Deep End

by Michelle Iannarelli

  Cassidy heard the phone, but it went to voicemail before she could fish it out of her purse. She was surprised to see that it was Grady who called. At first, she wasn’t going to call him back but then decided that maybe he needed her.

  Grady jumped when the phone vibrated on his nightstand.

  “Hello!”

  “Hi!”

  “Hey, I called to apologize for not taking your call earlier, I was dealing with some stuff.”

  “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “No.”

  “Ok.

  “Can I setup an appointment for tomorrow?”

  “Sure. Do you want me to come to the house?”

  Grady thought about what his mother said about keeping things professional between them until he was no longer a patient of Cassidy’s. “No. I will have my sister bring me to your office.”

  “I can do eleven, one or two?”

  “One is good.”

  “I’ll add you to my schedule.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Good night, Grady.”

  “Good night, Dr. Scott.”

  Cassidy looked down at the phone. Her heart sunk when he addressed her as Dr. Scott.

  “Ready?”

  “Do I look ok?”

  “Grady, you’ve asked the same question three times!”

  “Well, it’s not like I can see myself.”

  Margot immediately felt guilty for scolding Grady. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s ok. I’m just kind of nervous. I’ve only been out in public once since I left the hospital.”

  “You have nothing to worry about. I will handle anyone who gives you as much as a glance and by the way you look handsome as usual.”

  “Thanks, Sis.”

  “Ok, we’re here. Stay in the car until I scope out the area.”

  “Sis, it’s not a Black Ops mission.”

  “I know but I don’t want the press or a crazy fan to tackle you.”

  “The only person who is expecting me is Doc. As for my fans…I’m sure that they’ve forgotten me by now.”

  “Oh please, your face is still on cereal boxes, sports drinks and magazines.”

  “We better get going or I will be late.”

  Cassidy’s stomach was churning. She wasn’t quite sure how to behave when Grady arrived. Were they going to be completely doctor and patient, would Grady bring up her leaving or would they end up back in each other’s arms? She didn’t have much time to dwell on that before her secretary buzzed to tell her that Grady had arrived.

  Cassidy opened her door and headed into the waiting area. Grady sat there shaking his leg which indicated that he was probably as nervous as she was.

  “Hello, Grady!”

  “Hello.”

  Cassidy extended her hand to Margot. “You must be Margot. We spoke on the phone.”

  Margot extended her hand. “Yes. Pleased to meet you.”

  “You can wait here or maybe you’d like to go down to the coffee shop?”

  “I promised Grady that I’d stay close by.”

  “It’s ok, Margot, I can wait if you’re not back when I’m finished.”

  “I’ll tell you what, if you’re not here when our session is over, I will walk Grady down to the coffee shop.”

  Margot placed her hand onto Grady’s hand. “Is that ok with you? If not, I will wait here.”

  “I’ll be ok.”

  Margot kissed Grady on the cheek before leaving. “I will be right downstairs.”

  Cassidy reached for Grady’s hand. At first, he didn’t give it to her freely. “Come on. I will lead you into my office.”

  Grady stood up, Cassidy took a hold of his elbow and guided him into her office.

  Cassidy sat down in the chair across from Grady. He may have been in the same room with her, but she missed being with him.

  “So, do you want to talk about yesterday?”

  “My family came for a visit.”

  “How was it to see them?”

  “I couldn’t exactly see them, but it was nice.”

  “I’m sorry. Poor choice of words.”

  “My mom helped me to put some things into perspective.”

  “Anything you want to share?”

  “No.”

  “How have you been sleeping?”

  “Not so good.”

  “What about eating?”

  “I had dinner last night.”

  “Grady, your body needs sleep and food.”

  “Like you care.”

  “I do care.”

  Grady looked away from Cassidy. “I don’t think I can do this.”

  “Do what?”

  Grady stood up. “This. I thought that I could pretend like I didn’t…”

  Cassidy walked over to Grady and placed her hand on his back. “Grady…”

  Grady moved away. “Don’t touch me.” Grady felt the wall until he found the doorknob.

  Cassidy stepped back. “Let me at least take you to your sister.”

  “Fine.” Grady wanted to say no but he knew that he needed her to find his sister.

  The ride in the elevator was painfully silent. When the doors opened Cassidy took Grady by his elbow and led him to the table his sister was sitting at in the coffee shop.

  Margot popped up out of her seat. “So how…” She could tell by the looks on their faces that things certainly did not go well. “Thank you for bringing him down.”

  Cassidy nodded. “You’re welcome.”

  “I’m just going to pay my bill. I will be right back.” Margot took off.

  “You can go.”

  “I don’t mind waiting.”

  “You wanted to leave me, so just go!” Grady turned his back on Cassidy.

  “I did what is best for you.”

  Grady spun around. “How do you know what’s best for me?”

  Cassidy cringed. The people in the coffee shop were now watching them, some were even taking pictures. “You’re causing a scene.”

  “Is that why you left me because you don’t want to be seen with a blind guy? You’re no better than Rylan!”

  “Grady, let’s go.” Margot grabbed his arm.

  “Can I come in?”

  Cassidy looked up from her desk and Jess was standing there with a bakery box and two forks. “As long as that’s cheesecake in the box.”

  “I figured with what was going on that you’d be in need of some cheesecake about now.”

  “Going on?”

  “Uhh…have you not been on social media?”

  Cassidy closed her eyes. “No.”

  “Cass, there’s videos of you and Grady fighting posted everywhere.”

  “Oh my God. Do you think…”

  “No, and even if he did, he’s probably moved on to another victim.”

  Cassidy placed her hand onto her cheek. “Will I ever be able to move on?”

  Jess crossed the room and hugged Cassidy. “Not unless you’re willing.”

  “I want to.”

  “Do you? Because it seems to me that you are still allowing him to control you. Please, let him go.”

  “How can I when I’m constantly reminded of him?”

  “Don’t think of it as a reminder of him but a reminder that you are a survivor, Cass.”

  “Maybe we need something stronger than cheesecake.”

  Jess giggled. “That sounds good to me. Come on, I’m buying.”

  Two weeks later…

  Grady was woken from his sleep by crashing thunder that sent him into a panic. He sat up and pulled his pillow against his chest. Memories of the crash were flashing through his head. He started to shake but then he could hear Cassidy’s voice in the back of his mind telling him to breathe.

  “I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.” Grady started to relax.

  After a few minutes he made his way to the bathroom to get a glass of water. He turned on the faucet, grabbed his glass, filled it, and chugged the water down. As he leaned forward t
o put down the glass, he saw his reflection in the mirror. He dropped the glass and it shattered around his feet. “ANNIE! ANNIE!”

  “GRADY WHERE ARE YOU?”

  “IN MY BATHROOM.” Grady turned on the light.

  Annie ran into his room and came to a screeching halt when she found him in the bathroom with glass and blood surrounding his feet. “OH MY GOD! GRADY, WHAT HAPPENED?”

  Grady raised up his trembling hands and placed them onto Annie’s cheeks. He had tears in his eyes. “I can see you! I can see you!”

  Annie grabbed Grady, hugged him, and burst into tears. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “The storm woke me, and I came into the bathroom for some water. There was a flash of lightning and I saw my reflection. Shit, I look awful.” Grady laughed.

  “Your feet look worse.”

  Grady looked down. “Oh! I was so excited I could see that I forgot I dropped the glass.”

  “Can you pull yourself up onto the counter?”

  Grady lifted himself up onto the counter and Annie assessed the damage. “You’re not going to like this, but I think you may need a few stitches in your right foot.”

  “I don’t like it but right now I’m so happy I don’t care.”

  “So, you want to hop to the car, or should I call an ambulance?”

  “I’ll hop.”

  Cassidy grabbed her briefcase; it had been a long night with a suicidal patient. She was walking out her door when Jake passed by. “Heading out to see Grady?”

  “I haven’t spoken to him for two weeks. Why would you think that?”

  “Because he’s down in the ER.”

  “The ER! What happened to him?”

  “Nothing serious just some stitches.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “Cassidy, are you ok?”

  “Me, yeah, it’s just been a long day and night.”

  “I meant about Grady. I didn’t know that you two weren’t speaking.”

  “No worries. You have a good night.”

  “You too, get some rest.”

  Cassidy got into the elevator and instead of pushing the button for the parking garage she opted for the ER.

  “I called the family and gave them the good and bad news. Mom wants you to call her when we get out of here.”

  “I can’t wait to go home and call West and my coach.”

  “Mr. O’Malley, I’m going to have the nurse numb up that foot and I will be back in a few minutes to stitch it up.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Do you think that I should see if your doctor is here? I mean maybe he should check you over?”

  “You can ask at the nurse’s station if he happens to be on duty or I can call the office tomorrow.”

  The nurse came in and smiled at Grady. “This may hurt a bit.” She picked up a needle from the tray.

  “I think that’s my cue to go and see if Dr. Martin is here.” Annie waved and darted out the door.

  “Ok. All done. The doctor will be back in to stitch you up in a few minutes.”

  Grady looked down at his bloody foot. He still couldn’t believe that his sight could return without as much as a warning, but he would be forever grateful that it did.

  Cassidy stepped off the elevator as Annie walked toward her. “I heard Grady is here. Is he ok?”

  “He’s fine.”

  “Thank goodness. You know he was the one who canceled his sessions. I never would have…”

  “I know. He couldn’t handle his feelings.”

  “I wish that I could have helped him.”

  “I know you did but none of that matters now because he got his sight back tonight.”

  “He did!” Cassidy smiled. “Thank God.”

  “He got so excited he dropped his glass. That is why he is here getting his foot stitched up.”

  Cassidy couldn’t hold back the tears. “Please tell him that I’m so happy for him.”

  “Why don’t you come and tell him yourself.”

  “I’m probably the last person he wants to see.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. He hasn’t been himself since you left.”

  “I’m sure now that he has regained his sight he will bounce back to his old self.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Why did you tell Grady that it was best for him that you left?”

  “Because it was.”

  “But why? It’s so obvious that you two have feelings for one another.”

  “I’m not his type of woman. I was someone who filled a void after Rylan left. Now that he’s regained his sight he will move on and not even give me another thought.” Cassidy wiped her eyes.

  Annie grabbed Cassidy and hugged her. “I don’t believe that.”

  Cassidy pulled away. “Take care of him for me.”

  “Thank you for everything you’ve done for my brother.”

  Cassidy couldn’t respond she was too choked up. She nodded and stepped back onto the elevator.

  “Don’t get it wet and follow up with my office in the morning. Tell them you need an appointment in a week.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “Excuse me, Mr. O’Malley, but can I have your autograph?”

  The doctor shook his head and smiled at the young nurse.

  Grady smiled. “Sure thing.” Grady took the notepad and pen. “Your name?”

  “Sarah.”

  “Does your name end in a h?”

  “Yes, Sarah with a h.”

  Grady wrote her a little note and then signed it. “Here you go, Sarah with a h.”

  “Thank you so much, Mr. O’Malley, feel better soon.”

  “Call me Grady and thank you.”

  “Did someone order a wheelchair?”

  Sarah turned toward the orderly. “Yes, Grady has been discharged and needs an escort out.”

  “Have a seat, Sir.”

  Grady moved to the wheelchair and off he went.

  Annie waited until she had Grady buckled inside the car to tell him that she ran into Cassidy. She had no idea how he would react and didn’t want him to cause a scene.

  “I saw Dr. Scott at the hospital.”

  Grady continued to stare out the window. “Oh.”

  “She was concerned when she found out that you were in the ER.”

  “Yeah, I bet.”

  “Yes, she was, and then when I told her that you regained your sight, she was so happy for you that she cried.”

  “Then why didn’t she come to see me?”

  “She said that she was probably the last person that you’d want to see. She asked me to let you know that she was happy for you.”

  “Sis, how can she claim to care about me and then not want to be with me?”

  “Honestly, I think she is intimidated by you.”

  “She didn’t seem intimidated when I was slamming my cock inside her.”

  “EWWW, GRADY!”

  “It doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that I can see again.”

  “If you say so. Now call mom.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Weston was sound asleep when his phone started ringing. He ignored it the first and second time but by the third time he decided that maybe it was an emergency, so he reached over and answered it.

  “This better be good.”

  “West, I can see!”

  Weston sprung up from his bed. “Seriously, that’s epic, Grady!”

  “I know. I almost can’t believe it.”

  “How long before you can come back to the team?”

  “At least a week because I have stitches in my foot.”

  “What the hell did you do?”

  “I freaked out when I realized I could see and dropped the glass I was holding.”

  “Jackass!”

  “I can’t wait to call Coach Harvey and tell him.”

  “Please wait until morning, if you wake him, he will be cranky all day and take it out on
the team.”

  “Ok, I’ll wait until morning.”

  “Thanks, Buddy.”

  “Why don’t you get back to bed. Call me tomorrow.”

  “We can plan the return of Greedy Grady.”

  “Yeah, we can.”

  “Nite!”

  “Nite!”

  Grady shut off the light and climbed into bed. He laid down and then sat back up and turned the light on. He’d been in the dark so long that he had a new love for light.

  Annie poked her head inside Grady’s room. “How’s the pain?”

  “I’m fine. Nothing could put a damper on the high I’m riding tonight.”

  “Good, then I’m going to bed because I am exhausted.”

  “Good night, Sis.”

  “Good night, Little Brother.”

  Grady rolled over, closed his eyes and like every night for the last few months he thought about Cassidy. Could there really be any truth in what Annie said to him? Maybe he should try to talk to Cassidy.

  “Is that bacon I smell?”

  Grady turned toward his sister and smiled. “I figured I could at least cook you breakfast before you moved back home.”

  Annie hugged Grady. “I’m going to miss hanging out with you, but I miss my bed.” Annie giggled.

  “I love you so much, Sis. Thank you for taking care of me.”

  “I regret not coming back as soon as I heard.”

  “Don’t, I’m the one who told you not to. I had West and then…Doc.” Grady pulled away. “So, you still like your eggs scrambled?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Rye, white or wheat?”

  “I’ll make the toast.”

  Grady scrambled the eggs. “Do you really think that I intimidate her?”

  “I do.”

  “I think I’m going to stop by her office later.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “No, but I want to look into her eyes so badly, Sis.”

  “I know you do but she may not want that.”

  “I know.”

  “Promise you will call me after you see her.”