.

  * * *

  The sun was shining brightly through Jacob’s bedroom window. He squinted and rolled over to check his alarm clock. His normal morning routine consisted of him getting dressed in his shirt and tie, grabbing a protein bar and a coffee from the small neighborhood store below his apartment, and taking a train to the firm in Lower Manhattan. This however was no ordinary day. His supervisor had graciously given him the day off and since his flight didn’t leave for New Orleans until the following morning, he had an entire day to wander the streets of Manhattan. He ambled toward his miniature kitchen and glanced at his bonus check wedged between his coffee machine and the yellow Formica backsplash. He’d decided to deposit most of it into his money market account at the bank down the street, but not all of it. He wanted to take the remainder of his earnings and buy Cassie something special and he had a pretty good idea of what to get her.

  If someone had asked him several years ago if marriage was in his future, his response would have been not only no, but hell no! Now that Cassie was in his life he couldn’t imagine it any other way. He knew with every fiber of his being that she was his once in a lifetime love. He wanted to spend the rest of his life showing her just how special and important she was to him. He hated that he’d been so busy over the past few months and couldn’t make the time to visit or even call more often. He wanted her to know how excited he was for her to move-in with him and more importantly, how serious he was about beginning their lives together.

  Jacob began his quest at a legendary jeweler near Rockefeller Center and was utterly astounded over their selection. He had no idea there were so many different options to choose from. It seemed like an easy task; you walk into a jewelry store, pick out a beautiful ring, and walk out. However, he wanted the perfect engagement ring for the perfect woman. After meticulously inspecting countless possibilities, he stumbled upon one that he somehow must have overlooked. It was flawless and unique, just like Cassie, and he couldn’t help but smile when he imagined how stunning it was going to look on her hand.

  He arrived back at his apartment just before dark and started packing for his long awaited trip back home to New Orleans. He was utterly euphoric. He couldn’t believe he would be boarding a flight the following morning and would soon be holding his future fiancé. He walked to the kitchen, grabbed himself a beer, and sat down on his couch. He couldn’t turn his mind off, constantly replaying different scenarios of where and how he would propose. Maybe he would plan a picnic over the weekend and hide the ring in the basket, or propose a toast at the beginning of Thanksgiving dinner in front of their families and friends, or because he was so excited, maybe he’d drop down on one knee at the airport the following morning when she picked him up.

  Suddenly, he was interrupted from his scheming trance by the sound of his phone ringing; it was his best friend Tanner.

  “Hey bro—I heard the good news. Congratulations on your presentation! I guess since you’re this big-time New York City architect, you forgot to call your best friend to tell him personally!”

  Jacob traced a bit of sarcasm in Tanner’s voice and shook his head. They always did enjoy giving each other a hard time. “Thanks man! Look—I meant to call you first thing this morning, but I had something really important I had to do.”

  “Oh lord—let me guess… Donald Trump heard about your presentation and has an idea for a new hotel that he wants you design!”

  “No, smartass! Actually I was out shopping… for an engagement ring for Cassie. I think I’m going to ask her to marry me this weekend.” There were a few seconds of silence and Jacob thought for a moment that his cell phone had lost its network connection. “You still there?”

  “Oh boy”, Tanner softly replied. “Giving you hell for not calling about your big day yesterday was only part of the reason I called. Look bro, there’s something you need to know about Cassie.”

  Jacob’s heart began pounding violently in his chest. He was almost afraid to hear what Tanner was about to say next and judging by the change in his tone, he assumed Tanner’s news wasn’t going to be good. “Ok, I’m listening”, he mumbled hesitantly. />
  “Emily and I were both at Cassie’s apartment earlier today. She brought some of her books with her, hoping Cassie would be able to help her with some microbiology homework. Anyway, about halfway through, Emily’s pen ran out of ink and Cassie told me if I looked in the top drawer of her nightstand, I would find some pens. So I opened the drawer and found the pens… and I… couldn’t help but notice a paper with the Denver Therapy Institute letterhead on it.”

  “C’mon man! I can’t believe you were snooping around in her drawers!”

  “It wasn’t snooping! I was not snooping! The letter was there staring back at me. Anybody in that situation would have picked it up and looked at it!”

  Jacob pinched the bridge of his nose and clenched his eyes shut. He could feel his brain pulsating, throbbing in unison with his rapid heartbeat. “Alright… Well, what did it say?”

  “She got in man—they accepted her into the program. It said they needed confirmation by the first of December in order to secure her spot. Did she mention anything about it to you?”

  Jacob was stunned. “No… no, she never said anything.”

  “Look bro, I know you guys have big plans for her to move to New York and all—but that’s a huge honor. The letter was post-dated on the fifteenth of October, which means she’s known about this for at least five or six weeks. I’m guessing she’s probably turned it down to be with you.”

  Jacob was speechless. How could she have not told him? He thought about the few phone conversations they’d had over the past several weeks. Sure the amount of times they spoke was few and far between, but news as big as this could not have been mistakenly overlooked. You don’t just accidentally forget to tell the most important person in your life that you’ve been accepted into the nation’s most recognized physical therapy internship.