Page 44

Chapter 44

Cate

M y father was already up and drinking coffee when I came into the kitchen Wednesday morning. “Good morning.”

“Morning. Coffee?” he asked.

“I can get it.” Having my right arm in a sling didn’t mean I was helpless. And after a week of crazy, I wanted some normalcy. As normal as things can be . I poured a cup and added half and half. “How’d you sleep?” My couch wasn’t the most comfortable piece of furniture in the world. I looked over; he’d already folder the sheets and blanket and piled them neatly on the table.

“Well enough. I’d ask how you slept, but I heard you crying out.”

Which meant my nightmares kept him up, too. “Sorry if I woke you.”

“It’s okay. Want to talk about it? ”

“No, they’ll lessen in time,” I said. The last thing I wanted was to rehash my time in the cage. “Thanks though.”

After we ate the breakfast he made, I asked, “Dad?”

He looked up from his laptop. He may have taken leave, but he felt compelled to check in . “Yeah?”

“What do you think about me returning to DC with you?”

“Why?”

What kind of question is that?

“I meant, why do you want to come to DC.”

“I need time to heal, and it’d give us more time together.” It wasn’t a total lie. I needed time away to think. And plan, in case things were too awkward with Jay and I had to leave SSI.

“This have anything to do with Jaden?”

His raised eyebrow told me he saw through my half-truth.

“No… Okay, a little, but only because I need time to think.”

“And you can’t think here?” he asked, getting up to refill his coffee. When he lifted the pot in question I nodded. Coffee tasted like a gift from heaven after a week without it.

“I can.” Did he not want me in DC? Was he playing the doting father but not serious about mending our relationship? “You don’t want me to come?”

“I didn’t say that. Listen, I’d buy your ticket right now if I thought you weren’t running away from your problems.”

Damn. I sipped my coffee, savoring the creamy warmth as I thought about it.

“It’s not like I can go back to work. Not yet, anyway.” I had an appointment with Dr. Greenfield scheduled for the following day and another a week later. Which meant I had almost two weeks before I could even think about returning to work.

Probably longer. John wouldn’t let me come back until Doc confirmed I was at least eighty percent. And then he’d put me on light duty.

“No, but that doesn’t mean you can’t talk to Jaden.”

“True, but he hasn’t tried to see me or even sent a email.” I couldn’t keep the disappointment out of my voice. “And it’s not like he won’t be here when I come back.”

“I didn’t raise you to be a quitter, Catelyn.”

Ouch .

“I am not quitting.” Raising my voice to argue hurt my side. “I just need some time away.”

I’m not quitting, but I’m totally running away . Delaying the inevitable because I fell for Jay and hearing him say he didn’t feel the same way would wreck me.

Time away would give me the space I needed to rebuild the wall around my heart and remind myself why getting involved with a co-worker, my boss’s son, was a colossally bad idea.

“Alright, I fly out Monday evening. We’ll get you a ticket,” I smiled and started to thank him but he cut me off. “But only if the doctor says it’s okay.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

I didn’t think Doc Greenfield would have any issues with me flying, so I made a list of things to do before the trip.

On top of the list was emailing John to let him know. It wouldn’t affect the day-to-day of the business since I was on medical leave, but going out of town without telling him felt wrong.

When I got up to clear our breakfast dishes, my father stopped me. “I got this. Go watch TV and relax.”

“Dad, I’m perfectly capable of washing a few dishes.”

“Please?” he asked.

Damn him; begging was far more effective than arguing.

“Fine.” I went to the living room and picked up my laptop. It wasn’t easy getting comfortable, but eventually I managed.

“When I’m done in here, I’ll change your bandages.”

Thanks for the warning . It’d hurt like hell when he’d changed them the night before. Not that I’d complain—it wouldn’t help anything and we’d both feel worse.

It was just after eight, so John would be in the office. I wonder if Jay is working?

I wrote and re-wrote my email at least four times, bouncing back and forth between being too wordy and not wordy enough. I wanted to tell him I was going to DC with my dad and provide a brief explanation, but didn’t want to sound like I was running away.

Which I am, sort of.

Having a degree in psychology didn’t mean I was good at calling myself on my bullshit, even when I could see it.

In the end, I kept it brief.

Mr. Sheppard,

I’m going to DC with my father. It’ll give us some time together while I heal.

Thank you for everything,

Catelyn Maxwel l

Focusing on the positive reason for my visit helped me feel better about it.

“Dad, can you take me to the store later so I can replace my phone?”

I didn’t love the idea of going into public looking like a human punching bag, but now that I was thinking about it, waiting wasn’t an option. I needed a phone and even next day delivery felt like too long.

“Sure. We can pick up some groceries, too.”

“Good idea.” Dad had cleaned out all the bad food in my fridge at some point during the night. Thank God the half and half hadn’t been opened. I hated black coffee.