by K. J. Lewis
“When did you get so smart?” I ask.
“I was wondering the same thing, Elise.” Theo puts his arm around Ross. “He’s right, though. If the ship goes down and I can only save one person—”
“I’m fish food,” I finish for him.
“But you would be tasty fish food. Make sure you know how you really feel, then call him and work it out. Keep me up to speed on Ryan and his family. I’ll have hospice set up by this afternoon. Ross is already working with Dr. Davis and the hospital.”
“I love you. Both of you.”
“We love you, too, sweetheart.”
Theo disconnects the call, and I lean back in Reid’s oversized desk chair. Being in his office makes me miss him. I think back to our previous conversations. Ross is right. I did say Theo was my heart, but that was before I knew I was in love with Reid. Goes to show you, “I love you” can’t replace a real conversation.
On a whim, I call Reid’s office and can’t hold back my smile when his surly face pops up on the screen.
“Is everything okay?” Reid’s response is short.
“Yes. I wanted to see if you had a minute to talk.”
“Sir,” his assistant says in the background, “you have to leave now if you are going to make your flight.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have a deal going sour. I have to go to LA. I’ll be back in time for the benefit on Monday.”
“Do you need your plane? I can charter a medical flight.”
“Of course not. That’s more important. I’ll fly out commercial. I have to go, Elise. I’ll call you as soon as I can.”
The screen goes black. Fine. I’ll fix this later. Obviously he needs a little more time.
Shawn has breakfast ready for me when I come out of the office. I ask him to eat with me and we spend the remainder of the flight talking. I learn he is Reid’s go-to attendant. The pilot and copilot are also the only ones that fly for him. We talk about the trip to Indiana, what he should expect, and who will be on the flight.
Just before we land, Shawn informs me that Reid has a car waiting to pick me up. I was just going to Uber it, so I appreciate the sweet gesture.
When I am settled in the car, I text him, “Thank you for having a car for me. I hope you made your flight.”
I wait to see if he is going to respond but put my phone away when I realize his is more than likely off for his flight.
The driver pulls up to the set of pink buildings that make up the St. Jude campus. The driver and I exchange phone numbers, and he explains I am to call him when I am ready to leave. He is on standby while I am in Memphis.
There aren’t words to describe appropriately this hospital and its staff. These people give so much of themselves to care for children and their families who are facing the worst thing they will ever face. I respect them so much.
I recognize Emily’s nurse who gives me a soft smile. “They’re expecting you.”
I knock softly and enter the room that has been Emily’s for more months than any of us could have ever imagined.
“Elise,” Ryan’s mom greets me affectionately. Her fierce hug is almost my undoing, and I have to remind myself that I am the one that is here to offer them comfort, not the other way around.
“You came,” Emily says.
“You called didn’t you?” I smile. “You call, I come. That’s how this works.” I lean down to kiss and hug her. She wraps her hand around mine.
“I told mom,” she says weakly.
“Janice, I made her a promise. I wasn’t coming to push you into something you aren’t ready for. I just came to help her put a voice to her wishes. I came to be here for her.”
She laughs. “Of course. That’s why you’re Elise.” She moves to stand beside Emily. “Ryan got here last night a couple of hours after Emily talked to me about her wishes.” She looks at her daughter and rubs her cheek. “It was a long night for the four of us. Ryan Sr. called from the farm. Emily explained what she wants. Dr. Davis came by to see us and gave us as much information as he could.”
She turns and faces me. “I’m taking my daughter home.” Her eyes fill with tears. “She’s earned the right to say enough is enough.”
I take Janice’s hand, and the three of us stand connected to each other, not speaking.
“Will you come to visit me on the farm?” Emily asks.
“No.” Ryan’s angry answer cuts mine off.
“Ryan,” Janice says sternly, shocked by the disdain in his tone.
“Elise, you need to leave.”
“Ryan, she’s my friend and I want her here,” Emily protests.
“I might have to live with your choice, but you don’t get to choose this, Emily. Elise.” He holds the door open for me.
“I actually only came to make sure you’re okay, Emily. I have to fly back this afternoon to New York,” I lie. “I’m so proud of you. I will be checking on you though, and sending plenty of glitter and tiaras.”
“Every girl needs a tiara,” she smiles timidly.
“Janice.” I hug her.
“Give him time,” she whispers in my ear.
“I love you, kiddo,” I say to Emily. “Make sure they make you those chocolate chip cookies I love, and if you walk around naked, make sure the pastor isn’t there.” I wink at her, and her giggle is enough to shatter my heart into a million pieces. I disguise the quiver in my voice with a chuckle.
“I love you, Elise.” She reaches for me, and I lean over for a hug.
I leave the room, and Ryan follows me into the hall.
“Do not come to the farm.”
My emotions are raw with the knowledge that I just said my last goodbye to Emily.
“Ryan,” I choke.
“Don’t act like you have a heart now, Elise.” He turns and leaves me standing in the hallway.
I don’t know how long I stood there before an assistant asks me if I am okay. I nod my answer and take the elevator down.
I have the driver take me to the Memphis airport. There’s only one more flight to New York and it’s not for another four hours. Once I make it through security, I send Ryan an email with the specifics he needs for the flight tomorrow. My call to Reid goes straight to voicemail. My thumb hovers over Theo’s number, but it just doesn’t feel right. After the conversation with Ross this morning, I find that the only person I really want to talk to is Reid.
I hit Knox’s number and push send.
“My baby sister is in New York for three days before she finally calls me?”
“I’m actually in Memphis, but I will be back in New York tonight. Since Bren is still out of town, I thought maybe I could stay with you till Reid comes back.”
“Ah, yes. Mom told me you were dating Reid Beckett. Why aren’t you staying with them?”
“They don’t get back until Monday.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. They’re calling my flight. I’ll take a cab and see you tonight.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“You too.”
I still have plenty of time before they call my flight, but I’m too emotional to go into it in front of a terminal full of people.
It’s 8:30 by the time I greet Knox’s doorman. He informs me that Knox is in the restaurant located in the lobby. I’m dressed a little too causally, but they don’t seem to mind. Knox is already walking towards me when the host escorts me to the table.
“Hey, sis.” Knox pulls me into a tight hug lifting my feet of the ground. “Man, have I missed you. He kisses my cheek, and I squeeze my arms around him. “What’s with the vice hug?”
“One of my team’s little sister is dying with cancer. I was in Memphis visiting her. It’s just hard, you know.”
“I know.” He doesn’t push me to talk about it, he just hugs me until I finally let go. Knox was eight when I came to live with my family. Bren was only a month old. He never once made me feel like I was any less his little sister.
&nbs
p; I loved my new parents the minute I met them. Our father owns his own advertising business and has always been big on giving back to the community. He grew up poor and has never forgotten what it’s like to live in poverty. I was with my foster mom at the adoption offices having my annual picture and information updated in the system when he toured the facilities to get a sense of the work they do. He was doing some pro-bono work to devise a campaign to increase adoption awareness. They introduced me to him and explained what I was doing there and how important it is to have updated systems and how they were using the internet to help. That was the day Miller and Julia Donovan began the process to become my parents.
It was unusual at the time for an African-American family to adopt a white child. It didn’t matter to them. They saw a child who needed love, and they knew they had love to give. Everything I am today is because of them.
After dinner, Knox gets me situated before heading out to meet someone I am sure won’t be around tomorrow. Knox is a serial dater.
I try Reid again. It’s only seven o’clock on the east coast. It doesn’t go straight to voicemail, but it also goes unanswered.
The next day, I have lunch with my team and update them on how the trip to Memphis went. None of them have heard from Reid, but I play it off, suggesting to them that he must be trying to beat the deadline before he loses the deal.
Blake and I wrap up our case on the Speaker. We were able to eliminate all evidence of his daughter’s abortion and take care of the person attempting to blackmail him. Nothing keeps someone from exposing dirt on you like having dirt on them. Seems like Senator Blackwell had some skeletons in his closet that were enough to make him forget what he had learned about the Speaker’s daughter. The video I found of his wife’s brother fucking him gagged and bound while other men urinated on him was enough. Blake took care of the heavy-hitter Blackwell had working for him. I don’t know how and I don’t need to know. Blake would bring me in if he thought he needed to. Thankfully the need to wear a gun on my person is gone, and the security detail has been released.
Life is back to normal, only there’s no Reid, no Ryan, and no Theo. Well, Theo would be here, but other than checking in on work cases, I’ve been distancing myself. I just don’t want to talk to anyone but Reid. It was like a switch flipped inside me, and Reid is the only one who can calm my spirit.
I spent the day with Knox on Sunday. Knox is a creature of habit and eats Sunday brunch at the same place every week. We were waiting our turn in line with our arms wrapped around each other. I had just finished telling him about how angry Ryan was and how his words had affected me. When he tried to comfort me with a kiss on the forehead, some woman walked up and caused a scene. It was clearly one of Knox’s many dates. Her behavior was so crazy, that he went ahead and let her believe we were a couple. After she left, I tried to remind him that when you stick your pecker in crazy, this is what you get.
I had stopped trying to call Reid on Friday. He wasn’t answering my calls or returning any of my text messages. He clearly needed the time to himself and that was something I could give him. He said he would be back in time for the benefit. I could wait until then.
It’s Monday morning and I pass through the security of Taylor Organization. I am escorted to a private elevator that takes me to the 43rd floor where Emme’s assistant, Cassie, has me wait for her in her office. A large glass door slides open and Graham Taylor steps through. I hear a slight whimper, and I’m not sure if it came from me or my Roxy, because holy fuck this man is magnificent in person.
“I’m sorry, I was looking for my wife. Graham Taylor.” He extends his hand in introduction.
I shake his hand and am thankful I can remember my own name.
“Elise Donovan.”
“Are you here to see me?”
“That’s funny, he was just here,” we hear someone say from the other room. “There you are. Your appointment is here.”
“Thank you, George. Show him in.” Graham turns to me and raises his brow.
“I like what you’ve done with the place,” Reid says looking around. He stumbles slightly when he sees me.
“What are you doing here?” Reid asks.
“That is what I was just wondering,” Graham answers before I can. “I thought you sent her in your place, but that can’t be it since you are here.” He folds his arms across his chest, waiting for a response.
“She’s not here as representation for BE. Elise?” Reid put his hands in his pockets.
“I’m waiting for Emme.”
“We established that. What I want to know is why?”
“I have some connections in Paris. She and Jules are headhunting an executive to run the Paris side of the business. I’m here to help build a profile.”
“She’s good. I’ll give her that.” He looks to Reid. “You already merged with Theo right?”
“Last week.”
“Your main asset is already going rogue. You don’t know where she is or who she’s meeting with.”
“Fuck off, Graham,” Reid says back.
“I’m not his asset.”
“Elise, don’t start. What?”
“Nothing. Just having flashbacks,” Graham chuckles. “Sorry, buddy. I wasn’t aware.”
“Fuck off, Graham,” Reid says again, which only makes him laugh harder.
Emme comes around the corner like she’s on two wheels. She is strikingly beautiful. Her rounded stomach enters the room before she does. Her cheeks have filled out since the last time I saw her, somehow making her look even more endearing. She’s wearing a low V-neck black shirt, which perfectly displays her full breasts, over a pair of fitted black leather pants. She looks killer.
“Off. I need them off. Now.”
“Emelia, what are you talking about?”
Cassie flies in and hands her a pair of scissors.
“Hey,” Adam says, entering the office, “Jules is coming for lunch. You guys want to…my God, Emme. Your boobs are, Ow!” he exclaims, rubbing his shoulder where Graham punched him.
“Graham,” Emme yells through a door off the office. The desperation in her voice has her husband increasing his pace.
“One day you’re going to learn, Adam,” Reid says with a smile.
“Damn. I swear he’s getting stronger. That one really did hurt.” He’s still rubbing his shoulder. “Adam Taylor,” he says to me, reaching his hand toward me.
“Elise Donovan.”
“Why is Elise Donovan here?” Adam asks. Reid shrugs.
“Isn’t she your employee?”
“Oh my God. Why do all the men talk over you in this office? You do realize I am standing right here.” I ask them.
“What are you laughing about?” Graham comes out of a hidden panel in the wall.
“Reid. And glass houses.” Adam says with a smirk.
“Fuck off both of you,” Reid says.
“Sorry about that.” Emme emerges from the same panel, only now she’s wearing a little swing dress that falls softly over her stomach. “You know the Friends episode where Ross can’t get his leather pants back on? Well, I couldn’t get mine off. They were sticking to me and I was having a pregnancy hot flash.”
“Did you all meet?”
“Elise Donovan,” Graham and Adam say in unison.
“I see your reputation proceeds you,” she smiles.
“Why is she here, Emelia? What’s going on that I don’t know about?” Graham surveys his wife.
“She’s here to talk about the Paris position.”
“You don’t call in a fixer like Elise Donovan to headhunt a fashion position.”
“You do if she’s your friend.”
“You know Elise?”
“Yes. She and I worked on a couple of projects together when I worked with Jackson.” Graham’s hand idly rubs Emme’s stomach as she stands next to him.
“I call bullshit,” Adam says.
“Me too. This conversation isn’t over. Adam come in here. I want you
in on my meeting with Reid,” Graham says. “Nice to meet you, Elise. Emelia,” he looks hard into her eyes. “Behave,” he insists before leaving her with a kiss.
Reid retreats before I can say anything. He won’t meet my eyes.
“So. You and Reid Beckett,” Emme says sitting on the couch, curling her legs under her.
“We’re trying. I’m experiencing a few learning curves.” I sit across from her.
“I had those, too. So did Graham. It gets easier. Just stay the course.”
“If you say so. So…why am I really here? Nice job on coming up with the same reason as me.”
“Great minds think alike,” she smiles. “I want to talk to you about a cause I am thinking of taking on. I need your opinion.”
“Okay. Shoot.”
“I want to start a national conversation about rape. A conversation that influences change.”
“I heard you finally closed the case on your sister’s rape. I assume this is personal for you.”
“It is. And I know it’s personal for you, too. You know the Vice-President is hosting a women’s summit. He’s about to bring rape front and center. I want to take that momentum and effect change.”
“To what level?” I ask.
“I want to focus on campus assaults and sexual violence in the work place.”
“Why all the cloak and dagger.”
“I just like to keep Graham on his toes,” she waves dismissively and winks. “Give him something to punish me for. Mostly I didn’t want to tell your story. I know you are very open and public about what happened to you, but you are more than your experiences and I didn’t want to introduce you to the guys that way. You’re kick-ass Elise Donovan. That is how you should be introduced.”
“So you want me to get it off the ground for you?”
“The Foundation will be funding a not-for-profit called the Addison Foundation. I want you to run it. You’ll have a healthy budget to manage. With your political and legal connections, I think you are the right person. Also, I heard you speak. I snuck in the back when you spoke at NYU a few months ago. You have a way of making people connect and talk. More than half the battle is getting people to have the conversation.”