by Robyn M Ryan
“Definitely.” Andrew’s voice was firm, and Caryn bit back a laugh.
“Have you spoken with Jim or Dave recently?”
“We’re in contact. Why?”
“Just wondering. You know if either is seeing anyone?”
“Caryn, that’s not a typical topic of conversation for guys. I have no idea—and I don’t want to know why you asked.”
Caryn reached for her bedside water bottle and sipped it before replying. “Just curious, Andrew. I thought about them a lot when I was in St. Louis. Nothing else.”
His voice reflected skepticism. “If you say so.”
Caryn changed the subject as she tried to stifle a yawn. “Tom any further along with everything he needs for his residency?”
“Pretty much. We should be home by the time your West Coast adventure’s complete.”
“About that.” Caryn bit back another yawn. “Lauren decided she’s doing the West Coast trip solo next week. I’m going to coordinate the roll-out of the seminars—if we get the McRainey account.”
“So…I might get to see you next week?”
Caryn shut her eyes, visualizing Andrew when she’d left him at the airport. “Maybe…” If he only knew how much she longed to see him again.
“Pencil me in for dinner?”
Caryn imagined the blue eyes that often caused her stomach to flip-flop. “Give me a date, then we can make plans. Just depends what’s going on with all these proposals. I might be tearing my hair out by then.”
“Sounds like you need a quiet dinner for two in the French bistro near the RiverWalk,” Andrew replied, and she knew she couldn’t resist his invitation if they were in the same room. That smile. Those hypnotic blue eyes.
“Perhaps.” She deliberately kept her tone light and non-committal, but then she couldn’t contain the yawn. “I’m sorry, Andrew. It’s…”
“Get some sleep, sunshine. I’ll touch base when I know our travel plans.”
When she ended the call, Caryn again felt the flutter of anticipation and hope. Pushing aside the negative thoughts that lingered on the fringes of her mind, she pulled up the covers and stared at the ceiling. Hope tickled the back of her mind as it started to germinate. Maybe…just maybe…
Caryn peeked into Lauren’s room and confirmed her friend still slept. She had no idea when Lauren had returned from the Peterson’s, but knowing her friend, suspected it was in the early hours of the morning. Gathering her purse and car keys, Caryn left a note where Lauren was sure to see it.
She drove to the Rehab Center, hoping to see Dr. Forster and a member of Andrew’s treatment team. Well, anyone except Kristen. Caryn needed to know the truth…why Andrew was suddenly backing away from his single-focused mission. Did anything happen? Did Dan tell him he should scale back his expectations? Why the sudden self-doubt?
The long months since April melted away as she walked through the entry. Caryn pushed aside the negative memories from her last visit to the center, straightened her shoulders and held her head high as she crossed the lobby. She glanced toward the food court, surprised no one looked familiar. At least Kristen’s not on her usual perch.
Caryn stopped by several treatment rooms, pausing just a moment to observe the familiar activities. She smiled and raised her hand in greeting if a therapist noticed her, but didn’t interrupt. She passed one of the therapists who worked with Andrew on the sensory input activities.
“Good to see you, Caryn,” she said, greeting her. “Been too quiet here without your husband. Did he send you to do some visual tracking for him?”
Caryn laughed as she snuck a glance at her name tag. Riley, of course. How could I forget? “Mmm, that would be a definite no. Andrew’s still complaining about your sessions?”
“Not as much. He’s made exceptional progress with all the sensory stimuli. Imagine that’s why Forster told him to take a break.” Riley smiled as she stopped at the door to the treatment room.
“Have you seen Dr. Forster today?”
“Not yet. He has a few other rehab patients here, but no traumatic brain injuries like Andrew’s. You can check with his secretary or probably find him over at the hospital. You remember how to navigate the maze?” she asked, referring to the network of passages connecting the Rehab Center to the hospital.
Caryn shook her head with a small smile. “Tom’s my personal GPS for that adventure. Easier for me to drive over.”
She stepped to the elevator and pressed the number for Andrew’s floor. Just step in and see if there’s anything he needs when he gets back…and see if Kristen’s left anything there. She felt a fleeting pang of guilt when she unlocked the door, but brushed it aside. She quickly scanned the room. Everything looked the same…except the withered African violets on the windowsill. She didn’t need to touch the soil to know it was bone dry. Kind of like our marriage. Obviously not doing the minimum to keep it alive. She grabbed the small pot and tossed it in the trash, along with empty beverage bottles scattered about the room. She peeked over the half wall separating the bedroom from the main area. The bed was unmade and sweaty workout clothes were piled in a corner. When did Andrew start behaving like a slob? Smells like a locker room in here. When’s the last time he changed the sheets?
Grabbing a large garbage bag, she stripped the bed and stuffed the sheets and the sweaty clothes into it. She tossed a fresh set of sheets on the bed, then pulled some shirts and jeans from the closet. These could use a wash. She sniffed the shirts for any lingering scents of perfume, but only detected the familiar body wash he favored. Caryn quickly scanned the closet for anything of Kristen’s. Just the clothes I left. She finally added anything that had somehow landed in the laundry basket to the garbage bag.
Caryn resisted the urge to sweep the floors and dust—or clean the bathroom. He could have at least requested housekeeping services. She switched the towels for a clean set, shoved the dirty towels into her makeshift laundry bag, and resisted the impulse to wash the dishes piled in the sink. She’d ask housekeeping to do a thorough cleaning before she returned with his laundry.
She took the trash down the hall to the bin and then returned to his room to grab the laundry and head to the car. She allowed herself to look at the picture of Antigua that hung over his bed. Just about a year since we were there. Ten days of bliss before they packed up and moved to Tampa. Andrew called their annual anniversary trip a selfish gift to themselves. No electronic devices, no communications, no text—totally off the grid. Each trip strengthened our bond, preparing us for the long hockey season and frequent separations. Caryn flicked a tear from her cheek. Was Antigua our final gift to ourselves?
8
Dan Forster greeted Caryn with a warm smile when she knocked on his office door. “Good to see you, Caryn. Come in and have a seat.”
Caryn perched on the edge of the chair and suddenly nervous, brushed the hair away from her face.
“What brings you over to the hospital? Thought you were up in Canada visiting Andrew’s parents.”
Caryn managed a small smile. “Had to catch up on some business.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Have you noticed Andrew hitting some sort of plateau in his recovery?”
The physician shrugged. “I’ve told him to expect plateaus…all part of the recovery process.”
“But nothing to suggest he should back off on his goal to play hockey again?”
“Absolutely not. You’ve seen the progress he’s made.” Forster met her eyes. “Are you worried he won’t attain that goal?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. It’s just that lately he’s saying playing hockey’s not that important—like it’s no longer his motivation.”
Dr. Forster smiled reassuringly. “That’s very common when someone has worked as hard as he has for this long. He’s suffering a little burnout. That’s why I ‘suggested’ he take some time off, go up to Toronto while his brother makes arrangements for the residency here.”
“So, you don’t think he should question h
is goal of playing hockey again?”
“Not when he’s making progress every day. The thought of actually achieving his goal might be a little unnerving, but I haven’t observed any anxiety on Andrew’s part. If you do, just listen to what he says and do your best to reassure him. Don’t be surprised if he starts showing signs of mood swings again. Hopefully not as bad as it was in the first few months. Just don’t take anything personally.”
“I know the drill,” Caryn said with a light laugh as she stood. “Thanks, Dan. I needed to hear the truth. This will help me deal with his moods.”
“Let’s hope this time off clears his mind and recharges his determination.” He stood and walked Caryn to the door. “I don’t intend to let him alter his goal.”
Caryn’s smile was bright. “Neither do I.”
On her way to the exit, Caryn saw Kristen chatting with a group of colleagues. Bitch. She passed without acknowledging the woman, walked through the exit, and pulled her keys from her pocket. Then, a familiar voice called her name. Seriously, Kristen? Following me out the door?
“What?” Caryn snapped as she spun to face Kristen.
“Just saying hi. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
“And you’re surprised?” Caryn didn’t try to keep the sarcasm from her tone.
The therapist shrugged. “Thought you’d be happy you got your way.”
Caryn stared at her, but didn’t respond.
“Andrew will work with a new therapist when he returns from Toronto. Don’t pretend you had nothing to do with it.” Kristen glared.
She met Kristen’s gaze evenly. “If you’ve been replaced as his therapist, then I suspect the team feels you’ve taken him as far as you can. I’ll look forward to meeting his new PT.” Caryn didn’t wait for Kristen to reply. She turned and walked away, not looking back.
She mulled this revelation as she drove home. So, Kristin’s no longer Drew’s therapist. Whatever gives her the idea I’m behind that? If I’d known I had that influence, she’d have been gone long ago…the day I walked in the therapy gym and saw them locking lips. Wonder if Andrew requested the change? If he knows? Or even if what Kristen said is true?
Caryn and Lauren spent the rest of the week putting the final touches on each West Coast team’s proposal. They also contacted the NHL agents requesting photos and information they’d need to update each client’s social media accounts and touched base with each remaining client. Although disappointed they had yet to receive a response regarding the McRainey proposal, they developed a detailed outline to present the seminars.
Lauren studied the proposed schedule. “He did say no more than six months. It’s doable, Caryn. A lot of travel, but we can make this work.”
“By allocating three days a week to work with branches? Do you really believe we can still keep up with our other clients? It’s going to be rough…”
“We can do it.” Lauren jotted a note on her pad. “We can also hire an experienced seminar leader or two and delegate that part of the work. We can develop the up-to-date social media plan, train the trainers, and go to supervise as many presentations as necessary until we’re comfortable with the trainers—and be seen on-site often enough to make Mr. Wesley happy.”
Caryn made a face and then sipped her tea. “I love the idea of hiring seminar leaders—even outsourcing part of the project. As far as making Jim Wesley happy, we’ll see if and when he makes a decision. Somehow, I don’t think he’ll be an easy man to please.”
“Yeah, he does come across a bit smug.” Lauren paused, then grinned slyly. “You may need to set up another meeting to snag this contract.”
“I’ll follow-up while you’re away. Not sure what else we need to say…just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ from him would suffice.”
“Maybe a discussion over dinner?” Lauren suggested.
“Not happening.”
“Well, I think you could close the deal very easily,” Lauren teased. “What’s one business meeting and a meal?”
Caryn shook her head. “Lauren, the less time I spend around that man, the better.”
“I know, just teasing. I saw the way he kept checking you out. Not subtle.” Lauren reached to squeeze her hand. “But I also know you can handle him tactfully—or not, if he can’t take a hint.”
“We’ll see.” Caryn set her iPad aside and nodded toward Lauren’s notes. “You feel fully prepped on everything?”
“Yes, boss.” Lauren smirked.
“You mean ‘yes, partner,’” Caryn retorted. “I should have the agreement back from Don Wilson when you get back.”
Lauren’s eyes drifted toward the pool. “Your word is good with me. I think I’ll swim a few laps before lunch. Join me?”
They lingered over breakfast the morning of Lauren’s flight. “Can I admit I’m a tad nervous?” Lauren asked as she sipped her second cup of coffee. “Excited, but jittery.”
“Nervous energy?” Caryn pointed to her coffee cup. “The caffeine makes it worse.”
“I know, but I need it this morning,” Lauren groaned.
“How late?”
Lauren shook her head. “Don’t ask. At least I have a nice long nap scheduled during the cross-country flight. Curled up in my little first class pod…can’t wait.” A smile crossed her face. “I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m not ragging on you about booking first class.”
“You can override my decision anytime when it comes to your travel arrangements.” Caryn tried to keep a neutral expression. “I didn’t even know this flight had those private seating areas in first class. But, you deserve it.”
Lauren nodded. “I agree.” She glanced at her watch and then stood to take her cup to the kitchen and place it in the dishwasher. “Help me make sure I have everything I need. Cam’s going to be here in a few minutes.”
Caryn glanced through the bound files for each potential client and then looked for the flash drives containing the back-up files. “You have a hardcopy of everything, but I can’t find where you put your back-up files.”
“On the cloud, and here are the flash drives.” Lauren held her hand out to give them to Caryn. “You know I’m OCD about having multiple back-ups.”
“You have everything? Itinerary, flight info, hotel.”
“Yes, Mom, I’m ready.” Lauren threw her arms around Caryn as the doorbell rang. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need luck, you’re a superstar. Text me when you can.”
“You know I will.”
Caryn smiled warmly as she greeted Cliff. “Good morning. Thanks for getting up so early.”
Camden’s smile grew as he looked at Lauren. “I’ll sleep later. Ready to go?”
“You bet.” Lauren held his gaze until the two dissolved in laughter. “I swear I’ll stare you down next time.”
“FaceTime me once you’re in LA. I’ll give you another shot.” He grabbed Lauren’s suitcase and then took her laptop case and slipped it over his shoulder. “Got everything?”
“I’m ready.” Lauren hugged Caryn again, then slipped her hand into Cam’s. “I’ll call you when I get to the hotel.”
They had barely pulled from the driveway in Cam’s rental car, when another knock sounded on the door, and Terri and Kelly entered.
“Hey, Caryn,” Terri said. “We’re heading up to Starbucks. Feel like a walk?”
“Absolutely! Feeling good today.” Caryn grabbed her Starbucks card and keys and headed toward the door.
“So, Lauren and Cam seem to have hit it off,” Kelly observed as they enjoyed the early morning sun. “Saw them leaving as we stepped outside.”
“So it would appear. I never know what’s going on with her when it comes to guys.” Caryn bit back her laugh. “But, her work ethic? Spectacular! She has six meetings between now and Friday in LA.”
“Lots of folks are starting to return,” Terri observed, nodding toward a few girlfriends and wives when they entered the coffee house.
“I know,” Kelly said. “It’s
time for another pre-season luncheon.”
“It’s been such a blur; I can’t believe a year has past since we moved here. I can help you with the luncheon,” Caryn offered.
“Hoping you’d volunteer.” Kelly nodded toward a private area near the back of the room. “Look good?”
“You two grab it,” Terri told Kelly and Caryn. “I’ll get the order.”
Andrew felt a pang of guilt when he said goodbye to his parents. The days had passed too quickly, and he hoped he and Caryn could return for another visit soon. He was glad he’d decided to stay at home, even though it was strange sleeping in his old bedroom, surrounded by old trophies and jerseys. Spending the extended time with his parents felt like a gift. They had time for long conversations, a luxury for all. And yeah, it’s kind of nice getting spoiled by Mom. No wonder Tom’s in no hurry to move out.
He pulled his iPhone from his pocket and sent a short text to Caryn:
Locking up the townhouse in a few. Anything you need or left behind?
His phone pinged a few moments later with her response:
Just you.
“Dare I guess who put that dreamy expression on your face?” Kelly laughed softly as Caryn set her phone aside.
“Guess neither of you needs hints, then?” Caryn countered. “Andrew asked if I needed anything from our townhouse. Guess they’re heading back. I’ll take his clean laundry over and make sure housekeeping stopped by.” Caryn’s smile was more of a grimace. “Want to take bets if he even notices?”
“Oh, he will if you dump everything in the middle of his bed,” Terri giggled as she sipped her latte.
“Kind of defeats the purpose,” Caryn replied. “I’ll get everything in order and let him wonder—if he’s that observant.”
“At least you know he won’t think it was Kristen,” Kelly added.
