“Right,” Corey whispered. “I’m not dead. It’s not too late.” She took a few deep calming breaths and got in her truck. She had already done so many things wrong. If she turned around now she would regret it for the rest of her life.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Thayer couldn’t believe how exhausted she was, despite leaving the hospital on time—a first for the week. She managed a smile as she thought of her upcoming three days off, though the conversation with her director insisting she take them wasn’t something she wanted to repeat.
“Dr. Reynolds, please come in.”
Dr. Raymond Manning beckoned her into his office and closed his laptop. He was in his sixties, tall and thin, and she was pretty sure his nickname was Holmes. In all of her previous interactions with him, she had no trouble understanding why. He was well dressed and well-spoken with an air of quiet authority and intelligence.
“You asked to see me?” Thayer was certain she had done nothing wrong and there were no patient complaints about her, but every time she’d been called to the boss’s office she felt nervous.
“Please, sit.” He gestured to a chair in front of his desk and waited until she was comfortable. “First, let me say how pleased we are that you’ve joined us at Jackson City Memorial.”
“Thank you.” Thayer relaxed a little.
“If I may be so bold and ask after your well-being, after everything you and Ms. Curtis endured?” His face showed concern.
Thayer inhaled deeply. “I won’t say it hasn’t been difficult, but I think I’m doing pretty well. Have there been concerns?”
“On the contrary, I hear nothing but good things about you personally and professionally.” He smiled to reassure her. “And Ms. Curtis? I understand she was released some time ago. Is she recovering well?”
Thayer swallowed hard. “I’m sure she is. She’s strong.”
“Indeed.” He nodded. “In our few interactions I’ve always found her impressive of character.”
“She is that, yes.” Thayer clamped down hard on her emotions. She didn’t want to talk about Corey. “Is there something I can do for you, Dr. Manning?”
“It’s what I’ve done for you,” he corrected. “It’s come to my attention that you are working far more shifts than is reasonably expected. While I appreciate your dedication to your profession, and specifically this hospital, I would be remiss in my responsibilities as director of this department if I allowed it to continue.”
Thayer straightened in her chair and sat forward. “Are you firing me?”
“Good heavens, no. I’m giving you the weekend off.” He checked his watch. “Starting right now.”
Thayer stared at him. “But it’s Thursday.”
“A long weekend.”
“But I have patients.”
“I assure you they will be well taken care of.”
“But—”
“I’ll see you Monday morning, Dr. Reynolds. The new fourth year transfer is starting and I’m counting on you to show him around.” He opened his laptop and shooed her out, his mouth quirking into a small smile.
She was looking forward to picking up her grandmother and bringing her out to the house, planning what they would do in her head. Her smile vanished as she turned down her long drive and saw Corey’s truck parked in front of the house. “What the hell?” she muttered but the thump of her heart belied her annoyance.
She didn’t see Corey at the front and she didn’t have a key, so she had to be in the back. Thayer let herself in, dropped her bag and keys and walked straight to the back, thoroughly pissed off at the feeling of anticipation creeping up on her. She had respected Corey’s wishes and stayed away. Now she was here, unannounced and uninvited, but Thayer would be lying to herself if she said she hadn’t imagined some version of a reunion like this, and she cursed the hopeless romantic in her.
She pulled open the slider and Corey turned from the grill. A delicious aroma of whatever was cooking made Thayer’s stomach rumble. “Corey?”
“Hey.” Corey closed the lid, turned the heat down and stepped away from the grill. “How was your day?”
Thayer gaped at her. “How was my day? Is that a joke?” She stepped onto the deck and saw the patio table set for two. There was a wine bottle and a few beers chilling in an ice bucket on one of the benches and Thayer considered guzzling something to settle her nerves. “I haven’t heard from you since you left the hospital. Not a call, not a text, nothing. It’s been weeks.”
“Yeah, um, I guess that was a stupid thing to say.” She shuffled her feet, clearly nervous as well.
She surveyed the deck more closely and the amount of work that must have gone into setting it up. “What is all this?”
“Um, a grand gesture?” Corey smiled hopefully. “And an apology…I hope.”
Thayer studied her for a long moment, giving herself time to feel what she needed to feel. Her hurt flared to life and with it anger but also a sense of steadiness, pleasure, and hope. She looked Corey over. She stood tall but canted a little to the left, her cast tucked into her side protecting ribs clearly still sore. “How are you?”
Corey met her gaze. “Remorseful. I know I hurt you, Thayer, and I’m sorry.”
She understood her motivations, but she fully intended to keep her guard up and be cautious. “We made no promises and you don’t owe me anything.”
“Actually…” Corey sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. “If I’m remembering correctly I owe you my life.”
Thayer gasped softly. “You remember?”
“Some. It’s coming back in flashes of bits and pieces. Sometimes I can’t hold on to it and it’s like trying to remember a dream.” She grimaced. “And if I try too hard a raging headache comes on and I end up puking and passing out.”
“Oh, Corey.” Thayer’s heart hurt for her and her resolve to keep her distance began to crack. She wanted to run and wrap her arms around her, but wasn’t ready to put herself out there, not yet—not until she knew Corey’s intentions. “I’m sorry you got hurt. You have no idea how much.”
“I’m getting better. The headaches don’t come as often now. I’m seeing a physical therapist and I’m going back to work Monday, restricted duty only, and I’ve been going to the gym again.”
“That’s great. What did your neurologist say about the headaches?”
“That it’s par for the course.” Corey shrugged. “No one really knows with head injuries. Some people never get them, some people wake up and never have another headache, and for some the headaches never go away. You just learn to manage them like every migraine sufferer everywhere.”
Thayer nodded. “Should you be driving?”
Corey grinned. “I’m okay to drive. It usually takes time for the migraines to ramp up, and I’ve learned to predict them pretty well so I can get home if I’m out. One came on instantly and I had to pull over and call Rachel. She found me hurling my guts out on the sidewalk on the way to the grocery store. I almost got arrested for public intoxication.”
Thayer didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She was quiet a long time and finally asked, “Why are you here?”
“Because I miss you desperately. Because I was selfish and wrong. All this crazy shit happened to both of us. You lived it too, and you remember it all. I didn’t take care of you like you took care of me. I dragged you into this and then bailed in the worst possible way and I never even asked you if you were okay—”
“Stop,” Thayer whispered and crossed her arms to cover her trembling hands. She didn’t want to think about this. Didn’t want to see Corey fall, hear her gasping for air again and fighting to stay conscious. She had packed it all away the same way she did at work after a heartbreaking case.
Corey stepped closer and reached for her. “Thayer.”
She stepped away. “Don’t.” Her voice cracked even on one word as the emotion she had denied choked her. “I just found you and then I thought I lost you.” Thayer sucked in a shuddering breath. “But
you were going to be okay, and I thought we could heal together and then you just shut me out.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Corey moved forward again and Thayer didn’t pull away this time. “Thayer, please let me hold you.”
She surrendered to her tears as Corey’s arm pulled her close. She buried her face in Corey’s neck, her body shuddering before relaxing into her as she slipped her arms around Corey’s waist and held her tight. “I needed you,” she whispered through her tears.
“I’m so sorry.” Corey held her tighter.
“Please, don’t let me go,” Thayer asked simply, unsure whether she meant right this moment or every future moment.
“I won’t. Not again.”
They held the embrace for a long time, until she felt Corey tense and pulled away, easing her grip around her. “I’m hurting you.”
“No.” Corey shook her head and smiled to prove it. “It’s okay.”
Thayer stepped back but held Corey’s hand, lacing their fingers together. “So you want to start over?” She brushed tears from her face.
“No.” Corey shook her head. “I don’t want to pretend the last few weeks didn’t happen. It’s part of our story. If you’ll have me, flaws and all, I would like to pick up where we left off.”
Her eyes narrowed in consideration. “What makes you think I haven’t moved on?”
Corey’s jaw dropped, her eyes going wide. “I, uh, I don’t—”
Thayer smiled merrily and kissed the back of Corey’s hand. “Oh, honey, you should see your face.”
Corey’s mouth snapped closed and she shook her head. “That was good.”
Her smile turned wicked as she pulled Corey close and slipped her arms carefully around her waist again. “You said where we left off. Don’t think I’m going to take it easy on you because you got your brains scrambled.”
“Yes, thank you for that.” Her right arm came up and draped over Thayer’s shoulder.
“And of course I’ll have you, flaws and all.” She paused to consider. “But I’m not sure if you’re quite ready for me to have you have you.”
“Oh, wait.” Corey reached for her phone in her pocket and swiped it on. “One more thing.” She tapped the screen and held it over her head as Madonna’s “Crazy For You” played.
Thayer’s eyes danced with desire. “You remember.”
“I was thinking maybe this should be our song,” Corey suggested. “You know, if you’re into that sort of thing.”
She smiled. “I can’t think of a better one. I even get your movie reference.”
Corey’s eyes lit up and she tossed her phone onto the table, the song still playing, and slid her hand around the back of Thayer’s neck, pulling her close. “Does that get me laid tonight?”
“Nope.” She laughed. “But you’re close.”
Corey pouted teasingly. “How about we start with a kiss and we can talk over dinner?”
“Yes, please.”
Corey’s mouth covered hers in a blistering kiss.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Corey settled Thayer at the table and served her one of each kabob. Corey loved her healthy appetite and spent a full two minutes watching her eat enthusiastically, the best compliment for a chef.
“So, tell me about PT. I know some of the folks down there,” Thayer said when she finally took a breath and sat back with her glass of wine.
Corey swallowed her bite and took a sip from her beer, one of two she would allow herself tonight. “His name is Dan Lloyd and he’s been really great.”
“Dan?” Thayer eyed her. “As in has a truck just like yours, Dan?”
“I thought that was pretty funny too.” Corey warmed knowing Thayer quickly recalled one of their earliest interactions. “Within days of seeing him, doing the exercises he recommended, and starting some specific strength training, I really started feeling better and the headaches lessened.”
“I’m glad.”
“He’s been a real mental kick in the ass too.”
“How so?”
“He lost both his legs in a motorcycle accident several years ago. He’s not big on the self-pity. I needed that.”
Thayer twirled her wineglass. “You got pretty dark, huh?”
She thinned her lips. “Rachel told you?”
“She didn’t have to.” Thayer shrugged. “I was pretty depressed for a while too. Dana recommended a good therapist.”
“You’ve been seeing a therapist?” Her eyes widened and her chest tightened as she realized how little she knew about Thayer’s experience with everything that had happened. Her guilt kicked into overdrive.
Thayer looked away. “Corey, I’ve never been so scared or felt that helpless. I needed to deal with that. I’m still dealing with that.”
Corey’s heart broke. “I’m so sorry. You could have been killed and I—”
“For you, Corey.” Thayer’s eyes snapped back to her. “Scared for you. Watching that man attack you. Seeing you fight for your life—our lives. And then seeing you fall…” Her voice broke. “Hearing you land.”
“Thayer.” Corey closed her eyes briefly.
“I am a healer. It’s what I do and who I am. I take care of people all day, many with injuries far more severe than yours, but I never have to watch it happen. It’s never been someone I…” She swallowed hard. “…care about. I couldn’t reach you. You were in rough shape and there wasn’t room for me in the back of the ambulance so I was in front. I couldn’t help you, and even when we got to the ED, they wouldn’t let me near you for hours. I couldn’t do anything. If Dana hadn’t been on that night, I think I might’ve lost my mind.”
“Oh, my god,” Corey whispered, hanging her head in shame, tears burning behind her eyes. “I didn’t know. I didn’t ask.”
“You weren’t supposed to know, and I wouldn’t have told you if you’d asked.” Thayer reached across the table, opening her hand. “Corey, look at me. You had so many other things to worry about. I didn’t want one of them to be me.”
“Tell me what I can do,” she asked desperately, lacing their fingers together.
After a long silence Thayer whispered, “Stay with me tonight. Be near me. Let me put my head on your chest and listen to your heart and feel you breathe.”
The request was so utterly raw and intimate Corey’s breath caught. “Yes.”
Thayer smiled softly. “I can find you something to sleep in.”
Color rushed to her cheeks and she cleared her throat. “That won’t be necessary.”
Thayer cocked her head, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not getting naked with you tonight.”
Her phrasing implied at some later time they would be getting naked. “No, I, um, have some things with me.”
Thayer stared at her a long time. “You packed a bag?”
Corey worried she had just ruined their tenuous reunion with her presumptuousness. “Well, I mean—”
“I guess you are on the mend, aren’t you?” Thayer’s mouth quirked. “Who am I to shatter your fragile new confidence?”
She relaxed and breathed easier. “I appreciate your commitment to my recovery.”
“Uh-huh.” Thayer’s eyes flashed. “Now I have an important question for you and your answer may yet mean doom for us.”
“Anything.”
Thayer gestured to her cast. “Who the hell is Emma?”
Corey leaned against the pillows in Thayer’s bed waiting for her to brush her teeth and finish her bedtime routine. She plucked at her Marvin the Martian pajama pants and black tank, wondering if she should have chosen her sleepwear more carefully. She was still nervous but couldn’t yet identify the source of her anxiety.
Thayer leaned in the doorway, eyes smiling. “I think you look terrific.”
She looked up and grinned as she took in Thayer’s outfit of sweatpants and an oversized long-sleeve shirt. “Um, thanks.”
Thayer’s eyes narrowed. “Just say it.”
Corey fought a laugh. “You will neve
r convince me that’s what you normally wear to bed.”
“True.” Thayer nodded, accepting defeat. “But at the risk of sounding outrageously vain, I didn’t want you to get any ideas about what was going to happen tonight.”
She barked a laugh. “Thayer, you could be wearing a submarine and I would still get ideas.”
Thayer laughed. “Fine.” She stripped off the sweats and the shirt hung to mid-thigh. “Better?”
Corey shrugged, secretly wondering what she had on under that shirt. “You’re the one who has to sleep in it.”
Thayer crawled into bed and stopped nearly a foot from her.
“I will behave, I promise.” Corey extended her right arm, encouraging Thayer to move closer.
“I won’t hurt you?”
“No.” Corey reached for her, tugging on her arm. “But if you do, I probably deserve it.”
“What?” Thayer jerked back. “Why would you say that?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“No, uh-uh, you don’t get to do that. Not if you really want this to work. What’s going on?”
Corey’s face fell, her eyes burning with regret, but she was determined to hold Thayer’s gaze. “I feel like I’ll never be able to make this up to you. First, getting you involved in my crazy scheme, nearly getting you killed, and then I ruined everything with—”
“Corey, no.” Thayer reached for her hand and held it tightly between hers. “I will not let you carry the weight of this any longer. You didn’t do this and you have no reason to feel ashamed or guilty. We can talk about how much you remember, and I’ll fill in the blanks when you’re ready, but I’ll tell you this now because I’ve had to work through this too.
“There were so many things I think I should have done differently. I run it over and over again in my mind, playing out my choices and wondering if I’d refused to go in with you or if I’d fought back. If it was my call to the police that incited him to violence.” She sucked in a breath and swallowed hard. “What happened was awful for both of us, but I will not let it define us and I will not let it come between us. Do you hear me?”
Gallows Humor Page 18