by Donna Hill
Maybe this accident was the best thing that could have happened to her. It opened her mind and her entire life up to endless possibilities. How many hundreds, thousands of men and women endured what she’d gone through over the years? Hiding in shame, finding a way to fake their way through life’s daily routines. Or worse, not knowing that what they were dealing with could be helped so that they could function more fully in society.
All she’d ever wanted was a chance to be like everyone else, to feel worthy and valued as a person not as some athletic icon, some illusion. Sure, running had been her salvation over the years. Without it, there’s no telling where she would have wound up. For that, she would always be grateful to David. But now it was her time at life, to live it as she saw fit. Even if she could never run again she knew she’d find a way to survive.
She’d been toying with an idea for the past few days and she was going to make it happen. But until she researched it further and the final diagnosis was given about her ankle she would keep it to herself.
Her stomach grumbled in anticipation when she heard noise at the front door. She got out of bed and went to the front door just as it opened.
“David.”
Chapter 34
“Don’t you look like the cat that ate the canary,” Ruby commented as she and Alex walked down the hospital corridors.
“And you sound like you’re on a fishing expedition,” he said, ducking the comment.
“Fine, don’t tell me what’s going on. By the grin on your face and that look of delight in your eyes, I can figure it out on my own. You slept with her didn’t you?”
“Must you know everything?”
“Yes.”
Alex pressed the button for the elevator. He glanced at her and shoved his hands in the pockets of his lab coat. “For your information…it’s none of your business.”
She pursed her lips in annoyance. “Just like I thought. Well I hope you know what you’re doing. That’s all I can say.”
“I’m sure it’s not all you can say.”
They stepped onto the elevator and held their conversation away from the ears of the other passengers. They got out on the second floor and walked to Alex’s office.
“It was worth it,” he said when they stepped inside and closed the door. He rounded the desk and sat down then looked up at Ruby.
“I hear a but. So what is it?” She sat down, too.
He heaved a sigh. “We were out a couple of weeks ago, me and Kelly, and we ran into Charisse.”
Ruby’s eyes widened but she reserved her comments.
“She uh, told me she’s pregnant.”
“What! Hutch how in the hell did you let that happen?”
“I didn’t let anything happen. I was careful every time.”
She slowly shook her head.
“So I went by her place that night after I dropped Kelly off—to talk.” He paused. “Basically, I still don’t know what she plans to do. I told her whatever decision she makes that I would stick by her and the baby. She pretty much told me that she doesn’t want anything from me.”
“Whew. Did you tell Kelly…before or after you slept with her?”
“Before. I wanted to be up-front with her. I told her the same night that Charisse told me.”
“And what did she say?”
“She said that she still wanted to work things out between the two of us.”
Ruby arched and lowered a brow. “At least she made some kind of informed decision. And you haven’t spoken to Charisse since then?”
“No.”
“You do realize that you are going to be tied to this woman and the child for the rest of your natural life.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. If things could be different they would be, but they aren’t. I’m not in love with Charisse. And I’m not going to be married to someone I’m not in love with. Whatever the baby needs, he or she will have. Period.”
“Well, you’ve gotten yourself into some fixes before but this one…” Her words trailed off. She frowned as the thought hit her. “You’ve known this for weeks and didn’t say a word to me about it?”
“I knew you would flip and I really wasn’t up to feeling you ripping me a new one.”
“You’re right about that.” She was thoughtful for a moment. “I know you really want to hear my opinion so I’m going to give it to you.”
“Hmm,” he grumbled.
“Even if Charisse hasn’t contacted you, don’t you think you should try to reach her? The last thing you want is a surprise. You can’t sit back and let things happen around you. Being a woman, I know that even if she says she doesn’t want you around, she doesn’t mean it. You may not be in love with her, but I don’t think she felt the same way. Right about now she’s probably scared and confused as all hell and feeling pretty alone in all this.”
“You’re right. But she practically kicked me out of the door.”
“What did you expect her to do?”
“I’ll call her. Today.”
Ruby stood. “Do that. Well, I have patients waiting. I’ll catch up with you later.” She turned to leave then stopped. “And Hutch…”
“Yes.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you’re happy and I really hope that things work out for you and Kelly.”
“Thanks, Ruby. That means a lot coming from you.”
She walked out, leaving Alex alone to wrestle with his thoughts.
“No time like the present,” he murmured and picked up the phone.
“Charisse Clark. How may I help you?”
“Charisse, it’s Alex.”
There was a moment of silence before she spoke. “How are you?”
“Okay. Concerned about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
“Yes, actually, I am, Alex. My conscience is clear. I’ve had time to think and I feel secure with my decision.”
His heart thumped in his chest.
“And what decision have you come to?”
“I’m not going through with it.”
“Are you sure?”
“I think it’s the best thing. I don’t want my child to grow up with a part-time father and that’s all you could ever be.”
He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or saddened by her decision. “Charisse…”
“There’s really nothing for you to say, Alex. It’s my body and my decision. I appreciate your concern but I don’t need it. Really I don’t.”
“I want to be there for you, Charisse.”
“That’s not necessary. Listen, I’d love to chat but I have a meeting in five minutes. Take care, Alex.” She disconnected the call before he had a chance to respond.
Absently he hung up the phone. This was what he wanted wasn’t it? Then why did he feel so utterly crappy?
“What are you doing here?”
David gave her a hard look and walked past her. He strode in, tossed his carry-all in the corner and turned to face her.
“How long have you been seeing Alex Hutchinson behind my back?”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “What?”
“How long, Kelly?”
“Is that why you came all the way back from Atlanta? And who told you that anyway?”
“What difference does it make who told me?” he fired back, thinking about his conversation with Stephanie and her revelations from her cousin. “It’s a small world. Let’s put it that way.”
Kelly slammed the door and came into the front room. “First of all, David, let’s get one thing straight and out of the way. I’m a grown woman. I can do as I please and see whom I please whenever I please.”
“Is that right. Well I wonder how confident you’ll feel when I sue that fucking hospital for a breach of ethics!”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I? Don’t bet me.”
“Alex isn’t breaching any ethics. He’s no longer my doctor.”
“What!” David’s eyes flashed as if hit with lightning. “Since when? Why wasn’t I told? I was the one who got him as your doctor.”
She folded her arms in defiance. “It’s done. I’m seeing the chief of staff.”
David fumed with outrage, pacing the floor like a caged animal. He spun toward her. “You’re coming back to Atlanta. I knew I should have never left you here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I’m not going anywhere. My rehab is coming along fine. I’m in a relationship that I’m happy with and I’m not leaving.” She paused. “And I’m taking classes.”
His brow creased into a scowl. “Classes? What are you talking about?”
She sat down and calmly told him about her learning classes, leaving out the counseling sessions that she was also attending for her eating problem.
David opened his mouth but no words would come out. He sat down as if he’d been pricked by a pin and deflated.
“I’m tired of feeling like I’m handicapped. I want to, need to be able to rely on myself.”
“I’ve always been there for you, Kelly. I’ve taken care of you since day one.”
“I know and I appreciate everything that you’ve done for me. But I must do this for myself. You need to understand that. You taking care of me all these years, reading for me, standing in for me, handling my finances, my life…all that did was make my dependence on you worst. It didn’t help me. It kept me a cripple.”
“I did it for you.”
“But now I need to do it for me. Me, David.”
He snickered. “He put this craziness in your head didn’t he? What are all of your fans, the media going to say if they find out? I’ve protected you all these years.”
“I’ll deal with that when the time comes. And when it does, I’ll tell them. I’m dyslexic. I’ve had a reading problem since I was a little girl that was never treated. And now I’m learning how to learn all over again.” When she said the words out loud they somehow gave her a sense of freedom, of pride as if she’d been released from the chains that bound her.
A million thoughts tumbled through his head at once. For years he’d kept Kelly bound to him with her secret. He’d virtually released her from any responsibility for her own life in order to benefit himself and the team. Without that hold, without her need for him…
“Look, if this is what you want, fine. You shall have it. I’ve never kept you from doing what you wanted.” He stood. “But from now on, you’re on your own. Totally.”
He picked up his bag. “Preliminaries start in three weeks. If you’re not ready, you will be cut from the team. There are three major endorsement deals on my desk for you awaiting signature, contingent upon you being able to perform. If you’re not back and ready to go your contract will be cancelled.” He smirked. “There was a little clause in your contract that stipulated that should you become incapacitated during the training season, your contract and any advances you were paid would be cancelled and the monies returned with the ongoing interest. Guess you didn’t read the fine print. Not to mention the sponsors and advertisers that are going to be really pissed off if you aren’t ready.”
Kelly was breathing hard and fast. Her hands shook as she listened to the sentence he was gleefully inflicting upon her.
He walked toward the door relishing the stunned look of disbelief on her face. “You see, Kelly, those are the little things that I could have protected you from should it have come down to this. It wouldn’t have been a problem. But now that you don’t need me anymore, I suppose you’ll have to figure it all out for yourself.”
He opened the door. “Good luck.”
For what seemed like an eternity Kelly sat frozen in place. She couldn’t believe what he’d said. But in her gut she knew every word of it was true.
Chapter 35
When Alex arrived to pick Kelly up from her class she was unusually quiet.
“You want to tell me what’s bugging you?” he finally asked after riding around in virtual silence.
“After you left this morning, David showed up.”
The news so stunned him he nearly hit the car in front of him and had to squeeze the brakes. “David showed up? Did you know he was coming?”
“I had no idea.”
“Is he still here?”
“No. After he gave me his ultimatum he left.”
“Ultimatum? What do you mean?”
She told him what was said and the predicament she was in.
“Shit.”
“My sentiments exactly.” She sighed heavily. “I spoke to Dr. Logan today. He said that I should be ready to go back in time for preliminaries but I would have to continue with rehab therapy in Atlanta.”
His stomach knotted. “So you’ll be leaving.”
She glanced at him. “Of course. I have a life in Atlanta. And it’s more important than ever that I get back and straighten things out. I need to look over my contracts and they are in Atlanta.” She frowned and touched his arm. “Hutch?”
He shook his head. “I guess there was a part of me that stupidly believed that you would stay.”
“I can’t. Too much is at stake. My entire life, my reputation is on the line. David has manipulated me enough over the years. I can’t sit back and let him run over me now.”
“Of course. You’re right.” He looked at her. “Sounds as if you’re going to need a lawyer as well, if what he says about the contract is true.”
“I know.” She was thoughtful for a moment. “You did say that Atlanta was a great place to visit,” she said softly.
He brought the car to a stop in front of her hotel. He turned and looked at her while taking her hand in his. “And it’s an even greater place to visit since I know you’ll be there. And there’s always the off-season. You can spend it in New York.”
“This will certainly be a long-distance relationship.” She smiled.
He leaned over and tenderly kissed her. “We’ll find a way to make it work.”
She looked into his eyes. “Something else is on your mind. Tell me.”
He took a breath. “I talked with Charisse today.”
Her heart knocked in her chest. “Oh. And?”
“She told me she doesn’t plan to go through with the pregnancy.”
Kelly lowered her head. “I’m sorry.” She looked up and at him. “How do you feel about that?”
“Mixed. A part of me is relieved, another part disappointed.”
“Disappointed in what way?”
“That things couldn’t have worked out differently. That the woman who was carrying a child of mine would be someone I was totally in love with and it was something that we both wanted. Life is sacred. I don’t want any part of taking away from it. Ya know?”
“Do you think she’s making the right decision?”
“It’s the right decision for her. I can’t force her to do what she doesn’t want to do.”
They were silent for a moment, each lost in thought.
Finally Kelly spoke. “One thing I’ve learned is that truth is always revealed and we each find a way to deal with the cards that we’re given. You need to search your heart and soul and decide what you want for you. It’s just like you told me. You can’t let anyone else have control over your life. It leaves you powerless. And trust me, from one who knows, it’s not a great feeling.”
He turned to her
and grinned. “How’d you get so wise?”
“I have a great teacher.” She gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Speaking of teaching, I have some work to go over for my class tomorrow. Are you coming up for a little while?”
“You sure I won’t be a distraction?” he asked with a wicked glint in his eyes.
“Didn’t you hear? I’m a quick study. I know exactly what to do with distractions.” She winked and got out of the car.
“So when do you plan to go back to Atlanta?” he asked when Kelly finally put her study guides away for the evening.
“As soon as Dr. Logan gives me the okay. I’m off the cane as of today. And he’s going to start me on the treadmill tomorrow to build up my strength. But he said the X-rays look great. The break is completely healed. I just need to gain my mobility back.”
Alex nodded. “And you’re sticking with the nutrition plan and the supplements?”
“Yes, Doc.” She chuckled. “And I haven’t been bingeing and purging in weeks.”
“Excellent. So you think the counseling is really helping?”
She came and snuggled next to him on the bed. “I know it is. I’m staying centered, dealing with my daily issues one day at a time. Trying not to overdo it. And you’re a big help, too.”
“Me?” he asked, trying to sound surprised.
“Yes, you.” She nudged him in the ribs.
“I don’t think I would have taken these steps without you.” She looked up at him.
“You would have in time. There is a fighter spirit in you. All it needed was a chance to come out.”
“Well, thank you for giving it a shove.”
“For you…anything.” He lowered his head and kissed her softly and tenderly. He ran his fingers through her unbound hair. “The world is yours for the taking, sweetheart. And I know nothing is going to stand in your way.”
“I want you to be there for the ride.”