30. Chapter 30
Chapter thirty
Cal
This had to be the longest workday of my career. At least, it felt like it. Rowan and I were only fifteen minutes late to her session. A fact I’m not proud of. Which, on top of our reunion sex ending with her in tears, left me uneasy. I relaxed as we worked through her exercises, my confidence building every time she smiled, the warmth in her eyes impossible to hide.
I meant every word I’d said. I’d been crushed when Avery dumped me after high school, but even then, I knew it had more to do with my ego than my heart. What I felt for Rowan scared the shit out of me and made everything brighter at the same time. I swear the damn birds were singing during our session like some scene in a Disney movie. I couldn’t wipe the stupid smile from my face.
After she left, I counted the hours until I could see her again. I needed to prove what she meant to me, and I intended to start the moment my last patient left. Unfortunately, Adam had other ideas.
“Dr. Cardoso,” he said as I headed for the door. “A word.”
Cammie gave me an encouraging double thumbs up as I followed him into his office. I took a seat in the chair in front of his desk and waited while he woke his computer.
“Cammie tells me you’ve sorted your online mess,” Adam said, clicking around.
“I have.”
He nodded, scanning the screen. “I hate these sites. Word of mouth is great. People recommend you to someone they know because they’ve experienced your abilities. But this,” he said, waving his hand at the screen, “There’s no accountability. People make decisions for their care based on recommendations in anonymous posts. Many of which, as you’ve had the misfortune to learn, are lies. I’m getting too old for this. And if I’m being honest, too old for the work itself. Which is why, if you’re ready, I’m willing to discuss selling the practice to you.”
“Really?” I said, leaning forward. Weeks ago, he’d been ready to fire me, and now he trusted me to take over the practice he’d built from the ground up. Before the Avery debacle, I wouldn’t have been surprised. I’d joined Adam because I knew he was nearing retirement age and would be looking for someone to buy him out. I’d assumed Review-gate would delay his transition plans, not accelerate them. “Are you sure?”
Adam nodded. “It’s bad enough I have to deal with all the electronic charts and tablets. Now Cammie says she’s been offered a full-time job at that coffee place she loves. I do not have it in me to hire and train a new front desk person. It’s time. Find a lawyer for your end, and we can get together next week to discuss the valuation and transition plan. We’ll omit the numbers from this past quarter to come to a fair price.”
I stood. “Thank you,” I said, shaking his hand.
He waved me off. “Let me know when you have representation, and we’ll schedule a meeting.”
I nodded and closed the door to his office as I left. Cammie was bouncing on her feet by the reception desk, silently cheering. I motioned with my head to the glass door, and she grabbed her bag and followed me into the hallway.
“Congrats,” she said, pulling me into a hug.
“You’re quitting?” I asked, holding her at arm’s length.
She shook her head. “Let him think that until the paperwork is signed. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy working for him, and Lauren really did offer me a full-time job at Karma, but if you’re in charge, I’ll just keep my part-time hours there.”
“Until you decide to become a famous singer.”
“We do not speak of that. What happens in Church—”
“Stays in Church,” I finished. “Thanks, Cam. The thought of replacing you was the last straw for Adam.”
She giggled. “If I’d known, I’d have threatened to quit months ago. Now come on, you’ve been checking the clock all day.”
“Was it that obvious?” I asked as we headed down the steps together.
She nodded. “I’m glad to see you worked things out with Rowan.”
I paused on the landing between the third and second floors. “Do you think I have? I told her I loved her, and she didn’t say it back.”
Cammie’s eyes widened. “You told her you love her?”
“Um, should I not have?”
“Well, do you?”
“Yes,” I said, simply.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she said, patting my arm. “If you’d rambled about how she was the best sex of your life or that you told her you loved her because you didn’t want her to move, I might have had to kick you in the balls and take that job at Karma.”
I cleared my throat. “Well, she is the best sex of my life, and I don’t want her to move. But I also love her.”
“Obviously,” Cammie said starting down the stairs again. “Passion is part of love, and no one wants to be far from the person who holds their heart. But knowing how you felt should be a simple yes or no. Because at the end of the day, love is simple. Or at least it should be.”
“So, she doesn’t love me?”
Cammie rolled her eyes. “I said it should be simple. Not that it was. She’s been burned, Cal. Big time. For all your rough edges, and your unfortunate experience with that she-devil, a lover has never broken your heart. Right?”
I shook my head.
“I’m sure Rowan is head over heels for you. She just needs to admit it to herself first. Give her time. Just don’t do something stupid like getting your ego hurt because she can’t say it back. It’s not about you.”
I nodded, but my chest still ached.
“Snap out of it, Cal. This is the best day of your life. You told a woman you love her, and she didn’t tell you to get lost. She’s staying in Peace Falls with you. She’s probably waiting at your house right now, as eager to see you as you are to see her. On top of that, Dr. Cohen is finally retiring. Smile, damn it.”
“You’re right,” I said, giving her a quick hug and running down the rest of the stairs. The last thing I heard as I pushed through the door was Cammie’s laughter echoing in the staircase.
Either Cammie was psychic, or texted Rowan, because she was waiting on my porch steps with Skye when I arrived home.
“Hey,” I said, bending to kiss her, eager to show her how much I’d missed her in the hours we were apart.
When I stood, Rowan seemed a little breathless. “I thought we could take Skye on a walk. She seemed so disappointed this morning.”
Skye flashed me a doggie smile, and I knew there was no use fighting it. My dog and I were completely in love with this woman, whether she felt the same or not.
“I have a better idea. How about we take her on a sunset hike?”
Rowan’s eyes lit up. “Give me five minutes to change and throw together some sandwiches.”
With that she took off down Sullivan Street, her steps more labored than they should be, but improved from when we met. Skye whimpered, and I rubbed her head. “Don’t worry, girl. She isn’t leaving us. We’re just getting started.”