by M. C. Cerny
“Because, my dear, you chose to live in NYC. There’s nothing normal about us. Gay or straight, everyone is out to get us so they can get ahead.”
Her phone signaled that she was getting a text message. “Crap, now my brother’s texting me. He wants to know why he hasn’t met this ‘Jacob Reed guy’ yet, and if he should make some calls about him. I certainly wasn’t hiding him. We just met on Monday. I bet my mother called him.” Katie ran a hand through her mussed hair.
“Ooh, is Sam coming up?” Trevor was practically glowing through the phone.
“Trevor! Seriously, you cannot hit on my brother and, no, he’s not invited to come up and stay on my couch just so you can ogle him,” Katie emphasized.
Trevor seemed undaunted. “Damn! Well, come in early today. I’ll get coffee and we can figure this out. You, my love, are going to need a PR team.”
“I thought you were my stylist, Trevor. Now I need a PR team, too?” Katie goaded him.
“I’m that and more. Get your behind to this office so I can work my magic.”
“Alright, be there soon.” She hung up. She debated calling her mother back, but she really didn’t want to explain things to her. She’d been through a mugging, and now was in a whirlwind…something with Jacob. Maybe she really needed to rethink keeping her on again/off again therapist.
After his morning run, Jacob got his paper from the local newsstand on his way back to his building. He fed Hauk some of his bagel and sipped his coffee, opening the paper to page six. He had to smile at the first picture. The paparazzi photographers certainly wasted no time in printing the pictures of him and Katie. She looked gorgeous as he publicly devoured her lips. Eli would definitely be contacting him about this. Good thing he didn’t have a heads-up about it last night when he popped in. He read the short article that followed:
Billionaire Jacob Reed finally takes a bite out of the Big Apple by courting one of the city’s best known up-and-coming nightly news reporters, Katie Wilson. The couple is seen cozying up just outside Reed’s swanky downtown loft. Could Reed finally be coming out of his shell? It’s rumored that, earlier this week, Reed rescued Wilson after she was mugged near the Channel 10 news offices. No official word on if her attacker has been caught, but it appears that Reed is stepping up to protect his new love interest.
Shit. The last bit identifying him as having rescued Katie bothered him. That wasn’t public knowledge. How could they have known that? Katie never made a formal police report until after the news segment and, even then, she didn’t mention Jacob because the police told her that they really couldn’t help her because they didn’t have anything to go on. Jacob knew that the bank by the alley had video feeds because he ran their security, but even those had been altered and deleted for his and Katie’s protection. The cause was “filmy camera lenses”. Eli was going to have a field day with this new development. He might have to take her to the farm, after all.
He decided to call Katie to check in. After a few busy signals, he finally got through to her. “Hi, Katie, it’s Jacob. How are you?” He could almost hear her sigh of relief when she heard it was him.
“Hey, good morning. Uh, it’s been a little hectic here this morning, what with the paper and a few phone calls.”
“I figured it might be. I wanted to call and make sure everything was okay. Nobody is hanging outside your apartment, right?”
“Gosh, I hope not. Let me check.” Katie peered out her front window and only saw neighbors with baby strollers, and dog walkers at this hour. “It looks all clear, but both Trevor and my mother have already called. Sam is sure to jump on the wagon, but he already got me via text.” Katie paused. “I think you might have offended Aunt Mary, though.”
“Really? That’s a first. I’ll have to think of a way to make it up to her. Hmm…maybe I could buy her an island? Would she prefer South Pacific or Mediterranean?”
“Jacob Reed! Don’t you dare!” Flustered, she ran her hand through her hair, tangling her pinky around a knotted strand.
“I like when you yell my name.” Jacob could almost hear Katie choking on her coffee and smiled to himself. “Actually, I was calling because I was wondering if you were up for lunch today, if you have time.”
“Drats, I wish, but I have an appointment then. How about dinner?”
“Ah, I’m actually prepping for a short business trip that was thrown at me last minute. A tech conference in London. I had sort of wanted to ask you for a huge favor before I left, though.”
“Really?” Katie put her hand to her chest and could feel her heart pounding. She thought that she sounded like an idiot after just meeting this guy. What’s wrong with me?
“Yes, really. You’re perfect for what I have in mind.”
“Um, okay.” Images of what he might have in mind danced through her head.
“I was planning to leave Hauk at the loft, but I sort of need a pet sitter for the weekend. He doesn’t like the doggie hotel very much.
“You want me to watch Hauk? I’d love to! He’s so sweet.” Katie was surprised and delighted by the request.
“Well, I was hoping you might stay at the loft, too. I have ‘round the clock security here and I’d feel better knowing that if photographers are chasing us around town, they won’t be sniffing around your place.”
“I guess that sounds reasonable. Are we still on for tomorrow?”
“Definitely. I can’t wait to run circles around you in the park.”
Hoping she’d be running circles around him for once, she laughed. “Ha! We’ll see about that. When do you leave?”
“I fly out tomorrow night and should be back on Monday, pending any delays.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“It’s not Asia, but just a business meeting that requires my physical presence and a conference presentation. It’ll be a bunch of us techy nerds. I wish I didn’t have to go right now.” Katie couldn’t imagine Jacob as a techy nerd. It seemed so paradoxical, but she liked knowing he was smart as well as thoughtful; good looking didn’t hurt, either.
“Aww, we’ll have tomorrow, and Hauk will be in good hands. He’s even close enough that I can check on him Monday at lunch if your flight is delayed.”
“Thank-you.” Jacob could imagine Katie’s pert little nose crinkling when she smiled.
“Ditto.”
“I can’t wait to see you tomorrow but, until then, I’ll see you at 6 o’clock.”
“Ooh, I feel like everyone will be watching now; first the mugging and now the paper.”
“It’s a good thing, Katie. Trust me.”
“I know, but that’s not why I’m interested in you.”
“I know that, too.”
“Well, then, I hope my teleprompter works tonight.” Katie and Jacob laughed, hanging up. She felt lighter than air, so happy with her budding relationship. The only downer of the day would be meeting with Dr. Lane.
Katie left the news office and walked the few blocks to Dr. Lane’s conservative and nondescript office. She rang the buzzer and walked into the cool office. More greys in different tones covered the walls and furniture. Katie never realized what a downer the office was until today. She wished the therapist indulged in a little splash of color. She’d suggest it, but Dr. Lane would probably try to analyze why she felt her office needed color.
“Hello, Katie. It’s been a while.” Katie felt censured by Dr. Lane’s tone. The doctor greeted her with a friendly smile, but Katie didn’t feel like it was genuine. Something seemed off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. It was probably best that she was going to terminate therapy and begin moving on with her life.
“Hello, Dr. Lane.” Katie followed her into her office, which followed the same grey tones. Dr. Lane was a tall woman, probably in her early forties with blonde hair that was artfully wrapped in a French chignon.
“Please, you can call me Nancy. We’ve discussed that before.” Dr. Lane adjusted her beige skirt suit and sat down in a chair across from Katie.
“Dr. Lane, I’d like to discuss a few things with you before we get into the session.” Katie huffed and adjusted her purse to rest on the floor at her feet.
“Yes, I know. It would seem that you’ve had a very intense week lately. Tell me, how have you been feeling?” Her eyes were very light and piercing.
“Great, actually. This is why I wanted to discuss the direction of our sessions.”
“I agree. I was thinking that going back to a once-a-week schedule might be more beneficial for you. It takes a great deal of time to heal from the kinds of traumas you’ve experienced.”
“I would like us to be on the same page, Dr. Lane.” I’m not doing once-a-week, Katie thought.
“I’m so glad you agree, Katie. Thorough treatment is very integral to feeling better. Have you been taking the anti-anxiety and anti-depressants I prescribed?”
“No, I don’t agree and no, I haven’t taken them in months. Look, I’m really not finding our meetings useful.”
“Well, Katie, it’s often hard to find solace when your medication compliancy is not on board with our sessions. I did say they would take some time before they would begin working.”
“Dr. Lane…”
“It’s Nancy, please. We don’t have to be so formal, Katie.”
“Yes, we do, Dr. Lane.”
“I find that you are being very confrontational. I realize that you feel disempowered from the mugging and the publicity of your new relationship, but I am here to help you.” Dr. Lane began writing on her legal pad. Katie felt compelled to cross her arms in a sullen fashion, but figured that would only fuel Dr. Lane’s analysis.
“The only help I need is to move on with my life. These sessions have been a waste of my time.”
“You have been very inconsistent and rejecting, and your body language is very telling today.”
“And I continue to find that you only hear what you are interested in hearing, namely my insurance co-payments. Tell me again. What is my insurance company paying you an hour? I must be a very lucrative client.”
“Mental health services are grossly underpaid and underfunded. Didn’t you do a story on this several months ago?” Dr. Lane continued to look down, pushing her gold wire-framed glasses higher on her nose. Katie stood up and paced the office.
“Katie, I would like for you to sit down and make yourself comfortable. Tell me what you’ve been feeling lately? I sense you are very agitated, and that agitation is what led to your blocking out significant and upsetting events from the accident.”
“What I have been feeling is that I’m no longer interested in your therapeutic services, Dr. Lane.” Katie stood with her arms crossed defensively.
“Perhaps if we increased your anti-anxiety medication? Typically, a therapeutic dose takes a few weeks, but it could help in freeing you to talk about these upsetting issues.”
“I won’t take it.” She knew that she just sounded childish, but she was determined to end this.
“Have the nightmares been resurfacing? The ones of Tully being blown up in the car?” Katie continued to stand with her back to Dr. Lane, squeezing her eyes shut. Images of Tully before the accident came to mind, his carefree smile and easy-going attitude, then came the guilt of his death. Acid and other bitter tastes filled Katie’s throat. It wasn’t fair, but she couldn’t fix the past.
“No. No more nightmares.” Katie’s gut clenched. She did have one nightmare, but it was after the mugging. It was a perfectly normal reaction to the upset of the day, and there was no way in hell she was going to tell Dr. Lane about it. She practically wanted to shove drugs and sleep-aids down her throat the last time she couldn’t sleep. The nightmares had only lasted six weeks last time, and she was tougher now.
“Have you been remembering other details of the night before the accident? We haven’t done an EMDR session in several months and perhaps it would help.”
“No, never. Not a single minute from the car ride out of the office garage until the hospital.” She had flashes here and there, scenes that were dark and had other mysterious people present. Dr. Lane would probably have her committed to a hospital to be tested like a guinea pig after the sleep studies she highly recommended.
“Those memories many never resurface. Is acceptance difficult for you?”
“Look, we’ve been through this discussion several times. I don’t remember. I will probably never remember that chunk of time. Therefore, I don’t even know how responsible I am for what happened, but I will always feel the guilt every day I wake up and know that Tully isn’t going to be in the office when I get there.”
“Katie, if you’re thinking of hurting yourself, you need to tell me.” Dr. Lane looked up from her notepad.
Immediately, Katie understood what she was saying. “No. I’m not. I never said that.”
“But you did once.” Of course the good doctor would use her weakest moment against her.
“Once, days after the accident. I was disorientated and I only meant that not waking up would have easier than the pain of Tully’s loss. I’m not crazy; don’t put words in my mouth. I never thought of hurting myself.”
“I never said you were crazy, Katie, but sometimes these things come into our minds and I want to make sure you’re safe. Now, let me write that prescription up for you.” Katie eyed Dr. Lane and realized this woman was digging her claws in. Maybe she never needed those other pills which, fortunately, she flushed down the toilet. She just had to get out of the session and never call this woman back. Maybe she should change her number; maybe she was just getting paranoid.
Dr. Lane stood up and handed her the blue prescription slip. Katie took it and put it in her purse. She would tear the thing up as soon as she left. She was never coming back here again.
“Thank-you.” Katie stepped towards the door and Dr. Lane opened her appointment book.
“So I’ll plan to see you next Friday at the same time?” Dr. Lane was poised to write the appointment down.
“Sure, whatever works. I have to get back to my office.” She turned to leave, not waiting for Dr. Lane’s reply, and rushed back to the news office. As soon as she got there, she took the blue paper from her purse and tore it up into small pieces. No way was she taking anything ever again. Katie made a note in her day planner to see how to go about changing her phone number or, at least, blocking Dr. Lane’s number.
Dr. Nancy Lane picked up her private and secure phone line, dialing a familiar number. She entered the access code and waited a moment before he answered. “I met with Miss Wilson today. My report is the same as always. She has expressed none of the surfacing memories, and she continues to refuse the medication…No, I do not think the mugging triggered anything yet, but it’s impossible to tell. I believe she has terminated my services, though. She was rather aggressive during our meeting…Yes, I will wait for now.” Dr. Lane hung up and continued to make notations in her log book regarding Miss Wilson or, rather, patient number 2255.
KATIE DECIDED TO FIND TREVOR and refresh herself with some healthy conversation that would keep her mind off the feelings she had about Dr. Lane. As Katie got up from her desk, Lindsey waited until she was out of sight before reaching down into her wastepaper basket to pick up the shredded blue paper. She wasn’t above using anything at her disposal to get rid of Katie Wilson.
Saturday, Katie enjoyed sleeping in until 7am. She had cleaned her apartment the night before and had nothing to do for the next hour. Since it was already getting warmer in the mornings, she picked out some lightweight running attire. A cute running skirt and matching top, with a matching visor completed the outfit. She grabbed a banana from her fruit bowl on the counter and waited. It was an agonizing hour. She read through the paper which, thankfully, contained no more photos of her and Jacob together. At 8am, Katie started pacing the floors. Her downstairs neighbors were probably able to hear her anxious footsteps. At 8:05am, her buzzer rang and her heart started beating faster as she answered the door.
“Hi the
re.” Jacob stood at her door, arms filled with good eats.
“Hey, come on in.”
Katie took note of Jacob’s stature as he entered her apartment. She knew he was broad and tall but, coming into her sanctuary, her apartment seemed to shrink and she felt more tightly wound. She took the coffee and breakfast pastries from his hands, and put them on the counter. “Good morning, Hauk.” Katie leaned down to pet the dog. He whined and rolled over onto his back for more attention. She went to rub his belly, but Jacob gently grabbed her hand and picked her up.
“I missed you.” Jacob took Katie into his arms and kissed her long and slow, his hands cupping her face and reaching into her hair. His tongue took in the fruity taste of the banana that she ate earlier. When she had opened the door, he noticed her cute running outfit that accentuated her lean legs. While not particularly tall, Katie fit perfectly against Jacob’s body. He continued to kiss her until they were both breathless and panting slightly.
She rested her hand on his chest, pushing him away gently. “Okay, no more until we’ve eaten and worked out. You could tempt a nun to do bad things.” Katie stepped back and gently poked Jacob in his well-muscled chest. He laughed at her analogy. She certainly wasn’t a nun, but was close.
“Alright, but I definitely want more of you after we’ve had our fun in the park. I like your place.” Jacob looked around at the open floor plan of Katie’s apartment. It was cozy and well lived in.
“Thanks.” She sipped her coffee and ate a fresh warm bagel, while Jacob walked around her apartment. Hauk made himself right at home in the living room, curling up on a brightly woven throw rug. She thought Jacob might check her window locks if she let him. He noticed a large painting on one wall of her apartment. It was a landscape portrait of the city in bold splashes of color. He liked seeing how Katie was different from him. Her eclectic style was mirrored in the furnishings of the apartment.
“Nice painting. Local artist?” Jacob asked while Katie continued to fuss in the kitchen. He walked back around to watch her looking in towards the living room. Colorful throw pillows with beads covered her small cream sofa and, through a doorway, he could see an iron four-poster bed with bedding in shades of aqua blue.