Chapter Thirteen #3
Carly swallowed hard. In November. Over five months from now.
She struggled to process the news. If Carly stuck to her timeline, no way Holly could be considered to replace her.
That meant the board would have to look for an outside candidate which would take longer.
She’d also have to hire a temp for Holly.
“I’m sorry this will cause problems for you at work,” Holly whispered.
Carly clutched her cell phone. “You have no reason to apologize. Your health and the baby are what’s important.”
Then she added she’d keep Holly, Brent, and the baby in her prayers, ended the call, turned off her phone, and threw it in her purse.
“You okay?”
She nodded, trying to shut off the disappointment coursing through her. “How about you start the movie?”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Starting the movie?” she joked.
“That, the weather, the state of the economy, or the call that’s got you upset. Whatever, I’m here to listen.”
Owen slid his arm around her, and she rested her head on his broad shoulder.
Her heart ached. Almost as bad as when her mother died.
For a minute, she leaned against him, letting his strong presence surround her, as if she could absorb his strength to bolster her waning energy.
Lately, Owen’s strong, supportive shoulders had been there every time the world shifted under her feet.
Nervous and afraid of what she felt, how she’d started relying on him, she pulled away to sit beside him on the couch.
Choosing her words carefully because HIPAA laws prevented her from sharing anything about Holly’s pregnancy complications, she said, “The HIPAA approved phrase is ‘Holly will be on an unanticipated medical leave of undetermined length.’ Because of that, her taking over as executive director is no longer an option.”
“That doesn’t have to affect your plans. You have the right to do what’s best for you despite this.”
“It’s not that simple. There’s the whole legacy family stuff.”
“You don’t have to explain that to me. Military men back to the Revolutionary War, remember?”
Carly ran her finger along the couch cushion seam. “I never realized how many of my memories with Mom involved Horses for Heroes. My earliest ones are of standing on the bottom rung of the arena fence, peering between the slats as she conducted therapy sessions.”
When she grew older, she and her first pony, Sprinkles, stayed on the fringes keeping watch for trouble. She’d grown up doing her homework at a smaller desk in the office while her mother worked.
“It’s tough when what you do is tangled up with who you are.”
“That’s part of it.” Her gaze locked with Owen’s. The understanding shining in his eyes encouraged her to continue. “But it’s more than that. When my mom’s successor retired, the board had trouble finding a replacement.”
“That surprises me considering the agency’s reputation. I would’ve thought they’d have a good number of folks to choose from.”
She explained the problem had been the candidates the board liked either weren’t willing to relocate to Service or wanted more money.
“I never wanted to be director. The board talked me into taking the position temporarily by saying they feared if I didn’t, Horses for Heroes would fold.
They hinted I’d be letting my grandmother, and the community down. ”
“Talk about hitting below the belt.”
She titled her head as his words sank in. “It was a low blow, wasn’t it? I’ve never said that out loud before.”
“If you never wanted to be director, why are you still in the job?”
“They promised they’d keep searching for a replacement, and they did interview a few people, but couldn’t find the right person. After that, whenever I asked, we all got caught up in, well, running the agency.” She shrugged. “And here I am.”
“What if they have the same issues with applicants this time? How do I walk away if they haven’t found a director, especially with Holly on leave? How can I do that to the staff and clients? How can I risk my mother and grandmother’s legacies?”
“You’re not responsible for carrying on your mother’s work, and your mom would want you to live your life.”
“No one’s ever said that to me before.”
“Then it’s about damn time someone did.” He slid closer. Heat radiated off him, banishing some of the cold seeping into her. “Do what’s best for you this time, and don’t let them pull the guilt trip on you.”
“That’s easy to say, but hard to do. I’m afraid if I don’t leave soon, I’ll be in Service forever. Then I’ll always wonder if I missed out.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “Then who knows what could happen. I could even become a crazy cat lady.”
“You’re allergic to cats.” A smile played on his intoxicatingly handsome face. “You’d be a crazy horse lady.”
She laughed. No one possessed the ability to do that the way Owen did. The emotional release lightening her mood and her body’s tension. “Oh, well then. That’s different. Thanks for allaying my fears.”
“Glad to help.” His smile faded and his posture straightened. “But seriously, decide what you want. Then be proactive to make it happen.”
She considered his last comment. If someone would’ve asked her that two months ago, what would she have said? Getting out from under her mother’s shadow and discovering who she was. Seeing the world. Putting herself first. Quit. But sitting here with Owen, she wavered.
“Holly’s situation will make the director search more difficult.” After the words left her mouth, she gasped. “I have to be the worst person ever worrying about myself when Holly is having a major life crisis.”
“No, you’re not. If you told her how this was screwing up your plans, then you’d be a terrible person and I’d be the first one to say so,” Owen teased.
She smiled weakly. “How do you always put things back into perspective and calm me down?”
“It’s a gift, but only with you.”
Carly’s heart pinched. How would leaving Service affect her and Owen?
Would she lose him again? Could she face that again?
A rock settled into the pit of her stomach as she realized she’d miss the way he made her smile.
How he kept her from taking life too seriously.
How she could use him as a sounding board and reality check. She’d miss him.
He’d invaded every nook and cranny of her life. He’d helped with Ryder, listened to her rant about her job frustrations, taught her how to relax and have fun again, and countless other things. Her life had changed for the better since he’d barreled back into it.
Tonight, while supportive, Owen appeared distant. While he sat near enough to touch her he hadn’t reached out to her once. What did she expect with their plans for their future being so different?
Her hands clutched together in her lap, Carly said, “How’s this for proactive? Tomorrow I’ll call my board president, Helen Chambers, to discuss how to handle Holly’s absence, and I’ll formally give notice.”
Despite having made a decision or maybe because of it, a dull ache formed behind her eyes. She massaged her temples.
“Headache?” Owen asked as he drew her against him and slipped his arm around her shoulder.
She nodded. “Too much stress and thinking, I guess.”
His hands replaced hers, easing her tension as she forced her concerns into a back corner of her mind.
She turned in his arms until she faced him.
She wanted, no needed, to lose herself in him, if only for tonight.
No matter what the repercussions and knowing neither of them intended to stay in Service, being with Owen would be worth the cost. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
All her suppressed desire poured from her as she clung to him.
When she pulled away, she grasped his hand. “Make me forget the rest of the world exists, Owen.”
At least for now.
His clear green eyes widened in surprise for a second before darkening with passion. As his lips covered hers, she suspected she’d found Mr. Right, but unfortunately, the timing was all wrong.