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Message 7: Julia? Just let me know you’re alive at least.
Message 8: I called your office. Your assistant said you were in a meeting, so at least I know you’re there.
Message 9: Call me when you get these messages, I guess. I’ll be out with the horses, so I may not answer.
I take a sip of my water. I need to talk to him. I have to make the compartments of my life separate so that I can give him the time he needs. Otherwise, I’m going to lose him, and I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it up to him if that happens. I tap the call button next to his name and listen to it ring. I stop breathing after the second one, and I let it out when he answers on the fourth.
“So, you are alive,” he answers.
“Yes. I’m so sorry, Ryan. I got so caught up with this meeting and prepping for alternatives that may still be needed.” It all comes out in one breath.
“I know, your career is important.” His voice is flat.
“You’re important to me too,” my voice is small.
“Am I really? I’m not so sure lately. Is it only about this big upgrade that you are working on, or is there something else going on?” I can hear the twinge of anger as he speaks.
“You are, and, yes, that’s what it was about. I was distracted by this glitch in the new update that IT was supposed to roll out last month and they still can’t find what is causing the issue. I didn’t even realize how badly I’d messed up when you were here yesterday.”
“But you do realize you messed up.”
“Yes, I realize that.”
I hear him sigh over the phone, and I hear barking in the distance.
“How’s Rusty?” I try to change the subject.
“He’s feisty, running around and chasing birds.”
“Of course he is,” I chuckle a little, still hoping to break some of this tension between us.
“Has he made a mess of the shop anymore?” I ask.
“Not lately,” he answers and starts chuckling at the memory.
We both laugh, but when it dies down, the silence is uncomfortable.
“Ryan, I’m going to do better. I’ll make time for you every day. I can figure this out, I promise. We can make this work.”
“And that’s what you really want? To make this work?” He doesn’t sound convinced.
“Yes,” I keep my voice firm. “I know this is what I want. I’m willing to work for us to stay together.”
“Okay,” he pauses for a second, “let’s plan for you to come out here for the weekend, then. Book a flight today and follow through. Friday night through Sunday afternoon, you’ll be mine.”
I take a look at my desk calendar and see that my Friday afternoon is light and so is my Monday morning, for now at least.
“I’ll do it. I’ll send you my flight details tonight.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I end the call and immediately look up flights for Friday night. It’ll be expensive, but that’s not really an issue for me. I send an email to my second in command, the CFO, and let him know that if anything comes up over the weekend, I’m telling the team to divert to him.
I get an email back that he’s good with that, and although I’m nervous about letting up on the reins a bit, I’m excited to see Ryan again for an entire weekend. I send him my flight details when I get home, and he sends a message back almost immediately.
Ryan: See you Friday night.
Chapter 21
