Riley chuckled as she exited the exam room.
* * *
“I’m not sure why I have to remind you of the importance of wellness exams, Joanna, but nearly two years is not acceptable,” Dr. Morgan lectured as she started to examine Joanna. “Jo, you have a little lump here, have you noticed it before?” she asked as she pushed down on Joanna’s exposed left breast.
“No, where?” Joanna asked.
Dr. Morgan took Joanna’s hand and guided it in a small circular motion over the area of concern.
“Do you feel it?” Dr. Morgan asked as Joanna continued to manipulate her own breast.
“Yes, it’s tiny, I’m sure it just a little calcification. I am going to be forty next year, you know,” Joanna replied dismissingly.
“I’m going to order a mammogram, and I want you to schedule it as soon as possible. I’m sure it’s nothing but I want to make sure,” Dr. Morgan directed, making some notes in her file, turning back in time to see Joanna rolling her eyes. “Joanna,” she warned.
“Sorry, yes, I’ll take care of it right away.” Joanna said sheepishly, blushing.
Dr. Morgan finished the rest of the exam. “Okay, everything else looks fine, Joanna. Get dressed and I’ll meet you back in the office with Riley. Take care of the mammogram this week, understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Joanna replied.
* * *
Dr. Morgan studied Riley thoughtfully through her dark-rimmed glasses as she rested her elbows on her desk, her fingers interlaced with her two index fingers against her lips.
“Riley, I’m going to let you drive and also go back to work on a limited basis. Let’s start with half days for a couple of weeks and see how you do, but when you get the headaches, I want you home resting. I’m going to give you a new prescription. If the headaches persist for more than five hours, you see me right away, understand?”
“But Dr. Morgan, I’m fine, I’m ready to go back to work full time. I don’t need to start with half days, I’m ready now!” Riley whined.
“Riley, this isn’t up for debate!” Dr. Morgan stated firmly.
Joanna shot Riley a warning look. “Yes, ma’am,” Riley mumbled.
“Okay, I’ll see you in two weeks unless the headaches get worse again,” Dr. Morgan said, getting up from behind her desk and closing Riley’s file.
Walking back to the car, Riley continued her frustrated rant. “This is crap, I’m well enough now!”
“Riley, that’s enough, you’re still recovering and frankly lucky to be going back to work at all!” Joanna snapped as the two women got into her car.
“Christ, Jo, it’s been over two months since the accident. I’m fine, and I hardly get the headaches anymore!” Riley continued.
Joanna had heard enough. “Riley, can you get my purse for me, please.”
Riley picked up Joanna’s purse.
“Now open it up. Do you see my hairbrush in there?”
“Yes, why?” Riley asked, puzzled.
“Take it out, take a good look at it. Because if you don’t drop this right now, I’m going to take you home, relieve you of your jeans and underwear, and give you a thrashing with it you won’t soon forget. Am I clear?”
Riley rolled her eyes. “Well, it’s bullshit. I still don’t see why…”
Joanna hit the brakes on the Mercedes. “Enough! Now you listen to me, young lady!” Joanna directed in a furious tone, making Riley jump. “I was going to suggest we use these two weeks to get you packed and ready for New York, but you continue with this little pouty act and I’m going to rethink that entirely!”
“Really?” Riley’s eyes lit up. “I can go that soon?”
“Maybe, if you start behaving yourself and stop acting like a spoiled brat, yes!” Joanna replied. “The apartment is ready, the painters came last week, and Bencom’s ads are a huge success. David Lannister was asking how you were. I’d like you to start on some new ideas for the campaign and we can scrub them when we get to New York.”
“So how was your exam? Did you get a finger up your butt too?” Riley grinned.
Joanna reached over and tousled Riley’s hair. “It was fine, and yes!”
Riley was elated and during the next two weeks she packed and shipped a few boxes of her belongings to New York. She decided to sell her old Civic; it had served her well but she decided to get rid of it since it would just be sitting for six months. She had semi-moved back to her apartment but spent most nights with Joanna, either at her apartment or at Joanna’s house. Joanna, Riley, Rae, and Tracy had had a farewell brunch at Oscar’s where Riley discreetly slipped Rae a check for nearly double what she owed them. Riley wasn’t having any of Rae’s protests and ended the day with tearful goodbyes with her two best friends. Riley sold her car to Pete, the barista at Perks Place, and two days later she was on a plane to New York with Joanna.
* * *
“Meez Armstrong, hello, Riley, welcome back. I’m so happy you’re okay!” Rosa said when the women entered the foyer of the apartment building.
“Hi, Rosa, yes, I’m good,” Riley said with a grin as she and Joanna hauled in the four big bags they had brought with them. “How are you Rosa?”
“Oh, Meez Klein told me about the motorcycle accident, I so worried for you! You stay away from those motorcycles, capisce?” Rosa came out from behind her desk to hug Riley.
Riley turned, excited to see Kate and Helen coming out of the elevator.
Kate embraced Riley in a big bear hug. “I missed you, my friend, I’m so glad you’re here!”
“Ow, take it easy, still a little sore here!” Riley laughed.
“Oh, sorry, let’s get you unpacked and we can go to dinner,” Kate said, grabbing one of the suitcases.
“Riley, you’re here, finally, how are you feeling?” Helen asked, hugging Riley.
“I’m fine, I’ve been fine, I can’t wait to get back to work!” Riley replied.
Helen looked at Joanna, who rolled her eyes. She shook her head and hugged her best friend.
“Well, your new ideas are great, Riley, but they can wait until Monday. Let’s get you settled in the apartment,” Helen said affectionately.
“Yeah, not that you’ll be there much when Jo’s here!” Kate snickered, causing disapproving looks from Joanna and Helen.
Kate just rolled her eyes. “Whatever, c’mon, Riley.”
Riley’s apartment was on the tenth floor. It was a small but elegant one-bedroom with dark contemporary furniture. The open plan kitchen with granite countertops and breakfast bar made it seem bigger than it was and it had a cozy gas fireplace and a small balcony that overlooked Central Park.
“This is amazing, I love it!” Riley said, looking at the three women who were returning her warm smile.
Riley looked around the apartment some more and stopped at the array of framed pictures of her ads on New York City buses and subways above the small desk.
“These are so cool, thank you!” Riley beamed.
“Yes, we put a few up in the office as well, you’ll see them Monday,” Helen said proudly.
“Well, how about I help Riley get unpacked and you two can go do your executive thing and get it out of your system so you don’t bore us all at dinner!” Kate said, knowing full well they wouldn’t be discussing business.
Helen and Joanna smiled at each other and headed up to the penthouses.
“And, I have stocked you up with a few essentials,” Kate said, holding up a bottle of Pinot and pouring two glasses. “I want to hear everything about the last few weeks without sparing any details!” Kate giggled as she handed Riley a glass.
“Okay,” Riley laughed. “But at least let me hang up my suits!”
Helen and Joanna sat in front of Joanna’s fireplace drinking the same wine.
“It’s funny, if you had told me I would be in a relationship with a feisty twenty-eight-year-old, who happens to be my employee and has a criminal record, I would have told you that you were crazy! Now she is all I th
ink about. I love her independence and free spirit but it scares me to death sometimes. I just want to look after her and protect her. It’s still so new but I couldn’t imagine being without her, Helen,” Joanna confided to her friend.
“Oh, Jo, I’m so happy for you. Riley is wonderful and you two are perfect together.” Helen said affectionately.
“What do we do about work? It’s good Riley will be here in New York for a while. She obviously knows to be professional at work but it still complicates things a little.”
“Well, she’ll be reporting to me for a while and it is our company after all, Jo. It’s not like things would be any different with Riley if you two weren’t together. She would still be here and we’d still be giving her a raise based on her performance; favoritism has nothing to do with it,” Helen replied.
“You know, you’re right. I think the hardest thing for me will be going back to California in a few weeks without her,” Joanna said gloomily. “I didn’t really think about it before.”
“You can work at either office, Jo. Frankly we could use all the help here with the new contracts,” Helen said supportively.
“Well, if things continue the way they have, I think you’re going to see a lot more of me!” Joanna smiled.
* * *
Riley settled in right away at the New York office and continued to develop innovative designs and ideas for David Lannister and the Bencom campaign. She loved exploring New York with Joanna and she even started jogging through the park again with Kate. Riley was the happiest she had been in her life. Things were perfect, or at least that’s what she thought until two days before Joanna was due to head back to LA. The four women were watching a movie on a cold, rainy Saturday afternoon when Joanna’s phone rang.
“Riley, it’s Rosa looking for you. She said you have a delivery downstairs?” Joanna said, puzzled.
“Delivery?” Riley said, equally perplexed until a horrified look of realization appeared on her face. “Shit, it’s a week early!” She turned to look at Kate, then gestured with her head to the door with a worried look.
Kate got up and followed Riley to the door. “Uh, we’ll be right back,” Riley stammered.
Before Joanna could answer, the two disappeared. “What’s going on?” Joanna asked, turning to Helen.
“I don’t know but I’ve got a bad feeling, come on,” Helen replied, ushering her friend out of the penthouse.
“They in the garage!” Rosa stated as Helen and Joanna emerged from the elevators into the lobby. “If Riley was-a my daughter, I’d take-a my spaghetti spoon to her backside so she wouldn’t even think of sitting on that thing!” Rosa said with displeasure, accentuating her Italian accent.
Helen and Joanna exited the back of the lobby toward the parking garage. The sight that met them stopped them dead in their tracks and made Joanna’s heart sink.
A delivery man was offloading a brand new dark purple, almost black, and chrome motorcycle from a trailer. “Yes!” Kate and Riley smiled in unison at the same time a resounding “No!” could be heard behind them from Joanna and Helen.
Riley looked nervously over at Joanna, who was almost shaking. “Just what in the hell do you think you’re doing, Riley?” she asked angrily. “Put it back on the trailer; she’s not keeping it!” Joanna directed at the delivery man.
“Hey, look, lady, I just do the delivery, the lady here signed for it, she needs to take it up with the shop,” he replied, wheeling the bike over to an empty parking stall and flicking down the stand with his foot.
Joanna strode purposefully over to Riley. “You are going to get upstairs, call the shop, and arrange for that bike to go back now,” she demanded furiously.
“No, I’m not, Joanna. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but it arrived early and I was planning…”
Joanna’s green eyes glinted with anger as she grabbed Riley by the arm and began delivering hard spanks to the seat of Riley’s jeans. “I am going to give you such a thrashing, now upstairs!”
Riley yanked her arm from Joanna’s grip, giving her a wounded look. “No, it’s not fair, I’m not sending it back!”
Joanna was about to explode.
“Joanna!” Helen’s voice boomed. “That’s enough!” “Now let’s all go upstairs and work this out calmly,” she said, pointing toward the doors.
“There’s nothing to work out, it’s going back!” Joanna stated angrily, following Riley to the lobby.
“It’s not, you can’t make me. I’m a grown woman!” Riley glared back at Joanna as they passed Rosa in the lobby, who shook her head at Riley.
“You’ll damn well do as I tell you!” Joanna started getting into the elevator.
“Okay, that is it!” Helen warned. “Kate, you and Riley go to our place. Joanna and I are going to hers until everyone can calm down a little.”
Riley was fuming but she stayed silent, walking with tears filling her eyes to Helen and Kate’s apartment while Joanna and Helen went across the hall.
Riley blew up as she paced in Kate and Helen’s apartment, unleashing a string of expletives while Kate let her rant.
“This is bullshit, Kate! She can’t stop me from having a bike!”
“Riley, take it easy. For one thing you should have told her and you can’t blame her for being upset. Christ, you nearly died in a motorcycle accident less than three months ago and your new bike shows up without her knowing about it. How do you think she feels?”
“Yes, and you wonder why I didn’t tell her. Look at the way she acted! I knew she would be upset but I’m not taking it back, Kate; she has to understand it was a freak accident. It’s not going to happen again.”
“I know, but try to see things from her perspective too, okay? Three months ago you were lying in a hospital bed—essentially in a coma for three days! She’s scared. She just doesn’t want anything to happen to you. She loves you, Riley.”
“But she can’t dictate how I live my life. I loved my bike, hell, I’ve always had bikes, but she’s never going to fucking understand that, is she?” Riley said, throwing her hands in the air.
Helen and Joanna were having a similar conversation across the hall.
“You need to stop and take a breath, Jo, I know you’re upset.”
“Upset? Upset doesn’t begin to describe it, I’m livid! I’m not going to sit here and allow this after her last motorcycle nearly killed her!”
“Joanna, it wasn’t the motorcycle that nearly killed her; it was the car and the rain and the accident. You can’t control everything, Joanna, this is who she is!”
“How can she be so selfish after all that we’ve been through? All of us! This is a deal-breaker for me, Helen, I just can’t,” Joanna persisted, pouring a large tumbler of Scotch for herself and Helen.
“Joanna, you need to take your head out of your ass. Is this worth losing Riley over? There has to be compromise. I know you don’t like it, hell, I don’t like it, but Riley is a grown woman and if that’s what she wants, then you need to find some middle ground,” Helen replied, sitting down on the sofa and sipping her Scotch.
“What middle ground, Helen? She either has a fucking motorcycle or she doesn’t. There’s no middle ground here and I don’t know if I can deal with that.”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Joanna, you need to figure this out and talk to Riley. Calmly!”
“You know this is exactly what I was talking about, Helen. This should have never happened, me and Riley, it’s not going to end well.”
“Oh, so that’s it, you have one disagreement and it’s all over? Jo, there are always going to be things that you disagree on. Maybe if you didn’t have your head in the clouds imagining what the perfect partner is all about, you would have realized that you’ve already found her. Sometimes I think you don’t want to be happy.”
Joanna looked at her friend with tears in her eyes. “I nearly lost her, Helen. I can’t bear to think about that.”
“Oh, Jo, I know but you can’t keep her locked in a
bubble either. We all have ground rules but they have to be agreed upon mutually. I don’t think you should forbid Riley to have a motorcycle, not that she’ll let you. I think Riley’s right on this one. I don’t like it either but try to see both sides. I know you’re mad she didn’t tell you, but if she had, then what?”
“I’d probably beat it out of her system, that’s what!” Joanna said with a small smile.
Helen smiled at her friend. “You ready to talk to her?” she asked.
“Yes, I guess, let me finish my Scotch!” Joanna sighed.
“Okay, let me see if she’s ready, I’ll be right back,” Helen said, heading for the apartment across the hall.
“Where’s Riley?” Helen asked, seeing Kate alone working on her laptop.
“She went downstairs to lie down; she didn’t say but I think she has a headache. I saw the signs before when we were at Jo’s, she was pretty upset.” Kate replied, concerned.
“I know, so is Joanna, I’ll let her know.”
* * *
Joanna knocked softly on the door of Riley’s apartment before letting herself in with the key.
“Riley, it’s me,” she called out, not seeing Riley, then heading for the bedroom.
Riley was in her bed, lying on her side in a fetal position with her hands under her pillow.
“Can I talk to you, Riley?” Joanna asked gently, sitting on the bed.
“Whatever, but I’m not taking the bike back,” Riley sniffed, staring at the window away from Joanna.
“Riley, I’m sorry I got so upset, but do you understand why? I mean, I nearly lost you and I’m so scared that could happen again,” Joanna said pleadingly.
“It was an accident, Joanna. I’d probably have more chance getting hit by a New York City taxi than getting into another motorcycle accident,” Riley said defensively.
“But Riley, you have no protection around you. At least in a car you have a chance! And that new motorcycle down there is huge, are you sure you can handle it? People in New York drive crazy if you haven’t noticed!” Joanna tried to reason.
Reining in Riley Page 23