“Davis, I know this is hard.” Nicole pulled the phone away from her ear. She needed a moment to collect herself and wasn’t sure she could hide the tears in her voice. She cleared her throat. “Thank you for coming. My next session is Monday at 6 p.m.” Nicole’s time limit for the phone was up. “I’m getting the signal. I have to go. Please tell the kids that I love them and . . . I love you.” She held her breath—waiting for his response.
He was a mess of so many emotions. Surprisingly, the words I love you too wouldn’t pass between his lips. “I will make sure that I tell them.”
*****
Davis went to Chatham Industries for an Executive meeting. He had some time to kill before it started. His eyes were tired because he hadn’t slept much the night before. If he were honest, Davis hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since Nicole went to Serenity.
Jane burst through his office doors like she owned the place with coffee in hand. “Good morning!” She sang like she was Florence Nightingale.
He didn’t share or return her sunny disposition. “Morning.”
“I brought this for you.” She handed him the steaming cup of hot coffee. “I figured you could use it.”
“I could use something a lot stronger than this but if it’s all you have.”
Jane sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk while he stood towering over her. “You look a little more stressed than usual. I know you’re upset about the meeting, but I need you to know that everything is going to be okay.”
“If I have to step aside, I am thankful that you are willing to take on the role of CEO. I know I can trust you and more than that, you’ll do a great job.”
“That’s interim CEO.”
“Not if I go to prison. It might be a permanent gig. I’m just happy that, for now, I still own the majority of shares. Appointing you might be the last official thing I’ll get to do for Chatham Industries.”
“That’s not going to happen. And you and I both know that I don’t know anything about your business. We need you and look forward to your return.”
“Paul has been briefed. While not happy about my decision, he will help you with the day to day operations. The value of his own stock depends on your success. Therefore, let’s just say he is very motivated.” His eyes said it all. Davis was losing hope. His smile was weak. “In the event that things don’t go my way; I have a contingency plan in place. My shares will be turned over to you until Rayna and DJ are twenty-five. Even then, you and Nicole will have control over when to release them to the kids. Hopefully, they’ll be worth a damn considering they aren’t doing so well right now. Everything else will be left to Nicole. Look after her for me.”
“Stop it. Stop this negative talk. None of that is going to be necessary because you’re going to be around a good long time. This is just temporary. In the meantime, I’ll do anything for you including making sure I keep an eye on things while you focus on your kids and clearing your name. I know you would do the same for me.” She took a sip of her coffee and good long look into his eyes. “Did something else happen with your case that I don’t know about?”
“No.”
“Then what is it? I know you, and something is off even more than usual.”
Davis turned to stare out of the window. “Nicole called last night. She asked if I could attend her therapy session next week.”
Jane frowned. “And that’s a problem?”
His head slowly lifted up and down. “I haven’t seen her in two months. I don’t know what is in store for our reunion.”
“My hope—a happy reunion.”
Davis rubbed the bottom of his chin. “A reunion, sure. A happy one, I’m not so sure. Initially, when Nicole went into rehab, I was frantic with worry. The night everything went down, I was just glad she was alive. I hadn’t had a chance to digest the shit storm that went on around us. I’m pissed. No, if I’m really honest, I’m beyond mad as hell.”
“At her?” Jane got up and walked over to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. “She didn’t get this way on purpose, Davis.”
“I know that, and that’s my conundrum. My feelings can’t be good for her recovery. The kids need her to get better.”
“You need her to get better too.”
“Riiiiiight. It’s not as if my life hasn’t already fallen apart. I’ve lost my business and everything I’ve worked my entire life for. I might even lose my freedom. Where was Nicole in all of this? She always talked about us being partners, but she’s nowhere to be found. So, yeah . . . I’m mad as hell about that.”
“I understand you’re angry and in a lot of ways, rightfully so. However, you didn’t even tell Nicole about your problems until they were five minutes from a breaking news story. So, that’s pretty unfair to her.”
Davis turned to face her. “You’re taking her side? I need your support!”
“You’ll always have my support, but I’ll also tell you when you’re wrong. I’m not saying your emotions are not valid, but please don’t mix up your frustration with this situation and Nicole. She’s not responsible for any of this. Maybe it would be good for you to talk to a professional about this after all. Therapy might be a good idea.”
Davis didn’t respond. He just returned to staring out of the window.
Jane’s voice quieted. “Do you still love her?”
Davis clenched his jaw and didn’t answer right away. “She’s the mother of my children.”
“That is not what I asked you.”
“I know what you asked me.” He snapped then glanced at his watch. “I’m sorry.” Davis closed and rubbed his tired eyes. “Look, can we discuss the clusterfuck that is my life, later? Right now, I need to introduce the executive team to their new CEO while I still have the power to do it.”
Chapter 21
It was Monday. It was 6:00 p.m. Everything was all set and ready to begin. Only Davis hadn’t arrived. Nicole paced back and forth wringing her hands. “He’s not coming.”
“From all that you’ve told me, Davis doesn’t sound like a man whose word can’t be trusted.” Dr. Carmen glanced at her cell phone to check the time. “He’s only a few minutes late. Let’s give him a few more minutes.”
Nicole was just about to sit down when the doors opened, and an assistant ushered Davis into the tiny little room. Nicole froze. Her eyes became glassy as she drank in the sight of him, and he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her either.
Davis seemed to have the same expression in his own eyes.
Dr. Carmen looked from one to the other. “Please come inside and have a seat.”
He moved to take off his suit jacket. “Sorry, I’m late. I was stuck in traffic.” Davis didn’t know what the proper protocol was. Was he supposed to kiss her? Could he touch her? He didn’t do either, but his eyes never left hers. “Hello, Nicole.”
Her breath had been snatched out of her body, and all she wanted was to be wrapped in the strength of his arms. However, Nicole remained calm. “Hi.”
“Okay, please. Both of you, have a seat and we can begin.” Davis and Nicole followed Dr. Carmen’s instructions. “Mr. Chatham, I am not sure how much you are aware of Nicole’s recovery process, but a big part of it is intensive therapy. At Serenity, we like to help our clients find the root cause of their pain. If we can do that, then we can teach them healthy alternative coping mechanisms.”
He nodded. “Serenity came highly recommended, so that is good to hear.”
“Great. Then let’s get started.” Dr. Carmen turned to Nicole. “Last week, in one of our sessions, you mentioned a few things that we believe might be triggers. Why don’t you tell Davis about that conversation?”
Nicole felt awkward as she thought. . . Really, Dr. Carmen? No warm up? We’re just going to dive right on in after months of being separated? “Well . . . Davis . . . um . . . I guess I should begin by saying that I’m sorry. The words feel inadequate, but I mean that sincerely.” Nicole took her time as she struggled to find the right thing to
say. “When Dr. Carmen and I talked last week, I realized that I wrongly equated your absence during our marriage as abandonment.”
“Abandonment? Seriously? Is that what you call a man working hard to provide his family with the best life possible all while trying to prevent a personal and financial disaster? You live in a mansion with every possible luxury; you have cars and money. There was nothing I wouldn’t have given you.”
“No! That’s not what I meant. It was never about material things, Davis! What I was trying to say was . . .”
Davis cut her off. “I might have worked long hours, but I was never absent. I brought my ass home every night. I never betrayed you or my family.” The unvarnished anger he had been trying to hide was petering on the edge of release.
Her own anger threatened to surface. “Yes, you came home, but late almost every night! That doesn’t negate the fact that I was alone in this marriage most of the time. I felt like a single parent managing our family.”
“You managed because you wanted to manage. You could have easily have hired help.”
“Why should I have hired help when Rayna and DJ have a father? Just throw money at the problem. Is that your answer to everything?”
“If that were the case, we wouldn’t be here. So, don’t blame your drug habit on me or on me not being available for you.”
Nicole’s face turned ashen. “My . . . addiction . . . is no one’s fault but my own. I accept full responsibility for it.”
Davis didn’t mean for the words to come out of his mouth, but they had.
Dr. Carmen watched the exchange between them before she intervened. “I think what Nicole was initially trying to say was that before your marriage, she had wounds of abandonment that hadn’t fully healed. In an effort to soothe the ache, it was important for her to create the family she never had—with you. When it didn’t materialize the way she envisioned . . . the pain it caused her wasn’t solely from your absence but due in part to being shuttled between foster home after foster home. Davis, let me ask you a question. Running Chatham Industries must be extremely demanding. However, from what I’ve read about the company, why didn’t you delegate more to your executive team so that you could spend more time with your family? Why was it so important that you physically be there?”
Davis squeezed the armrest until his knuckles were white. “I’ve always believed no one should work harder than the owner of his or her own business.”
“True. But at what cost? Wasn’t that the reason your first marriage ended?”
His lips tightened. “My first marriage had more problems than just me working long hours.”
Dr. Carmen nodded then scribbled more notes down on her pad. “Understood. Let’s move on a little bit. We’ll revisit that later. Tell me about your sister, Rayna. The one who you named your daughter after.”
Davis was more than uncomfortable with her line of questioning. “I thought this session was about Nicole?”
“It is.”
“Then why are all the questions directed at me?”
“I apologize if it feels that way, but we are really just getting started. I’ve already heard a lot from the perspective of Nicole. It will help me better identify how to help her if I can understand her family dynamic but from your perspective. With that being said, I know this topic might be a little sensitive to you, but can you tell me about her?”
Davis turned glacial. His face hardened. “I do not see how that is relevant.”
“Possible motivations for our behavior is always relevant, Mr. Chatham. Please, I know this might be difficult, and it’s not a subject you discuss often, but can you talk about her?”
The tension in the air was so thick, Nicole needed more than a knife to cut it. She needed a machete. She also didn’t think Davis was going to answer. However, he did.
“My parents didn’t have money or insurance. We lived in a shitty apartment, and she died because of it. It’s not a long story.”
“Do you think you might equate being poor with having control over your life and those you love?”
He used his thumb to scratch above his eyebrow. “It could be possible. Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury to really analyze it. If you are not aware, I have more important matters to deal with.”
“Like what?”
“For one, praying that my children can get their mother back—healthy—keeping my ass out of jail, and saving my business. My plate is kind of full.”
“What about your marriage?”
“What about it?”
“You didn’t mention it. Is it not on your list of priorities?”
Nicole held her breath.
Davis wouldn’t look at her. “My marriage is more than I can deal with right now.”
“Hmm . . . that’s interesting.” Dr. Carmen made another note.
Nicole wanted to shove that pen up her butt until she asked the one question, she both wanted to know and didn’t want to know the answer to.
“Do you still love her?”
Could she be even less impersonal in asking the question that could destroy my life? Nicole wondered as she held her breath and awaited his answer.
Davis rolled his head around his shoulders. He expelled a long-exaggerated breath. His words were strained. “I’ve thought about that question a lot lately.” Davis dropped his head, and his chin rested on his chest. He spoke quietly. “Yes. I do still love her. Nicole is . . . the love of my life.”
“Why don’t you tell her that?”
“Because I can’t. Not right now.” Davis just didn’t have the capacity to do any more than he already had.
“Then if you can’t tell her that you love her, tell her what you are feeling.”
Slowly, Davis raised his eyes and looked in her direction. “There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for you . . . even when I thought you might be having an affair with Roman.”
“Davis, I’m so sorry. I-I . . .”
He cleared his throat. “The bottom line, Nicole, is that I am still dealing with that night and trying to process it all. I know the blame doesn’t rest completely on your shoulders. I honestly don’t blame you for coping the best way you knew how. But I’m still angry. I’m still devastated, and I need time.”
She held her body rigid to keep from falling apart. She responded in a barely-there whisper. “Thank you for telling me that. If it helps, I haven’t forgiven myself for that night either.”
Dr. Carmen felt if they continued down this path, there might be hope. She broke the silence in the room. “Today was a good start. Honesty can be painful but is always good. Time can heal a multitude of issues but not without a lot of communication. Davis, thank you for coming and making yourself emotionally available to help Nicole.”
Was that it? The session was over? Her eyes darted to his. He basically just told her that he loved her but didn’t have time to and didn’t want to deal with their marriage right now. Was Dr. Carmen going to introduce a plan to help them? “What do we do now?”
Davis sounded tired, exhausted. “Right. What’s next?”
“Well, Nicole has a little more than a month before she can be released, but we’re making progress. I would like to sit down with you both again next week.”
Davis groaned.
Dr. Carmen continued. “The good news is that I’m approving limited visits with you and if that goes well, maybe we can approve time with the kids. I think it might be helpful. As a matter of fact . . .” She stood. “Since we’re done here for today.” She looked at Davis and Nicole. “Would you like a few minutes to be alone?”
Nicole was hopeful. “If it’s okay with Davis, I would like that very much.”
Davis was feeling ripped open and apart. He stood too making more of an effort than necessary to put on his jacket. Anything not to look at Nicole. “I’ve got to get home to DJ and Rayna. Maybe another time.”
Chapter 22
Davis had been home for a couple of hours. His visit with Nicole had drained every
ounce of energy he had. What he wouldn’t give for a drink. If he hadn’t had the entire house drug and alcohol proofed, he would have thrown a couple back. Instead, Davis fell face first into his bed not bothering to take off his clothes. He closed his burning eyes and just lay there until his phone rang. Davis debated whether to answer it or not, but it was after 11 p.m. The call could be important. He rolled over and reached up to the nightstand to grab it. He answered. “Davis.”
“I am sorry to have to call you this late.”
Davis pinched the bridge of his nose at the sound of his lawyer, Braylee Hinsdale-Manchetti’s, voice. “What? Is the FBI headed to my house to arrest me?”
“Nothing that dramatic but very disappointing. Tonight, I was tipped off that the press has found out Nicole is at Serenity. That news is going to hit the press tomorrow morning.”
“My family can’t catch a fuckin’ break. She doesn’t need that.”
“No, she doesn’t. You might want to think about alternative arrangements.”
“Alternative arrangements? Like, move her? She’s literally weeks away from finishing the program. I doubt Serenity will agree that that’s a good idea.”
“Can they handle a high-profile case? Those bastards in the media have been trying to get an interview with Nicole ever since the news broke. Security will need to be tight.”
“I can tell you that a couple of Senator’s wives and a pop singer have stayed there before. But I don’t know if their stays were ever discovered.”
“Hopefully, they can, but you and I know, tomorrow is going to be a zoo. If I were you, I would have a plan A and a plan B.”
“Thanks, Braylee.”
“You’re welcome. And, Davis . . . we’re making progress. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but if what we’re working on is successful, we’ll get your life back.”
“Right.” He was disillusioned. “At this point, it’s the waiting. Whatever is going to happen, I can only hope, it waits until Nicole is finished with her treatment. Anyway, thanks again for the call.” As soon as Davis hung up, he began to do what he had always done, try to fix the problem.
Fragments of Us (A Contemporary Broken Hearts Romance) (Book Book 2) Page 12