by Kaci Rose
By the time I finish both pastries and my coffee, I have decided what my next course of action is.
I pick up my phone and get ready to change my voicemail.
Chapter 22
Teddy
“This is Mia. Leave a message, unless it can be texted. In which case, why didn’t you just text me? Teddy, I can’t make you any promises, because I’m here putting one foot in front of the other right now. I know I miss you, I know I want you to get better, and I know I want to see you on my doorstep when you do. I just can’t make any promises. Call as much as you like. Just leave me something every now and then, too.”
If she hadn’t changed that voicemail, after the first time I called, I might not have called so much. But knowing she wants to hear from me, gives me what I need to give her updates once a week.
It’s been a month, since I left that first voicemail, and it’s time for my next one. The voicemail that will change things for the good, I hope.
“Mia.” I sigh her name the same way every time. I can’t help it. After hearing her voice, it’s like a balm to my soul. “So much has happened, and I can’t wait to tell it to you… in person. I’m coming for you, Mia. I’ll see you soon.”
That’s the shortest voicemail I have left so far, but it’s all I have to say. I stare at my bed. It’s the bed Mia and I had sex on the first time. The same one she slept in every night, while she was here.
Earlier this week, I transitioned out of Oakside. But because of my plans, Lexi and Noah let me stay in the same room Mia stayed in, when she was here. I have a few more loose ends to tie up, and then I’m loading my car and heading north.
My walk across the property to Oakside for my last appointment with Dr. Tate is slow, as I think of what I want to talk to him about today.
He greets me with the same smile he has at every session from day one.
“Hello, Teddy!” We get seated, and I take a deep breath.
Today is my last session.
“How are you feeling about leaving Oakside?” He asks, which isn’t the normal greeting I’m used to hearing from him.
“Good. A little scared, but I think I’m more frightened of losing everything if I don’t do it.”
“That’s normal to feel scared. You just can’t let fear control you. Some people say, if you aren’t living scared, then you aren’t living,” he says.
If you think about it, that’s a strong statement. I need to think on it a bit more, when I get back to my room.
“Do you believe that?” I ask him.
“Sometimes. Other times, I think fear is a real emotion to remind you of what your limits are, or what they should be to make you think twice.”
“I agree.”
“Do you have everything in order?”
“Yes, I made an appointment with the doctor you gave me, and I’ve been in touch with everyone. Tonight, I have dinner with Lexi and Noah, and then tomorrow, I’m off, and I start work on Monday.”
“If you need to talk, I’m always here, and just a phone call away. I’m sure Noah, Easton, and Jake will tell you the same.”
“They already have.”
We talk a bit more about my plans, and a few coping techniques for when my nerves or the guilt start to creep in. I’m doing this for Brian, for Mia, and most importantly, for myself.
After our session, I head out and find Jake in the lobby with his dog, Atticus. He’s been around more since Mia left, just keeping me company, and I’m sure keeping an eye on me. I like to think he was also reporting back to Mia and telling her how I was doing.
Maybe, I’m just fooling myself, thinking she cares enough to check in on me, but that little slice of hope helped me push.
“Hey, man. I’ll walk over with you,” Jake says, coming up to me.
He’s joining us at dinner, and so are Easton, Paisley, and my nurse, Kaitlyn. It’s a farewell dinner, and I’m sure they also want to make sure I have everything in order.
A month ago, so many people checking up on me, would have made me blow up, just as I did with Mia. But thanks to Dr. Tate, I realize this is a sign of all the people that care about me and want to make sure I’m okay. It’s more comforting.
“Ready?” I ask him.
We walk out, and Jake takes off Atticus’s vest, and he runs ahead of us and chases a butterfly down the walkway.
“He loves running around here. There’s so much more room than at my place,” Jake says.
Atticus, being his service dog, is working most of the time he’s here. Paisley trained him just like she trained Easton’s dog, Allie, and her dog, Molly. They’re all three spoiled rotten here between Lexi and the guys.
As we round the corner, Lexi and Noah’s place comes into view. Atticus takes off and runs over to great Allie and Molly, who are playing out front. It seems we’re the last ones here, because everyone is gathered on the front porch.
Today, is a happy day, and everyone is all smiles. I try to enjoy it and not wish that Mia was here. Together, we go inside, but the women go into the kitchen to finish up dinner, and Noah leads the men into the living room.
Noah, Easton, Jake, and I sit around and talk about the car show that’s coming to town next weekend. The guys try to get me to stay for it, but I’m set to leave tomorrow, and I don’t want to delay this anymore.
“Okay, boys. Dinner is ready.” Lexi peeks her head in, and we all go into the dining room, sit down, and fill our plates.
“So, are you going to show up on Mia’s doorstep tomorrow night?” Paisley asks almost bouncing in her seat.
“No, I have a few more things to take care of, before I can go to her. Healing and transitioning out of Oakside was the big one, but it won’t be enough for her. I need to make sure all my ducks are in a row first.”
“What does that entail?” Jake asks.
“Well, my buddy left me a company, and I have yet to step foot in or meet anyone. I’m going to start there. I owe it to him and to Mia to get my foot in the door.”
“Then, you’re going to Mia, right?” Kaitlyn asks.
I laugh, “I have to settle Brian’s estate as well. Once that’s done, then yes. If she even still wants me.”
“She wants you.” They all say at once, and I wonder what they know that I don’t. But I’m not going to ask. It’s going to either work itself out or it won’t, and I don’t want to know, until it’s time.
The conversation moves on. Lexi made for dessert a Georgia peach pie, and we all talk about some of our best memories here at Oakside, and some of our least favorite.
When I head downstairs to my room to get ready for bed, I don’t crawl in, but I sit in the chair in the corner, like I have every night. I stare at the bed Mia slept in. The bed we made love in that first night, and I remember every moment. Especially, when I first slipped inside of her.
The moment she became mine.
Like every night, just the thought has me hard as nails. Slipping my hand into my sweatpants, I pull out my cock and start stroking it, imagining every detail of when I was inside of her.
Desperate to hear her voice, I call her again. Listening to her voice, will push me over the edge. What I don’t expect is for her to have changed her voicemail.
“This is Mia. Leave a message, unless it can be texted. In which case, why didn’t you just text me? Teddy, I’m still yours. See you soon.”
I had planned to just listen to the voice message that has been the same the last month and hang up, when it was over. But the new one, knowing she’s still mine, pushes me on.
“I’m standing here at Lexi and Noah’s looking at the bed you slept in, and the bed we made love in. I’m supposed to sleep there tonight, but I can’t, because you aren’t in it. Every time I look at that bed, I see you in it. Your face the moment I sank into you for the first time. I hear the little moans you make, as you get close to your climax, and I’m so hard, baby, so hard, but nothing helps, because I only want you.” I state, groaning out my climax right there on her
voicemail.
When I can breathe again, I’m surprised the voicemail hasn’t cut me off. “I have a few more things to take care of, before I see you again. But I’m coming for you very soon.” Then, I hang up.
I throw my head back against the chair and try to get my breathing under control and let my heart calm down before I get up and clean myself up.
It’s going to take every ounce of willpower I have not to blow everything off and go straight for her.
Chapter 23
Teddy
“You can’t leave me a voicemail like that, and then expect me not to reply. Mmm. Your voice does the same thing to me, as mine does to you. I think of that night every night, Teddy. Every. Single. Night.” Mia groans, and then I listen to her cum so hard, that she’s gasping between calling out my name.
This is the eighth time I’ve listened to the voice text she sent me, after she got my voicemail the other night. It’s been enough to get me off every time. Hopefully, I can put it out of my mind today, as I step into the boardroom for the first time.
I’m in a suit, and as much as I didn’t think I was a suit man, I find it oddly comforting. It’s like my uniform for the next stage of my life. My camo was my uniform for the military, and the suit is the uniform for my civilian life.
I stand outside the skyscraper in downtown Knoxville and stare up at the building that’s all mine. It houses my company, every branch of it. It took a long time, before I was okay calling it my company, but that’s what it is.
Since Brian left it to me, it’s been mine. Now, it’s time I take control of it and do right by Brian. That’s my next step.
I take a deep breath and step inside. Everyone looks at me curiously, but I just scan my badge that was left at Brian’s parents’ house yesterday and then head right to the elevators.
I spent all last night looking around the house, well mansion honestly. I don’t know if it’s where I’ll live, but I can’t bring myself to sell it just yet. It’s the closest I’ve felt to Brian in a long time. His parents left his room just as he had it, and it’s comforting to me. This little piece of Brian is all I have left.
As I step out of the elevator, everyone eyes me, and I wonder if they know who I am, or if they are trying to figure it out. I walk up to the receptionist and smile at her.
“I’m looking for the conference room?” I ask her.
I thought about just walking around and looking at everything until I found it, but I don’t want to make anyone too nervous on the off chance they figure out who I am. I also don’t want to be late for this meeting.
The receptionist is young, maybe just out of college, and gets tongue tied, trying to tell me where to go, so she just points to my right. I smile again and thank her, before I follow the hallway.
I walk in and immediately recognize Derick, the CEO. Not only from his photos on the website, but also from the video call we did last week. He recognizes me and walks over to me with a huge smile on his face.
“Hey, Teddy.” He says, shaking my hand. “I thought we’d start by introducing you and letting you say a few words, before we start in with our normal meeting?”
“That sounds good to me.”
I knew I’d have to say something, and Noah helped me practice what I should say. Public speaking was never something I was good at, but I need to get better at it. It will be important for me to learn how to speak to people in the company and for the company. I also need to be able to speak for Oakside. Before I left, I promised Noah and Lexi I’d speak at a few fundraisers after I get settled.
Everyone files in, and I sit next to Derick, thinking how it should be Brian here. He would love this and would know what the hell he was doing. I only let myself think about him for a moment, because I don’t need to be a blubbering mess, when I’m introduced to everyone in a few minutes.
I try to figure out how Brian would greet everyone. What would he say? I’m sure he knew each and everyone in this room, their families, and their history with the company. That’s the kind of guy he was. I take a deep and steady breath, as everyone settles down.
“Well, everyone we’re starting this week’s meeting a bit differently. Today, Teddy is joining us. We have been talking for a few weeks now, and I’ll let him tell you his plans.” Derick steps to the side for me to stand in front of the conference table.
Looking at all the eyes on me, I can see some look curious. Some look scared like they might lose their jobs, and some look irritated that I’m even there. Those are the exact responses I expected. I’m not surprised by any of their responses. My being here signifies change, and I’m sure they don’t like not knowing which direction I’ll take the company. By the end of the meeting, I hope to put all their fears to rest. No matter how long it takes.
“Hello, everyone. I want to start by apologizing for it taking me so long to get here. To be honest, I didn’t feel like I deserved it, and I still don’t. We all know it should be Brian standing here today. He was so excited to start here, as soon as the deployment was over.”
Stopping, I take a deep breath and squeeze my eyes shut for just a moment to get my emotions in check. I refuse to lose it here in front of all of them. That’s not the first impression I want to make.
“But I decided I wasn’t going to let him down. Whatever his reasoning was for leaving this company to me, I want to make him proud. I’m not coming in here to make big changes and try to do things my way. I’ve seen the reports. The company is making money and profits are increasing each quarter, and I’d be a fool to step in. What I’d like to do is shadow people in each department. My goal is to learn all about the company, so I can understand what we’re doing here. So, when we have these meetings, I’ll actually be able to follow. I want to be useful, and I need to know how the company works.”
Now, I have a few smiles and a lot less hostile looks. At the end of this meeting, I’m hoping everyone will be as welcoming as Derick.
Derick takes over, “Teddy and I have been talking, and he’s going to shadow with me the next few weeks. Then, he’ll start in our customer service department, just like anyone else would and will work his way around, until he gets back to me, and we will go from there.”
I step back and listen to the weekly meeting, talking about new and current accounts, and about the app glitch over the weekend. I make notes of a few questions to ask Derick, and then we’re off for my first day.
That night, I head to Brian’s grave. I decided to bury him next to his parents here in Knoxville, so this is the first time I’ve seen him. I wasn’t even able to go to his funeral, and I hate that now, even though I know I wasn’t ready for it, then.
I remember Brian picked this graveyard, especially because it was away from the city noise and was beautifully landscaped. He said he wanted a place he could bring his family, his kids, and have a picnic with his parents.
That’s why I picked up a burger for dinner and am now sitting with him eating dinner.
“You know, I was so mad at you, when I got that letter. I still don’t get why me, but I made a promise to do right by you.” I tell him, then pause to eat a bite of my burger.
“I have a feeling it was you who brought Mia into my life. You knew I was going to need someone to push me, since you weren’t there to do it yourself. Though, I have a feeling Mia was nicer about it, then you would have been.” I chuckle.
An older couple looks over at me, when they hear my laugh, and they smile. We nod at each other. I know they’re here visiting their daughter, because I read that gravestone on the way in. There are stuffed animals and flowers surrounding it, showing people have been there almost daily. I need to do that for Brian and his parents. They deserve that and more.
“I think you would have liked Oakside, though. The guys there, and you would have hit on every nurse. There was a guy there who did that, and it reminded me of you.” I shake my head.
The couple gets ready to leave but stop and whisper to each other. Then, they turn back to me.
“Sorry to interrupt. It’s just it’s been so long, since we heard laughter here, that we just wanted to thank you,” the woman says.
“This is my first time visiting.” I stand up to shake their hands. “Brian here was my best friend, and we were both hurt in a blast. I made it, but he didn’t. I hate he hasn’t had any one visiting him, until now.”
I don’t know why I say this to them, but I can’t seem to stop myself.
“All that matters is that you’re visiting now. We visit the grave, because her body was buried here, but this isn’t where we feel her the most. We feel her strongest at home and at her favorite places, where we have the best memories,” the man says to me.
They both give me a hug and turn to head out, leaving me with Brian. I finish my meal and telling him about Oakside, and all that’s happened. On the way out, I stop at the gravestone the couple visited to say hello to the girl I never met.
When I read the name and the year, I think there’s no way it’s possible.
Julie, who died in May seven years ago. Right around the time Mia would have been going to prom.
If that isn’t one hell of a sign, I don’t know what is.
* * *
Over the next few weeks, Derick and I fall into a good routine. He’s great at explaining why he or the company does this or that. With his open-door policy, anyone from any department can come talk to him about ideas, problems, and suggestions. He stays late to get things done. We have lunch and dinner in his office each weeknight.
He tells me how he lost his wife in a car accident a few years ago, and he works late, because he still hates to go home to an empty house. I tell him about my time at Oakside and about Mia.
“What are doing here, then?” He asks me, after I tell him about Mia.