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Chelsey,
I’ll always be grateful for the love you gave me.
XO
Then, I headed back to the hotel where I typically stayed while on location in the Keys.
“Good afternoon, Miss Olivia,” the door attendant greeted.
“Good afternoon, Jamison.”
I headed over to the elevator and hit the up button. Once I was in, I hit the eleventh floor. Opening the balcony door after putting down the box in my arms, I called Veronica. The place smelled like most hotels: a bit stale, though this one was elite, with a ton of glass and designer linens. It was top dollar.
“Hello, Olivia. I was wondering when you might get back to me.” Veronica had been my agent and friend for almost ten years. Her voice was warm; I could hear concern in the way she measured her words. In my mind’s eye, I could see her pushing up from her desk, heading to the mahogany bar and making a drink, but not before running her hands through her spiked fire engine red hair. God, I loved her. Besides my mother, she’d been my number one person over the years: never judging, just advising, and always listening.
“I’m sorry it took so long. I had to pack up what little I had and get out of Chelsey’s. I’m sure you’ve heard?”
“Indeed, I have. What are we going to do with you?” she said with a short-lived, sad laugh.
“What do you suggest? I’m all ears.” I paced between the bar, dying for a drink but trying to resist, and the balcony, wondering if I should jump, knowing I wouldn’t. Depression, however, was no joke, and I’d had bouts with it before. I knew I needed to call my therapist and get back on my meds.
“Are you truly ready to hear it?” she questioned.
“I think?” I giggled, knowing she wasn’t going to go easy on me.
“Okay, here’s what you do: Call Mitch and get him on the schedule once a week. Go to my beach house in the Outer Banks. Don’t roll your eyes! It’s an excellent place to recharge and recover. Besides, it’s very excluded; off the grid and away from the limelight. Once you’re there, call Jo. She will feed you and get you into meditation, yoga, and massage therapy. They’re all experts and expecting your call. I’ll talk to you in six weeks. Oh–and Olivia.”
“Yeah?”
“After that, you need to go home.”
Parker
Love is like the wind, you can't see it, but you can feel it. Nicholas Sparks,A Walk to Remember
I woke with the feeling of doom and a heavy cloud hanging over my head. No matter what I did that morning, nothing would shake the feelings, only time.
It had been fourteen years since Robert died, and every year leading up to this day and the days after were all the same to me.Days of horror,was the easiest way to describe them.
“Parker, are you listening to me?” Nicole asked as she came up beside me and put her hand on my arm. I jumped, startled at the sudden touch; I’d been a lifetime away.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“First off, ya look like shit, bro. Have you not been sleeping? Second, Derr needs your help in the garage.”
I looked at her and half smiled, because it was all I could give. No, I hadn’t been sleeping. Every time I dozed off, I’d have the same nightmare of that dreadful night.
“Are you going to stand there and look at me like I have two heads, or go help?”
“I was trying to decide if there was a third head in there somewhere,” I said, trying to toss off a joke. She chuckled as I turned and walked off to lend a hand to Derrick.
While we were setting up tables in the garage, Nicole started bringing out paper products. We had set up an area for everyone to sit and watch some videos, which was like a torture chamber for me. I understood why my parents wanted, and even needed, this. Still, I didn’t think they knew what doing this year after year did to us as a family. So this ordeal, like it did every year, consisted of my mother, father, sister, her family, and myself. We gathered around and startedthe afternoon off with some beef stew because, you guessed it: Robert’s favorite. The memories started flooding back as the smell of beef settled in the garage.
“Hi honey, how are you?” Mom said as she walked into the garage from the driveway, carrying a bag. My dad followed closely behind her; he was a touch grayer around the temples, but both were aging exceptionally well.
“Hey, Mom and Dad. I’m good. Let me help you,” I offered as I took the bag from my mom and set it on the table behind me.
“Oh, no, honey. That goes on the boat with us.”
