She walked into the cozy kitchen, smiling at the table built for two, and retrieved a glass from the cabinet. She filled it with water and leaned against the counter as she drank it, thinking about her father. It wasn’t his brilliance that she missed. It was his presence. Walking into the house and hearing him call out her name. Annalise? That you, hon? And his ever-present support. The ache of missing him clung to her, and her hands began to tremble. She set the glass on the counter with a clunk as tears sprang to her eyes. Her chest felt heavy, and her legs must have taken the cue, because as she lowered herself into a wooden chair, they simply gave out, and she landed with a thump on her butt.
She gave in to the ugly sobs that bubbled up from her chest. She cried for the father she wished she could have saved and for the life he’d lost at too young an age. She cried for the way she felt certain Andy’s life had also been ruined, and she cried for the loss of Annalise Avalon, the woman her father had worked so hard to raise in all the right ways. She cried for the girl she’d tried to become in Peaceful Harbor, and she cried for the people she’d left behind there, too. She cried because as she sat in the house that had once made all her troubles disappear and all the answers become clear, it no longer held those powers.
Chapter Nineteen
MONDAY MORNING ARRIVED without Leesa in Cole’s arms and with a full patient load at the office. It was officially the shittiest Monday of the year, and there had been plenty of not-so-pleasant ones. Somehow the not-so-pleasantness of patients who argued about treatments and complained about Cole running late for their appointments didn’t compare to Leesa, alone in Towson, facing down demons she didn’t deserve.
She’d called last night to let him know that she’d arrived safely, and he’d heard sadness in her tone despite the brave voice she was putting on. It had cut him to his core.
He lifted his eyes from the chart he was reviewing at the sound of a knock at his office door.
“Yeah, come in,” he said. He was surprised to see his brother Sam open the door.
“Hey, dude. Sorry I didn’t call, but…yeah. I wanted to see your ugly mug.” Sam strutted in, wearing a pair of cargo shorts and a tank top, his tanned muscles on full display. Cole was sure his staff got a kick out of that. He’d heard the murmurings about his siblings. They were hard to miss when the single girls lit up like the sun whenever his brothers came by. He’d heard words like stud and hot too many times to count.
Cole pointed to a chair. “Take a load off. I have a patient in ten, but what’s up?”
Sam rubbed his chin. The spark of mischief in his eyes dimmed to a concerned, assessing gaze.
“Did Mom get ahold of you yet?” Sam leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, his hands rubbing in the way he did when he was trying to figure out how to say something.
“No. What’s up? She usually doesn’t call during patient hours unless it’s an emergency.” Cole closed the file and shoved it to the side to focus on Sam.
“She’s pulling together another goodbye dinner for Shannon, and Ty’s coming back for it. It’s in two weeks. Saturday night, at Mom and Dad’s.”
“You came all the way here to tell me that?” He cocked a brow.
Sammy’s lips curved up. “Nah. I came to make sure you weren’t crying into a hanky or hiding under your desk.” He laughed. Cole shook his head. “What? You go all gaga over a woman for the first time in forever and she left you high and dry. Someone’s gotta watch out for the master at hiding his emotions, Dr. Braden.”
Cole walked around his desk and sat beside Sam. “I suck at hiding my feelings where she’s concerned, but I’m fine. I’m a big boy, and she’s a big girl.” He scrubbed a hand down his face, hoping Sam would buy the lie. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to pound the shit out of something or someone for the position she’s in.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Sammy patted him on the back as another knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Cole said.
Faith, a physician assistant who had worked for Cole for the last year and a half, peeked around the door, and her eyes stole to Sammy. Her dark hair was piled on her head in a tight bun, and she held the edge of the door in a death grip. She was usually professional and confident, except when Sam came around—then she became meek and nervous.
“Excuse me. Um. Hi,” she said to Sam, holding his gaze a beat longer than necessary, making Cole chuckle.
Sam lifted his hand in a wave. “Hi, Faith. It’s nice to see you. I love your hair like that.”
Her cheeks flamed as she tore her eyes away. “Um. Thank you. Um…”
Cole glared at Sam. He did shit like that just to make her blush. His glare was wasted, as Sam’s eyes were still locked on the pretty, flustered brunette.
“Faith, is there something you needed?” Cole asked.
“Oh. Yes, sorry. Mr. Hood showed up early, and he’s waiting to speak with you.”
“Okay. I’ll be out in a sec. Thanks.” He didn’t bother to wonder why she’d come to tell him instead of the front desk staff calling him. Whenever one of his handsome siblings was in the office, one of the single girls always popped in with some excuse to get a peek.
She closed the door behind her, and Cole nudged Sam with his knee.
“Cut that shit out. She works for me, remember?”
Sam snickered. “It’s not like I’m sleeping with her. I think she’s cute as hell when she’s embarrassed, but don’t worry. She’s way too good girl for me.”
“Yeah, let’s let her stay that way. She’s the best PA we’ve got.” Cole rose to his feet, and Sam followed. “Listen, I appreciate you coming by, but I’m fine, really. I talked with Leesa last night and again this morning. She’s heading over to talk to her old boss today. She’s a smart woman, Sammy. She’s doing the right thing for her, even if it sucks for me.” He nodded toward the door. “Now get outta here so I can talk to my patient’s father and get him to do the right thing.”
Sam pointed at him. “Drinks tonight at Tap It. Me and Nate’ll be there, and if you’re not there by eight, I’m going to find you and drag your ass there.”
Even though drinks were the last thing on his mind, Cole knew that when Sam was determined, there was no fighting him, so he agreed. “You mean you’re actually giving up a night with a random chick to hang with your brothers?”
Sammy winked. “Hey, you’re the one who taught me that family has to come first. Besides, the thought of you crying at home makes my stomach turn.”
Cole took a quick step toward his smirking younger brother.
Sam sidestepped the feigned grab and said, “See ya tonight, bro,” before disappearing out the door.
A few minutes later Mr. Hood had replaced Sam in the chair across from Cole’s desk. His beady eyes held a look of determination that Cole had seen many times and almost always led to a poor choice for his patients. The churning in Cole’s gut told him that this was not a good day to face the man who stood between him and his patient. Especially when he’d prescribed a treatment plan that would certainly lead to her full recovery. It didn’t bode well for Elsie that she wasn’t present for this meeting. Usually when a patient was going to forgo treatments, they simply canceled their appointment or didn’t show up at all, but there were a handful who sought his approval. It was approval he never gave, but at least with those who came to see him, he had one last shot at changing their minds.
“Dr. Braden, by now you understand the difficult position I’m in as a parent. My daughter has worked for years for all that she has achieved, and she has a chance to reach a level of success doing what she loves most. A level of success that very few people can claim.”
“Yes, I can appreciate why this seems like a difficult decision for your family. Please understand, Mr. Hood, that from a medical perspective this decision isn’t just a matter of Elsie missing her chance at competing in the upcoming Olympics. This is a choice between a resolution to the pain that your daughter has cle
arly been experiencing for longer than she’s indicated and a future that will likely include further injury, which could lead to missing the Olympic competition anyway and a lifetime of underlying pain.”
For the first time since they’d met, Cole saw a hint of emotion other than vehemence in the man’s eyes. He placed his hands on the arms of the chair and let out a long sigh that sounded a lot like defeat. Unfortunately, as his fingers curled around the edges of the chair, Cole worried that was just wishful thinking on his part.
“Mr. Hood, you drove two hours to see me instead of seeing a doctor in your hometown. You must have trusted that I’d have your daughter’s best interests at heart.”
“You came highly recommended,” he offered weakly.
“I appreciate that.” Clearly if Elsie’s father approved treatment, she had Rush Remington to thank for it. “As I said, then you must have trusted my capabilities to come all this way.”
“Yes. I do, despite how it might look.” He lifted hooded eyes to Cole. “How do I say to my teenage daughter, who has worked her butt off for years—literally years—giving up time with friends, sleepover, dances, summer vacations…? How do I say, you did a great job, and I’m proud as hell of you, but now we’re pulling the rug out from under your dreams?”
Cole wanted to get up and hug the man for showing that he wasn’t the robotic, angry man he’d come across as. Instead, he clasped his hands on the desk and smiled at the troubled man, appreciating the position he was in. He drew upon all he’d heard from his father over the years and hoped his words would help.
“I think you start with, ‘I love you and I’m proud of you,’ and you end with something about how when she was born, you promised to protect her and support her, and that as her father, or as her parents, that’s exactly what you’re doing. And you reassure her that this treatment will hopefully allow her to one day fulfill those dreams.”
Mr. Hood’s jaw tightened as he sat silently looking at Cole. Cole waited patiently for his words to find their path to either pissing the man off or soothing his worries. He could take either, though he hoped for the latter. In the silence, Cole searched his face for clues, but the man wasn’t giving anything away.
“Do you have children, Dr. Braden?”
Cole smiled at the thought, and it brought his mind to Leesa. He fought the urge to look at his watch and see how much time had passed since their call, or whip out his phone and check for a text, and focused on getting Elsie the best treatment he could. “No, sir. Not yet.”
Mr. Hood steepled his hands beneath his chin. His brows drew together as his eyes dropped to Cole’s desk, lingering there as the minutes ticked away. When he finally rose to his feet, his narrow shoulders weren’t pulled quite so tightly as they had been when he’d arrived, and when he extended a hand to Cole, gone was the angry grip.
“Thank you. Being a parent is the hardest job in the world. Being a good parent is even more difficult. I only hope I’m doing the right thing.”
Hoping he’d choose to get his daughter proper treatment and not wanting to push him, Cole said, “I’m sure you will.”
Mr. Hood nodded, and as he opened the office door, he turned and said, “I’ll make the appointment with the orthotist on my way out.”
***
LEESA SILENCED HER vibrating phone for the fourth time in as many hours. She cut the engine, parking in front of the middle school where she’d poured her heart and soul into every class. Cole had called her at the crack of dawn, offering again to come to Towson, and as much as it hurt to do it, she’d turned him down. He had sent two text messages before she’d left the house. They probably weren’t meant to soften her resolve, but hell if they didn’t have that effect at first. She still felt the need to handle this on her own. She’d never had to rely on a man before, and she wasn’t about to start now. Her father would roll over in his grave if he thought she’d allowed herself to fall apart at a twelve-year-old boy’s bad judgment. She was stronger than that. She had to be. And on the off chance she wasn’t, she sure as hell didn’t want Cole to witness her weakness.
She thought of those text messages now as she stared at the redbrick building, gathering the courage to walk inside.
I have faith in you. Go reclaim your name! You can do it!
She knew it must have killed him to send a text instead of being there to tell her in person. She also knew Cole wouldn’t have sent the supportive texts if he didn’t believe she could do it and didn’t sincerely want that closure for her, even if it might mean that she would remain in Towson long-term. If his tone last night hadn’t choreographed his sadness and discomfort over her leaving, his actions had. She’d noticed that he was good at brushing things off with others, but with her he was an open book. One look in his eyes told her everything she could ever want to know—from how much he adored her to the intensity of his passion.
He’d sent a selfie a few minutes after she’d responded to the texts and thanked him for understanding. He was smiling and giving her a thumbs-up. She’d laughed, despite the tightening of her chest. She held on to that image, soaking in his support.
Tegan had texted before she’d even showered. The first text told her to kick ass and the second told her to come back to Peaceful Harbor if she’d rather not kick ass. She glanced down at her phone now, thinking one of the two were texting again, and was surprised to see Tempe’s name on the screen. She opened the message and a long text bubble appeared.
I heard you went back to Towson. Proud of your strength. Want me to come down? I don’t mind. I know this is going to be hard for you.
Another text bubble appeared as she was reading.
Let me know. BTW this is Tempe in case you don’t have my number in your phone yet.
Goose bumps raced up her arms. She’d never been embraced by people so completely and seamlessly, and Cole’s family accepted her despite this mess that she carried around like a ball and chain. She glanced up at the building, using the support of Tempe, Tegan, and Cole to fuel her courage for the meeting she would have with the principal, Darlene Sentry, in a few minutes.
She started to send a reply to Tempe and hesitated. What could she say? Thanks for the kudos? Thanks for the friendship? Sorry I took off and left your brother’s head and heart spinning? The truth in that thought gripped her, sending her stomach into a tizzy. Every time she thought of Cole it was like a double-edged sword. She wanted to be his, to accept his love and support and disappear into him forever, but her past felt like a ticking time bomb.
She had to do this.
She typed a quick response to Tempe—Thank you! Your support means the world to me, but I’m sure you can understand my needing to do this alone. Hug Cole for me? She deleted the last sentence before sending it off. She had no idea how long she’d be here, and she didn’t know Tempe well enough to send something like that, regardless of how close she felt to her. She stepped from the car, and with her heart racing and adrenaline pushing blood through her ears so loudly that she could barely think, she headed for the building.
She inhaled the familiar scent of school. It was the same at every school she’d ever been in, the smell of hard work, too many hormones, and knowledge waiting to be learned. She used to revel in that pungent smell. Now, as she pressed the button and the buzzer sounded, unlocking the front door, nothing felt right. The smell and sights were the same, and the halls were wide and empty. Erin Walsh, the perky brunette who had manned the front desk for the past several years, was working at her computer behind the glass doors that separated her from the entrance, but somehow the school felt as foreign as everything had after she’d lost her father.
She pulled open the doors to the office, and Erin lifted her eyes from her computer.
“Annalise!” She came around the reception desk and threw her arms around Leesa. “Ohmygod! I’ve missed you. How are you? Wow, you look tan and beautiful.” Erin was a bundle of energy and positivity.
She took Leesa’s hand and dragged her beh
ind the desk, lowering her voice even though there didn’t seem to be anyone else around. The door to the nurse’s office was closed, and she couldn’t see far enough down the hall to Darlene’s office or the teachers’ lounge. “How are you?”
Leesa was reeling from her friendly greeting. Erin had cried when Leesa was put on leave during the investigation, but she’d worried that over time, between rumors and speculation, Erin would have a different view of her. She was beyond relieved that time had not changed things for the worse. But just because exuberant Erin didn’t hesitate to welcome her into her arms again didn’t mean that others would do the same.
“I’m doing well, thanks, and I’m sorry to surprise you like this. I thought Dar would have told you I was coming in to meet with her.”
Erin shook her head. “Dar is crazy busy these days. I’m not surprised she forgot to mention it. Let me buzz her and let her know you’re here.” She picked up the phone and called Darlene. Leesa took a few deep breaths, mentally preparing to see her old boss again. She’d been supportive of Leesa during the investigation, and when the accusation had been found to be false, Darlene had offered Leesa her old job back. Of course, strong advice came along with the offer—Don’t put yourself in any situation where you’re alone with a student again. Don’t tutor kids outside of school. But Leesa had been quick to refuse that opportunity. She’d felt like every kid would look at her differently, and she knew she’d look at them differently, despite how much she enjoyed teaching.
Funny, she’d forgotten that feeling until just now.
Darlene had been quick to find her the job at the school in Baltimore, and she’d encouraged Leesa to take it. But the uneasy feeling of being accused and of being looked at sideways lingered, whether it was all in her head or not.
Surrender My Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens): Cole Braden Page 18