Wherever You Are

by Elle Wright

  Ann Arbor was the perfect choice for her foundation headquarters. It was her hometown. She loved the area and she’d been inspired by her neighborhood and her college life to create the hit show. She’d already started looking at commercial property as well as residential. If she was going to spend more time in Michigan, she needed to purchase a home there eventually.

  She and El had discussed a possible move for her, and had even thrown around the idea of him spending time with her in Atlanta.

  Sucking in a deep breath, she opened the door. “Thomas?” she said. “What brings you here?”

  Thomas was her boss and one of the network executives who’d bought the television rights to her novel. Unlike other executives, he’d seen something in her that made him select her to pen the series pilot instead of a screenwriter. She’d forever be grateful.

  It was rare when the actual author of a book optioned for film or television was given the chance to write the screenplay or script.

  Thomas was a tall, brown-skinned man who’d had a meteoric rise to prominence at the network that owned The Preserves. She considered him one of her mentors in the business and would often ask herself “What would Thomas do?” when dealing with people.

  “I wanted to check on you. Jess is very accommodating, open with the updates, but I wanted to see for myself how you were doing.”

  Avery motioned for him to come in. She’d spent the night at her parents’, instead of with El, and they’d run out on a few errands. Thomas stepped into the house and she led him to the kitchen. “Coffee?” she asked.

  “No, thank you.” Thomas eyed her. “What’s going on, Avery? You’ve dropped off the grid, and you know that’s not a good idea in this business. One day too many out of the game could be a detriment for your career.”

  “I know, Thomas.” Avery grabbed a bottle out of the refrigerator. “Water?” When he shook his head, she opened it and guzzled a large portion. “Walter told me he’s been communicating with you, and I’m sorry I didn’t give you call personally after my health scare. Doctors told me to stay put and unplug while I healed.”

  It was the patented answer she’d given to anyone who asked. But she knew Thomas wasn’t buying it when he said, “Avery, I asked you what happened. I don’t want the press version. I need the truth.”

  Sighing, Avery sat down on the stool. Deciding to be honest and let the chips fall where they may, Avery told Thomas almost everything about the stroke. She left out the part about losing her sight.

  “And there is no residual damage?” he asked, concern in his brown eyes. Thomas acted like he could be an old friend of her father’s, as if he’d known their family for many years, even though he’d only known them for a few. He’d met her parents and Jess, and had all their numbers. Over the past few weeks, he’d contacted all of them to get hold of her, but she’d purposefully avoided talking to him. He was older, mid-sixties, but he was young at heart. He ran five miles every morning and ate healthily. It was why he was in such good shape.

  Avery shook her head. “No,” she lied. Although her sight was back, she didn’t know if there was any residual damage because she still had a depth perception problem. Her ophthalmologist had also suggested she start wearing eyeglasses. Her appointment with the optometrist was tomorrow.

  “When will you be able to come back to work?”

  Avery tapped her chin as if in deep thought. “Um, I’m not sure. Initially, the doctors told me six weeks.”

  Thomas blinked. “Let me tell you what’s going on. Maybe that will help you make your decision.”

  Dread filled Avery’s gut at the tone in Thomas’s voice. “Just tell me.”

  “The network loved your new show idea. They want to buy it, they want you to write it, they want to give you creative control over casting. Oh, and they approved the new script you sent over for The Preserves.”

  Surprised, Avery stuttered, “W-what? Really?”

  “Yes. But there is a catch.”

  Deflated, Avery waited for him to finish, wondering what she would have to do to make it happen.

  “They want you present in Atlanta first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Tomorrow? Thomas, I can’t leave right now.” Avery immediately thought of El. They’d made even more progress over the last few days, and she’d felt secure in the knowledge that they were on the right track. “I haven’t been cleared for travel.”

  “Avery, listen to me. If you want your job, you need to be there. Now, I may be able to stall them for a few days, but that’s it. They want you to report to work as soon as possible.”

  Sighing, Avery nodded. “Please see what you can do about stalling them. I need to clear any travel plans with my doctors.” And El.

  Thomas nodded, and they continued to talk about The Preserves, the new show and everything that would be expected of her over the next several months. Avery had wanted this for so long. She’d wanted the respect of the network, the respect of her peers. She wanted people to see that Avery Montgomery tag in the opening credits and know they were about to be treated to a well-written television show.

  When Thomas left an hour later, headed straight for the airport, Avery sighed and plopped down on the couch. As much as she wanted this, and despite the fact that she’d assured Thomas she’d be present, she wasn’t sure it was worth losing what she’d worked hard to rebuild with El.

  So now she had to figure out how to make this work, keep her job at the network, and run her foundation.

  * * *

  El arrived at Avery’s parents’ home after work that day. He’d decided not to stay late again. For three days in a row he’d left work on time, even when he’d been tempted to stay and spend more time in the emergency room. It was the Avery effect. He’d been pleasantly surprised when she’d continued to push off work per the doctor’s orders. And he’d been determined to meet her halfway by cutting back on his own work schedule.

  The time spent watching movies and eating popcorn, playing Monopoly, taking walks through the neighborhood was priceless. The nights they’d spent together had only cemented his love for her.

  When he entered the house, he called out to her.

  “Up here,” she said from her bedroom. She’d texted him earlier to say that her parents were out and that she had the house all to herself. El had smiled when she suggested they take a trip down memory lane—him sneaking upstairs and making love to her in her childhood bedroom.

  Now in her doorway, he paused when he noticed her sitting on her bed, her laptop in her lap, typing furiously.

  She looked up at him with the reading glasses he’d purchased for her a few days ago perched on her nose. She smiled. “Hey.”

  Frowning, he stepped into the room. “Hey.” Leaning down, he kissed her brow before sitting next to her on the bed. “What are you doing?”

  “Working,” Avery confessed. “My boss came to see me today.”

  El didn’t need her to finish to know what was coming next. The network had called and she would go running. “And?”

  Avery rubbed her face. “I have to go back to work.”

  “In Atlanta?”

  She nodded. “They approved my scripts and my new show idea. But they’ve requested that I return as soon as possible.”

  “What about your doctors? You haven’t been cleared to leave yet.”

  Averting her gaze, Avery said, “I have. After Thomas left, I called Dr. Laramie. He told me that I could fly to Atlanta, but that I would need to return for my follow-up appointments at least once per month for the next six months. He also told me he could refer me to a specialist down in Atlanta if I preferred.”

  “Ah,” he said.

  “El, I tried to stall him. I told him I couldn’t leave. But it was pretty much leave or lose my job. And I can’t lose my job.”

  “Is your job worth your life?”

>   El knew he was probably being a bit unreasonable. Well, a lot. Many people had strokes and were able to resume normal activities after several weeks. But he knew Avery. Once she went back to work, she’d push herself. Again. And maybe next time she wouldn’t be so lucky. Maybe next time she’d be dead.

  “Don’t say that, El.”

  El blinked away those thoughts. “What am I supposed to say?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. That you understand?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “How could you not? You work hard every day. You put in extra hours. You love your job. Why can’t you understand that I feel the same way about mine?”

  “Because I didn’t almost die! Because I didn’t leave you to accomplish my goals in life. But it’s cool. You go ahead and leave. It’s probably for the best. At least I won’t have to watch you work yourself into an early grave.” He was so consumed with his conflicting emotions that his words came out harsher than he intended. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”

  Avery shot him a look of disbelief. “Come on, El. You expect me to believe that you didn’t mean it? Usually, when someone is angry, they speak the truth.”

  But El really hadn’t meant it. His first instinct was to hurt her because she’d hurt him. It was classic transference, and he was upset with himself for going there with her. “No, I really didn’t mean it. I’m just upset.”

  “No, you haven’t forgiven me.”

  Her observation smacked him over the head and he bolted to his feet. “Really, Avery? I haven’t forgiven you?”

  “No. You haven’t.” She stood. “I think you tried hard, but I don’t think you ever did.” She walked over and peered up at him. “I get that you’re scared, but me going back to work doesn’t mean that I’m leaving you.”

  El closed his eyes. He was scared. Scared to lose her.

  “Avery, you’re not superwoman. How do you propose to handle everything? Something is going to slip through the cracks.” Would it be him?

  “That something is not you, El.”

  “I don’t know if I can trust that, Avie.”

  Avery reeled back and he knew his words had hit her hard. But he had to be honest. There were no ifs, ands or buts. Life without Avery wouldn’t work for him. At the same time, he couldn’t bear to see her work herself into another stroke trying to make everything work. He knew she would try, but he didn’t think it was possible to write two shows, run a foundation and work on a relationship with him. He’d rather let her go than have her try to choose him and lose herself.

  “El, I won’t tell you that it doesn’t hurt to know that you don’t trust me, because it does. I do understand your position, though. The only thing I have is my word right now, because this is still new, uncharted territory for both of us.” She stepped forward, and he closed his eyes, letting her warmth sooth him.

  “It’s not just you being here with me, Avie. I can’t watch you work yourself...” He swallowed. “I lost you once. I almost lost you again. I can’t do it again. I wouldn’t survive it.”

  “You won’t lose me. I don’t want to go back to that time before we reconnected.” Avery squeezed his hand. “The pain without you in my life was unbearable, which worked for my creativity. But my heart...without you is a shell. If you can truly forgive me, I can’t promise you that I won’t work too hard or be so engrossed in my work that I forget to eat or forget to relax. But I can promise I’ll love you and I’ll never hurt you again. I’ll be the woman you deserve. I want you. I love you, El.”

  Chapter 17

  Two weeks later, Avery entered the ballroom of the hotel where the Avery Montgomery Foundation fund-raising gala was in full swing. She was dressed to the nines in a floor-length cobalt-blue gown. Thomas had arranged for her to borrow a stunning sapphire and diamond necklace from an Atlanta jeweler for the event, which accentuated her outfit. Her hair was styled in a bob with a long bang. Reporters flanked the room to get a view of the people in attendance, and she’d stopped to pose more than a few times before she’d entered the massive space.

  As she greeted guests, she marveled at how the event planner had transformed the traditional room. Jess had done a phenomenal job with the event. The ballroom was lovely already with its high ceilings and breathtaking crystal chandeliers. But the decor, in cobalt blue, silver and black, made it even more beautiful.

  According to Jess, they’d raised over two hundred thousand dollars so far, and she expected more to come in. The ballroom was full of doctors, university faculty, local celebrities and a few national celebrities, as well. And the cast of The Preserves had flown in to support her, which had been a pleasant surprise. All in all, she considered the event a success.

  She scanned the room, hoping El would be there. But she hadn’t seen him. She did see Drake and Love. They’d both greeted her with warm hugs and wide smiles. When she’d asked about El, Drake had simply shaken his head. Her huge overture two weeks ago hadn’t gone over the way she’d hoped. Instead of agreeing to work together, he’d left her that night.

  Soon after, she’d caught a flight back to Atlanta to begin work again. Her doctors had cleared her for normal activity but scheduled her for three-month checkups over the next year. There were no residual effects from her vision loss, and Avery was grateful.

  Walter had successfully renegotiated her contract with the network, building in time to work on her foundation and other interests. There was even a clause that allowed her to work from Ann Arbor when necessary. Once she was satisfied with the terms, she threw herself into her job, immediately communicating with staff that she would not be available each day after she left the office. It was her form of self-care. It didn’t mean she wasn’t working after hours. But it did mean that she wouldn’t be so available for her job that she couldn’t enjoy her life. Not that she’d enjoyed anything since leaving Michigan. In fact, she was pretty miserable.

  When it came time to fly back, she’d been giddy with excitement to return to Ann Arbor, which was a major shift. She’d even put an offer on a plot of land and was in the process of hiring a builder to construct her new home. Her parents had decided to stay in Ann Arbor, so she was especially happy to see them when she’d arrived earlier that morning.

  “Are you ready to give your speech?” Jess asked from behind her.

  Turning to her friend, she said, “Yes. No. I’m nervous.”

  Jess had given notice at her job, and true to form, had been an awesome addition to her team. Avery couldn’t have done it without her.

  “Why?” her friend asked. “You got this, Avery. You worked hard.”

  Avery smiled at her best friend. Jess was radiant in a floor-length navy blue gown. Her hair was swept up in a loose bun. She was stunning.

  “No, you’ve worked hard,” Avery said. “I can’t thank you enough for loving me, for supporting me.”

  Jess embraced her tightly. “I’m always going to support you, just as you’ve always supported me. We’re sisters in every sense of the word.”

  “I wish El was here,” Avery admitted.

  Jess brushed a strand of hair from Avery’s face. “I know. Maybe he’ll come around.”

  Avery hoped so. Life without him sucked. Plain and simple. She wanted him with her. No, she needed him with her.

  “Listen.” Jess squeezed her shoulders. “Don’t worry about El right now. Concentrate on what a huge success this event is. Think about how many young women you’re helping afford college just by attaching your name to the cause. Think about what you want to say in your speech that will inspire others to do similar acts within the community.”

  Avery shot Jess a wobbly smile, fanning her face to keep the tears from falling. “You always make me want to cry.”

  “Girl, you do not cry. You’re Avery freakin’ Montgomery.”

  Laughing, Avery pulled Jess into another
tight hug.

  Later, Avery was standing against the wall going over her speech notes when she looked up to find Dr. Law approaching her.

  Avery sucked in a deep breath as he neared her, ready for battle. When he was finally standing in front of her, she said, “Dr. Law.”

  “Avery Montgomery.” Her name on his lips sounded clipped, curt.

  “What can I do for you?”

  Dr. Law sighed. “I have to say, I’m impressed. Your foundation is the talk of the town.”

  Holding her head high, Avery said, “Thank you. But you should know, I didn’t do this for your approval.”

  “I guess I deserve that.”

  “My parents worked hard to give me a good life. No, they didn’t travel in your circles. They couldn’t write a check for my tuition. But they loved me, they supported me. I’m the woman I am because of them, and because of El. I let your words get into my soul back then, but I’m not that girl anymore. So if you came here to threaten me or belittle me in any way, I suggest you keep it moving.”

  The man sighed before taking a sip of the drink in his hand. “And I deserve that, too. Avery, it takes guts to do what you’ve done with your life. I respect that. I’m sorry.”

  And without another word, he nodded and walked away. Avery wasn’t sure how to feel about what had just transpired, but she didn’t have time to think about it.

  Thomas introduced Avery as the speaker seconds later, and her father escorted her to the front of the room. As she stood, scanning the faces of those who came to support her, she felt a sense of pride. They were there because they wanted to give back to little girls, young people of color who might not have the resources to go to college. They were there because they believed these young women were worth their investment. They believed in her.

  Avery started her speech with a tribute to her parents for their unwavering support, to Jess, to a few others who had been an important part of her life and to El. Embracing her fears, she’d chosen to admit them to the audience, including her duck story, which drew a few giggles from the crowd. In her conclusion, she talked about her stroke, which elicited shocked gasps and whispers. But she brought it home and spoke about the desire to give back, to leave a legacy.