“Does your silence mean you could work with Owen, but there’s a reason you don’t want to? Maybe like there’s still a spark?”
Ding, ding. Give the lady her pick of prizes for ringing the bell with her first shot.
“Yes, I’m still certified, but with writing grant proposals, dealing with the budget and staff issues, preparing for and attending the board meetings, working on strategic planning, and speaking to organizations and schools, I don’t have time to work with a client.”
She left out the fact that lack of time wasn’t her biggest concerns with taking on Owen’s case. Her reaction to him earlier when the flash of desire bolted through her was. She admitted it. She was sex deprived. Being around Owen would be as smart as opening a Weight Watchers next door to a bakery.
“Your job sounds like loads of fun,” Addie said, her voice filled with sarcasm.
So much some days it’s hard to get out of bed.
Important work yes, but not her forte, especially public speaking and fundraising. No matter what visualization or coping strategy she used, she spent the hour before any engagement poised over the porcelain god. Then when she spoke, she sounded stiff and dry, like aDragnetinterrogation of just the facts, ma’am. What she enjoyed and gave her a sense of accomplishment and purpose was working with clients, seeing their progress, and helping change their lives for the better.
“Owen’s taking Landon’s death hard.” Addie bit her lip as tears filled her eyes again. “You have to help him.”
“We will.”
Addie shook her head. “No, not the agency,you. Owen hasn’t said so, but he thinks he failed me by not bringing Landon back to me. I think his wanting to return to active duty is all mixed up with that, and who knows what all else.”
“I don’t know—”
“He’s counting on the Medical Evaluation Board putting off the decision about his discharge. He’s sure if he has more time he can prove he’ll get better, but what if things don’t turn out like he’s hoping? He’s determined to show progress before his hearing. He’s so afraid of failing Landon again.”
The band around Carly’s chest eased. “Hopefully, he’ll get the outcome he wants. Then he won’t have to worry about being discharged for twelve to eighteen months when he has his first follow-up evaluation.”
“You know how he is. He’s a driven, type A personality like Landon was. If Owen doesn’t see improvement right away, he could get discouraged—” Addie’s voice broke.
But she didn’t need to finish. If Owen didn’t see progress and became discouraged, he could give up. And both Carly and Addie, like everyone else in town, knew what could happen to veterans who gave up, and none of it was good.
“If you work with him, you’ll see things other people won’t because you know him,” Addie said.
“No, Iknewhim years ago.”
“Whatever.” Addie waved her hand dismissing Carly’s comment. “I still say you’d notice things someone else could miss.”
Addie stopped and chewed on her lower lip. Carly recognized the question in her pleading gaze.
“Please don’t ask me to be Owen’s speech and language pathologist. I’ll monitor his sessions. I’ll review his file daily and get reports from his team.” Carly paused and clasped her trembling hands together in front of her.I’ll give you my first born should I ever have one.“I’ll do whatever else I can. Just don’t ask me to work with Owen. Our full-time speech language pathologist is very good.”
“I don’t care. I don’t trust her the way I do you.” Addie clutched Carly’s hand in her icy one. “I can’t lose Owen too. He and Landon were more like brothers than best friends. Losing him would be like losing another part of Landon.” The desperate plea wavering in her voice, threaded with a touch of panic, reached inside Carly. “Please?” How could she say no to Addie when her friend had been through so much? But how could she agree to take on a new case when she had no intention of sticking around for more than three months?
She sighed in utter and complete defeat. Only someone with a Grinch-sized heart could say no to Addie’s request. “I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I’ll find time to take on Owen’s case.”
But this wouldn’t change her plans or alter her timeline. Owen would be just another client.
*
Owen liked alot of things about small-town America. How individuals rallied to help during tough times and the sense of community were two of them. But today he missed the big city. There people might glance at him twice because of the scars dotting his scalp and his slower gait, but they wouldn’t expect to know the details of his condition. He now understood life from the specimen side of the microscope, and frankly he could’ve done without that insight.
He smiled and nodded at Virginia Oswald, figuring that was a safe bet even though he had no idea what she’d said. As the party and afternoon wore on, he used that strategy more often. Sorting out a voice from the background noise made his head hurt too damn much and concentrating proved useless since it only helped him pick up half of what someone said.
He glanced again at the woman who’d bought whatever he’d peddled as a kid from Boy Scout popcorn to school gift wrap. From her furrowed brows and slight frown, he guessed a smile and nod hadn’t been the right response. Probably should’ve gone with his thoughtful and concerned one, he realized as he asked her to repeat what she’d said.
“I said I can’t imagine how hard this is for you here without Landon. Why that would be like me suddenly being without Dorothy.”
Knowing today’s top three topics he should’ve figured she’d picked how are you holding up without Landon theme.
He’d have preferred she ask about his health.
