Promises of Forever

by Celya Bowers

  “Not exactly.”

  “Well, what exactly?” he asked in a clipped tone she wasn’t accustomed to and hoped to never hear again.

  “Finn Callahan, I don’t like your tone.”

  “Sorry, honey.” He forced some cheerfulness into his voice. “Okay, Kayleigh, what exactly have you decided in your wisdom?”

  “Sarcasm will not be condoned, either. I’ll talk to you later.” She slammed the phone down.

  Harley, who was sitting at her desk and pretending not to listen to her phone conversation, suddenly whirled around and faced her.

  “If you want to do something you know he’s not going to want to go along with, you don’t beat around the bush like that. And you don’t tell him that he’s not going to be getting any anytime soon. You sugarcoat it. Now call him back, apologize and tell him in that sweet voice, not the angry black woman voice, that you want to work here another week.”

  “But Harley, that’s giving in. I can’t do that.”

  “Yes, you can. Now do it. You’re letting the wrong thing rule your actions. Call him.”

  Kayleigh pondered the consequences if she followed Harley’s suggestions. Giving in, she dialed Finn’s private line again. She didn’t expect him to answer, but he picked it up on the first ring. “Callahan.” The office was quiet, there was no noise of a party this time. It was deathly silent.

  “It’s me.”

  “Me?” He actually acted like he had no idea who he was talking to.

  When he jumped on her last nerve, he did it with a vengeance. “Kayleigh.” She knew she deserved his harsh treatment. “Finn, I’m calling to say I’m sorry.”

  “For not telling me the truth.”

  “I didn’t lie to you. I might have not told you the entire truth, but I didn’t lie. Harley was promoted.”

  “So what’s all that have to do with you putting in for a leave of absence?”

  “Okay, Finn. Harley wants me to help her clean out his office and I told her that I needed to check with you first. So, is it okay if my leave starts next week?”

  “It’s not my decision to make, Kayleigh, it’s yours. Thank you for including me in the process, though. Whatever you decide to do is fine with me.”

  “You made me go through all this for that?” She laughed at their silliness. “That’s why I love you so much. I never know what’s coming.”

  “I feel exactly the same way.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Kayleigh’s last week of work whizzed by at an alarming rate. Although she was helping Harley clean out the office, they were still trying to put the pieces together. She was sitting on the floor trying to open the locked drawer with the large assortment of keys she found.

  “You’d think he’d used some kind of labeling system with all these keys,” Kayleigh said. “He just didn’t seem to have this much on the ball, but he was sure hiding something.”

  Harley mumbled, “You know I can usually figure out passwords, but this one has got me stumped.”

  “Why don’t we switch?” Kayleigh stood and walked to the desk. “You try to get that desk drawer open and I’ll try my hand at cracking his password.”

  Harley nodded. “Good luck. It has to be seven letters long.”

  “Okay. It wasn’t like he knew that many big words. You have to think what’s important to him. You know, like women, sex, cars, money, work, stuff like that.” She tried those words and none of those worked. “Why don’t we just call IT?”

  “Because he had a special lock on the computer that even IT can’t unlock. They were the ones that told me about the seven-letter clue.”

  Kayleigh continued working on it. It had to be something simple.

  “I got it!” Harley opened the drawer and pulled it open. “Oh, my gosh! What was he doing?”

  Kayleigh hurried to her friend’s side and looked in the drawer. “No wonder he kept it locked. He’d go to jail for having this here.” She reached inside the drawer then stopped before she touched anything. Fingerprints. “Don’t touch anything. We should call the police. There’s a gun in there.”

  Harley was already dialing the police with her cell phone. She asked for the officer that questioned them on Saturday. “This is Harley Harris, I’m calling because we found a gun in my boss’s desk.” Harley closed her phone.

  “Well?”

  “He’s coming right over.”

  Kayleigh dialed Finn’s office and told him. “I thought you’d like to know. He had a gun in here.”

  Finn mumbled something into the phone. “I’ll be right down. Maybe there is a clue to why Harry was in there.”

  Kayleigh disconnected. “Well, my last days have really been exciting, Harley. I’m going to miss all this.”

  “Yeah, right. I think Finn will make up for that.”

  Kayleigh hadn’t really given much thought about how Finn’s life would change with her not working during the day and staying at his house. He hadn’t said anything about it, actually. Maybe he was having second thoughts about her staying there.

  “What are you thinking about?” Harley sat the other chair in the office and moved closer to Kayleigh. “You’re thinking about this living with Finn thing, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, he hasn’t said anything about it in the last couple of days and tomorrow is my last official day at work. You think he’s changed his mind about it?”

  “You know, for a woman who has had a 3.9 GPA for the last year and a half, you’re really stupid.”

  “Harley, what are you talking about? He hasn’t said one word about it.”

  “I’m going to prove to you that you’re totally over-thinking this thing. I’m not talking about staying with him forever, but for now, you both love each other and that’s enough. He’s a man. They don’t talk about stuff like that.”

  “I guess I don’t know men.”

  “Not this man. Do you have keys to his house?”

  “Yes. He gave them to me Monday.”

  “Do you know the alarm code?”

  “Yes, but I don’t see where this is going?”

  “Keys to the truck?”

  “To the car, too. I still don’t see where this is going?”

  “He has a car?” Harley dropped her Perry Mason thing for just a second. “I didn’t know he had a car.”

  “Yes, it’s a Mercedes. He doesn’t drive it much because it’s too little. It’s a two-seater.”

  “Oh. I can’t see him in a tiny car like that. Now do you see my point?”

  She shrugged, not wanting to admit what she already knew in her heart. “I really hate you, sometimes.”

  “Only when I’m right.” Harley looked up and laughed. “Oh, speak of the devil.”

  Finn walked into the room. He walked over to Kayleigh and kissed her. “Hey, what is my favorite detective up to?”

  Kayleigh hadn’t given one thought to what Finn’s appearance would cause in the office. Especially since no one knew they were dating. She decided she didn’t care.

  After Finn departed the office, the women resumed their work. Harley was reading over a file folder she found in the desk while Kayleigh played with more passwords. Seven letters. The thought made her blood curl, but she had to try it. She typed in her name minus the g, the same way her boss spelled it. She was correct. Her name was his password.

  * * *

  That evening, Kayleigh decided it was time to talk to Finn. She had to know what he was thinking, even though Harley warned her he might not be open to discussion, being a man and all.

  After dinner he was in his home office, working. He planned to accompany her to the doctor tomorrow afternoon. He claimed he wanted to know for himself how she was doing.

  She went into the office and took a seat. “Finn, I need to talk to you.”

  “Okay, talk.” He walked around the desk and sat by her. “What is it, baby?”

  “Okay, this thing about me taking a leave of absence. Are you sure you’re okay with me staying here so much?”
>
  He picked up her hand. “Yes, I’m sure. If I didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be here. Kayleigh, you’re going to have to trust your heart. What does it tell you?”

  Her heart wasn’t paying any attention to her. It wanted anything Finn did. “I do trust my heart. I just didn’t want you regretting this later.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess Harley was right. I’m just over-thinking the whole situation. I can’t worry about what if, I can only enjoy now.”

  “I know you want to know that we’ll be together forever, but I can’t promise that. No one can. I can tell you what’s in my heart. I love you and will do anything to make you happy. I won’t lie to you, and I won’t cheat on you. If there’s a problem we’ll discuss it.”

  “Thank you, Finn. I just wanted to know where I stood.”

  He looked at her, his blue eyes dancing with devilment. “So where do you stand?”

  “Just like you. In a freefall. I’ll have to take Harley’s philosophy to heart and let Destiny do her thing.”

  * * *

  “I’m really nervous about this,” Kayleigh whispered to Finn. They were sitting in the waiting room. “I feel like I don’t have a backup plan.” Today was her last day at work until August. Finn had convinced her to take the summer off.

  “Will you stop worrying! You took care of everything before you left work. You paid your health insurance for the rest of the year per the company rules. Harley promised to call you the minute the auditors are finished with the report. You can come downtown for lunch as much as you want, providing the doctor says you’re doing okay.” He held her hand tight. “I think you’ve been doing great, but I want to make sure.”

  “Since your parents are coming in a month, what do you think they’ll say about me?”

  “That you’re the most beautiful woman they’ve ever seen. Even if you are a worrywart.” He kissed her forehead.

  She leaned against him wondering how dull her life would have been if she’d never met him. She couldn’t imagine a life without him in it, taking charge, even when she didn’t want him to.

  The nurse called her name and they followed her down the hall. Kayleigh gripped his hand tighter. She could feel impending doom. Although she’d been feeling pretty good lately, she’d had occasional lapses in the last few weeks.

  After she changed into a hospital gown and Finn was allowed in the room, they waited. The nurse came in and took some blood, her vital signs, and checked for any swelling in her hands and legs. Then she left the room.

  Another nurse entered the room. “Ms. Hardy, excuse me, I was just looking for the nurse.” She hurried out of the room.

  Kayleigh looked at Finn. He was looking at her. “I think the word is circulating about you being in here with me.”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but there was a knock on the door. Yet another nurse walked in. “Oh, Ms. Hardy, has anyone taken your blood pressure yet?”

  Finn answered for her. “Yes, a few minutes ago.”

  “Thank you, sir. I’m sure the doctor will be in shortly.” She left the room.

  “See what I mean? They don’t even look in my direction. They’re checking out the hunky man.”

  He laughed. “You’ll pay for that later when we celebrate your taking your leave of absence.”

  “Really?” She hoped she’d have to pay for that remark many, many times.

  Dr. Preston walked into the room, carrying the dreaded chart. “Hello, Kayleigh, Finn. How’s everything going?”

  “Pretty good. I’m sure you know I’m taking some time off from work. And I’m not going back to school until the fall.”

  Dr. Preston glanced at Finn and then shook his hand. “Thank you, so much. I can’t even tell you how long I’ve been trying to get her relax. No wonder your report is looking so good, for the most part. I thought the nurses had gotten the results mixed up while they were trying to sneak a peek at Finn.”

  “Well, that’s good, right?”

  “Yes, to a point. I know you’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Have you been seeing any spots dancing in front of your eyes?”

  “Yes, but they went away after I rested. Mostly.”

  Dr. Preston sat down so he could focus all his attention on Kayleigh. “One of your levels was abnormal, and I want to get it checked out as soon as possible. Do you have time for a test today. Now?”

  Before she could answer, Finn did. “We’re free.”

  “Good. Let me arrange something. Shouldn’t take but a few minutes. You can get dressed. The test is at the hospital.” The doctor left the room.

  She didn’t want to go back to the hospital. It meant time lost. She felt the hot tears cascading down her face. Those damn spots. One freakish episode and her life was spiraling out of control. All she wanted was to live her life, get her college degree and, if she was really good, have a child somewhere down the line, but now it didn’t seem like any of that was an option.

  “Honey,” Finn said, grabbing her shoulders. “Stop doing this to yourself. Whatever happens, I’m right here with you every step of the way. You’re going to get dressed and we’re going to the hospital so we can take the next step.”

  “Finn, what am I going to do?”

  “You’re going to let me take care of you.”

  She didn’t remember getting dressed, but she must have. The next thing she knew Finn was parking in front of the hospital. He helped her out of the car and into the hospital.

  More waiting. She admired Finn for his patience. She didn’t have any more. They sat in the waiting room with another couple. “I’m so tired of waiting.”

  Finn looked confused. “We just got here, and it was an unscheduled procedure. I’m sure it won’t take long.”

  She shook her head. “No, I wasn’t talking about today. I was talking about when my mom died. It seemed we were always waiting. For the doctor, for the cancer treatments, for hospice and for just about everything else. I don’t want to spend my life like that. I don’t want the precious time I have left to be spent waiting on the good stuff to happen.”

  “Kayleigh, I know you’re scared, and you have every right to be. I am, too. I tried not to be, but it’s so hard. I researched your illness to see what I could do, so I fed you all the protein I could. You rested, but still something else snuck up on us. We just have to be proactive.”

  “Every time I think I couldn’t love you any more, you show me a different side to you. Most men would never admit they were scared. You don’t know what that means to me. People are always trying to be the sunshine police, instead of acknowledging, yes, there’s nothing on the bright side.”

  They held hands and waited until her name was called. This time he couldn’t come into the examination room. Kayleigh was going to have to walk this mile alone.

  * * *

  After he kissed her good luck, Finn was forced to cool his heels in the waiting room. First he called Ted to inform him about the unscheduled tests. Then he called Harley and told her; of course she was ready to come straight to the hospital, but Finn convinced her to wait.

  “There’s not much you can do here anyway, but wait. You can do that at work. I’ll call if anything changes.”

  That seemed to pacify her for the moment. “I’ll come over after work.”

  Finn disconnected and called Manny. Unfortunately, Manny was out of town on a modeling shoot in New York. “I can be there tonight.”

  He might not particularly care for Manny, but they both loved Kayleigh and wanted the best for her. “Okay, I’ll leave your name at the gate.”

  “Thanks for letting me know.”

  Finn continued making his list of calls. The next one was to Sarah. At the moment, he didn’t know how his work schedule would be affected. “Sarah, clear Monday morning for me.”

  She must have heard the tone in his voice, because she hadn’t questioned the request. “You only have one, and I can move that to Wednes
day morning.”

  “Great. Thanks.” Finally, he was done with calls for the moment. He sat back and closed his eyes. He didn’t know if he could handle it if something was seriously wrong with Kayleigh. How would he handle it? Could he handle it? He had always thought he was a strong man, but he could only take so much before even he broke down.

  Later, someone tapped him on his shoulder lightly. “Mr. Callahan, Ms. Hardy is asking for you.”

  He opened his eyes and tried to focus on the voice speaking. She was a young nurse. “Is she all right?”

  “Yes, sir. She’s in a recovery room. The procedure was very intense and has left her extremely tired. She’ll probably sleep most of tonight and tomorrow. She should be back to normal by Monday. If you’d like to follow me, I’ll take you to her.”

  He stood ready to school his features to neutral, so he wouldn’t alarm her. He had to do it for Kayleigh’s sake. “Lead the way.”

  He followed the woman down a crowded corridor and finally into the recovery area of the hospital. Kayleigh was sound asleep in bed.

  “Call me when she wakes up.” The young woman left him alone.

  He sat down next to the bed and picked up her hand. She felt warm to him. Soon the doctor walked in the area to check on her.

  “What kind of test was this?”

  The doctor looked at him. “And you are?”

  “A friend of Ms. Hardy, Dr. Preston just said it was a test. He didn’t mention a test so invasive that would knock her out.”

  “Well, it was. Please ring the desk when she wakes up and we’ll discuss options then.” He left the area.

  Finn held his head low. This was not going well. Kayleigh now had options. That was always a bad word when it came to illnesses.

  It was another three hours before Kayleigh opened her eyes. To say that she was awake would be stretching the meaning of the word. The doctor came in to speak and she mumbled something to Finn that sounded like “Stay.”

  He held her hand as the doctor recited the findings. Even though her other levels were good, this was high enough to make the illness progress. He advised bed rest, some new medication and lots and lots of rest.