Chapter Eighteen
Happiness isn’t easy. Just keep at it
-Sienna, age 14 to her brother, Mace, after he had been dumped.
* * *
Sienna
I was still buzzing by the time I got to work, smiling at everybody and just enjoying myself. I was pretty sure I had a sign on my face somewhere that said, Just got laid. But it was fine with me.
Because I was happy. Aiden and I were working things out. My work was going well. Everything was going great. Yes, that meant things would probably fall apart at any moment, but I was fine with that theory because I was just going to live in the moment and enjoy the bliss.
It helped that Aiden had made me come three times that morning and I was still a little sore where it counted, but that was fine with me.
Because I got some. I got some. I got some.
I was only working a half-day today since my hours weren’t always consistent depending on my players’ schedules. That worked for me because that meant I could go and finish some paperwork and head down to the bar later to see how I could help the men there because it was Friday night, and I knew they would likely be busier than usual. That was great for them, and I was so glad that the bar was doing better. That also meant that I had a place to hang out with my boyfriend.
My boyfriend.
Aiden Connolly was my boyfriend.
And maybe later I would write his name in my notebook and put little hearts around it, little rainbows and circles.
“You okay over there?” Rocko asked, smiling at me.
I looked up at the offensive lineman and just grinned.
“I am doing wonderful.”
“New boyfriend then, Miss Knight?” He winked.
I rolled my shoulders back and glared at him. “I can have a wonderful day without a man in my life.”
“Oh, you totally can. And I know you do. You’re one of the best ones here at what you do. However, that glow on you? That’s love.”
I looked at Rocko.
“You’re not supposed to actually notice things like that.”
“Hey, my wife has been training me how to act around women and to see their moods since I was sixteen. I still sometimes miss when she gets a new pair of shoes or a different haircut, even though it looks like the exact same haircut she had before, but I try. However, I can read that mood, and that happiness comes from love.”
“You’re far too observant. And we need to be talking about your progress and not my love life.”
“But you have a love life, so praise be. And I’m sure my wife will be happy to hear that.”
I froze, looking at my paperwork. “Why on earth would your wife be happy about that?” Suddenly all these thoughts of his wife worrying that I was working with him and other things swamped me. Mostly because one of my other clients when I first started had had a very possessive wife who had tried to get me kicked out of the practice because she hadn’t liked my hands on her husband. The guy hadn’t minded, but since the wife had, I had moved on to different patients. Maybe I would have made a different decision now, but when I was starting out? I hadn’t wanted to deal with hurt feelings or anything that could get me fired.
Rocko quickly shook his head, his hands up. “Maddy likes you. You’re always nice to her when she comes in. And you answer her questions since I’m not the best at making sure I can help her figure out exactly what’s going on with me, or how to say it. Maddy just wants to see you married. She wants to see everybody married.” He grinned then. “She wants to see everyone pregnant, too. It kind of helps that we’re having one of our own.”
That made me smile and push all thoughts of whatever had happened before out of my head.
“You’re having a baby?”
“Took seven years of us trying and getting different fertility treatments and stuff, and it didn’t help that I wasn’t feeling up to it all the time if you know what I mean.”
I held up my hands. “You don’t need to explain further.”
“Hey, you’re sort of my doctor. You know what kind of meds they put me on and all that stuff. But, anyway, we are finally having a baby, and she is going to be here in about three months.”
“Wow, you really are along then.”
“Yeah, we didn’t want to say anything until she was really showing and we were out of the woods for that first set of worries. It’s not easy, you know?”
I thought about Allison losing the baby and how devastated Aiden still looked when he thought about it. He would always be devastated. Frankly, so was I. My best friends had lost their daughter, and there was nothing I could do about it.
“I know. Well, if there’s anything you need, like trying to work around your schedule with the new baby or something, let me know.”
“Thanks. I figured Maddy’s going to come in a bit once we figure things out, and we’ll see what I can do at home. Because I want to be at home more now with the baby and helping Maddy. But I also don’t want to mess up my back along the way. Or my neck.”
“Well, we will figure out exactly what we need to do. But you’re allowed to lift a couple of pounds.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But Maddy’s worried I’m not going to be able to lift her if something happens to her, you know?”
That was a real fear because his spine did have issues, something that we all needed to think about.
“Okay, so we’ll figure out exactly what we need to do. But let’s finish you up here, and then Maddy and you can come in, and we’ll figure out exactly what steps you need to take in case something happens. But we’re going to go with the idea that it’s not going to happen and we’ll just take safety measures.”
“Sounds like a plan, Miss Knight.”
I smiled then and went back to work. By the time I was done with him, my own shoulder had started to ache, so I did some stretching exercises and went back to my office. Jefferson was standing in the waiting room, talking to the front desk clerk when I passed. I frowned. I didn’t think he had an appointment today, but since he wasn’t paying attention to me, I went back to my office to go and check. I should be done for the day, so it was a little weird that he was here, but maybe he had an appointment with someone else? No, that didn’t make sense. Perhaps I’d just forgotten.
I went to my tablet and looked. He wasn’t on the schedule. He wasn’t even on the schedule for next week, in fact.
Weird.
I picked up my things, stuffed them into my bag, and walked out to the front area. Jefferson wasn’t there.
“Hey, Sandy, why was Jefferson here?”
“Oh, he had a question about getting to see you this week, but I said that you were full.”
“Really? Is something wrong?”
“No. Honestly, it sounded like he just wanted to see you. He said that nothing was wrong. He just wanted extra time. But you’re booked, and you’re past overtime hours if you add him in.”
“Well, if he calls again, maybe I can work something out.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know. But you know Jefferson. Sometimes, he just likes to have extra appointments with you.”
“I know.”
“You know you can talk to Greg if it gets weird.”
“It’s not weird yet. But I’m very aware of it.”
It seemed that everybody had noticed that Jefferson had a crush on me, and that wasn’t good. I’d told Aiden that I needed to remain professional, but that meant that my patients had to be professional, as well.
“You know what, I’ll talk to Greg tomorrow.”
“Jefferson’s a sweet man, but he’s also a big guy and can make you uncomfortable.”
“I know. It just annoys me that I feel uncomfortable at all. But this isn’t the time or place to talk about it. I’ll figure out exactly what I want to say, and I’ll talk with Greg later.”
“Okay, girl. You have a good day, and tell Aiden hi for me.” She waved at me after she’d said it.
“I swear. Am I wearing a sandwich bo
ard that says something?”
“No, honey, you’re wearing a smile. One that reaches your eyes in the most perfect way. I’m happy for you.”
I tightened the strap on my bag and smiled. “I’m happy, too.”
I made my way out to my car and lifted my head up to the sun as it beat on my face. It was nice not having to work the full day so I could actually enjoy some of it. Yes, I needed to do some paperwork, but I’d been working a little too many hours back to back lately, trying to make sure that I kept up with my caseload.
But I was having a good day. A really good day.
I had just reached my car when someone put their hands around my throat and tugged my ponytail. I didn’t have my keys out, didn’t even have the little cat thing that hadn’t saved me before.
Flashes of the man’s hands on my throat from before and the feeling of brick behind my back and against my cheek slid into me, and I froze. I didn’t fight. I didn’t do anything. I needed to fight. What was going on?
“Why don’t you see me?” the deep voice rasped in my ear. I knew that voice.
I sucked in a breath, trying to breathe. But I couldn’t.
He was squeezing my airway, tugging me back towards the bushes.
He couldn’t take me to a secondary location. I knew that from all of the stupid podcasts and TV shows that I watched and listened to. So, I kicked out, using whatever strength I had to try and scratch him.
I kicked back into his knee, and he let me go. I fell down to the cement, the gravel of the parking lot digging into my palms. I crawled forward, trying to get to my feet and looked around at Jefferson, who glared at me.
“Why can’t you see me? I left you the roses. I left you everything. Those men hurt you, and all I want to do is say I love you and I want to be with you, but you don’t want to be with me. Why do you keep doing this?” He slammed his fist into his head, moaning over and over again. But there was no one around to hear. No one around to do anything.
What was Jefferson talking about? The roses?
Then I remembered. I hadn’t asked my neighbors about them. I’d just assumed that they were from them. Just like the pies and the cakes and things that had actually been from them.
Oh my God, I was so stupid. I was so worried about everything else that I hadn’t really thought about what was going on.
“Jefferson. Jefferson.”
I was standing then, my palms out. I knew blood was dripping from the cuts there. My throat hurt, and I knew tears streamed down my cheeks, but I didn’t know what to do. He was so much faster than I was.
“You had to go out with him. With that asshole. He doesn’t even know you. I know you.” He slammed his fist against his chest a few times. “I’ve always loved you, Sienna. Why don’t you see me?”
“I see you, Jefferson. Everything’s fine.”
“Nothing is fine. Nothing will be fine again.” Then he came at me once more. I turned around quickly, but he tugged on my ponytail again. I hit the ground, and then he hit me. One time. Another. I curled myself into a ball, trying to protect my face, but he just kept hitting me. I screamed, and then there were voices, shouts, but I couldn’t hear them, not really.
It was like I was in a tunnel. Everything hurt.
Everything hurt so much.
And then there was nothing.
Chapter Nineteen
Aiden
I knew dancing while chopping was probably not the best thing in the world to do, but I was still doing a little hip shake as I chopped onions.
I had come in early from my shift so I could go through some paperwork with Brendon, and then figured I would help with some of the prep before I went back to help Cameron with inventory. I was just filling in and felt good knowing that I had some really good staff members who knew what they were doing. I knew I needed to hire another line cook, and that would come. But first, I would just enjoy my day. I had woken up with a cat on my face, but I’d had some amazing sex and had most likely taken the next step in my relationship with Sienna. I was just happy.
It had been too damn long since I had felt like this.
And from the way everyone kept looking at me, yeah, they knew it, too. I wasn’t acting like myself. I wasn’t being an asshole.
Maybe this was a good thing.
I was humming to myself as Cameron came running into the kitchen, sliding on the floor, gripping the edge of the wall to steady himself.
I dropped my knife and glared at him. “What the fuck is wrong with you? You do not run in here. We have knives and oil.”
“It’s Sienna. You need to come.”
My stomach dropped to my feet, and I was already walking towards Cameron, untying my apron and tossing it at one of my staff members.
“Someone take care of my kitchen.”
“We got it, chef. Take care of your girl.”
I didn’t even know who’d said it. I couldn’t pay attention.
I trusted my people. I had trained them. They could handle it.
But Sienna needed to be okay. What was going on?
Images of her attackers came to mind, and I almost threw up.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
“I don’t know. Violet just called and said Sienna was attacked in a parking lot. At work.”
I looked at Cameron, rage pushing through me, and I forced myself not to make fists at my sides or punch something.
I wanted to yell. I wanted to scream. I wanted to rip someone apart.
But that wasn’t going to help anyone.
I just looked at my brother and tried to calm my breathing.
“At work? You think it was those guys?”
Bile coated my tongue, but Cameron shook his head.
“No, Violet made sure to tell me that. But we need to get there, and then maybe they can tell us everything.”
“Is she okay?” I stopped where I was and gripped Cameron’s arm so hard I knew I was going to leave bruises. Cameron put his hand on my shoulder and looked at me.
“You’re fine. She’s fine. She’s going to be okay. She’s a little banged up, at least that’s what Violet said. We just need to get there, okay? She’s alive, Aiden.”
I looked at the face that was identical to my own. It told me that the fear that was on that face was the same as mine, just a little different.
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t focus. But then hands were on my back, and Brendon was pushing me towards the door, Dillon opening it, keys in his hand as he jostled from foot to foot.
“Come on, we’ve got to go.”
“I got the bar. You take care of our girl,” Beckham called, and I looked over my shoulder. Beckham slid off his jacket. He wasn’t even supposed to be here this early, none of us really were. But somehow, we were all there. And we were going to get through this together.
But dear God, Sienna had to be okay. She had to be fucking okay.
I sat in the front seat as Dillon drove us, and Brendon and Cameron got into Brendon’s car. Apparently, they thought it would be best to have more than one car in case someone needed to leave.
I didn’t know how they were all thinking so clearly when all I wanted to do was throw up or punch something. But there was nothing I could do. Everything was out of my hands. It was Allison all over again. We were losing the baby. I was losing her. Everything was just going wrong, and I couldn’t fix it.
I put my head in my hands and tried to control my breathing.
Dillon let go of his death grip on the steering wheel and reached out to pat my shoulder. “She’s strong. She’ll be okay.”
I looked at him then, my breaths coming in ragged pants. “She shouldn’t have to be strong. I wasn’t there. Again.”
“You can’t be there for her all the time, Aiden. She was at work. It’s daylight.”
“And she was attacked. Again. This is fucking Denver. This doesn’t happen here.”
“It happens everywhere. But she’s fine. And we’re going to figure out what happene
d. But you need to calm down. They’re not going to let you stay in the waiting room if you break through the drywall or something with your fists. You need to act calm and rational and try to figure this out, okay?” There was fear in Dillon’s voice, and while he usually sounded older than he was, I could hear the child there. Hear the fact that he was scared, too.
And I remembered that Dillon had dealt with our mother longer than I had. And now our mom was dead, and I didn’t know if Dillon had been there when it happened. I didn’t know anything about that connection because I chose to ignore it. But I wouldn’t from now on. I would ask if Dillon wanted to talk about it.
But right now, I just nodded at my little brother. I was thankful that he was here, even though he was just as scared as I was. Because I could hear it. I could see it on his face.
Somehow, Dillon got us to the emergency room while obeying all the traffic laws and without getting us into a car accident. Cameron and Brendon parked a few spaces away from us, and we all jogged towards the emergency room.
Harmony and Meadow and Violet were standing in the waiting room, all huddled together as we walked in.
The women looked up, and then tears slid down Violet’s face as she ran to Cameron’s side. My brother held her close, murmuring in her ear as Harmony went up to Brendon and wrapped her arms around his chest. They all held each other, and Dillon and I just looked at Meadow, who gave us a soft smile.
“We’re waiting. We’re waiting for news. I was with Violet when I heard, so I came.” She swallowed hard, and I reached out and gripped her shoulder.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah. I’m going to go actually head to the bar now and help Beckham out because I think he’ll be short-staffed. And I know this needs to be a family thing. But you guys just keep me in the loop, okay?”
I frowned as she walked away and then looked at Dillon.
“What was that about?” Dillon asked. I shook my head. I had seen the fear in her eyes, and I figured there was a reason she didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to be in this hospital after what had happened. And that was fine. She could have her secrets, but I wasn’t really thinking about that right then. I was just thinking about Sienna. About Sienna and the fact that we didn’t have any news.
Falling With You: A Fractured Connections Novel Page 18