Chapter 28
Heather
For the next two weeks, I kept checking Dawson’s website every day.
My article was scheduled to come out in six days, in the third week of May, which seemed an eternity away.
I couldn’t pay in advance another month to reassure my landlord, so I needed that bonus right away.
But big newspapers moved slowly. Since he was in charge of his own platform, Dawson was more flexible.
On Thursday Mom was flying in to pick up Avery and fly back to Phoenix with her. Memorial Day was on Monday, of course, but my girl’s school had given them Friday off as well.
The damned article popped up just as I was heading to pick up my girl. She was watching a play downtown with her class.
I started reading the article while I was still in the subway station, stopping next to a busker singing a Michael Jackson classic.
Oh, crap. It was a nightmare. The title was “Frauds and Fears.”
The rest of the article was even worse. What the hell? This was not the angle I’d thought he’d take. I doubted this was what Owen had had in mind when he contacted him. I stared at the screen of my phone, trying to plan my next steps. Call Ryker? Danielle? Had they already seen it?
I had my answer the next second when Danielle called. I hurried away from the busker to a somewhat secluded section of the station before answering.
“Did you read Dawson’s article?” she asked the second I picked up.
“Just finished it.”
“It’s a disaster. The bosses just called me. We’re not publishing your article.”
“What? Why? Wouldn’t now be the time to point out the article’s inaccuracies?”
“It would make us look like we’re desperate to pitch in. Especially after how scathing Dawson’s article was. I’m sorry. I know it’s disappointing for you.”
That was an understatement.
“I already told Owen it’s not going to be published. He wasn’t too happy, but considering he was the one who brought Dawson into this, I don’t give a damn.”
But I did. I needed to speak to Ryker right away, but before that, I needed to address another point. Even though I knew already what the answer was, I asked anyway. “My bonus?”
“I can’t make that happen. I’m sorry. My hands are tied. But it doesn’t mean it’s not doable; you’ve got until the end of the year.”
Except I needed the paper slip confirming the bonus right now. My landlord wasn’t going to give me another extension, I was sure of it.
“Right. Okay,” I mumbled. “I’ve got to go. I’ll send you the draft of my current article in a few days.”
“Sure, take your time. No pressure.”
I walked out of the station after hanging up, breathing in deeply once I was outside. I slipped into the coffee shop next to the theater where Avery was, buying myself a decaf mocha latte. I sat at a window seat and called Ryker.
We’d made plans for a late lunch so Avery could say goodbye before flying to Phoenix, but I wanted to talk to him about the article right now.
“Heather,” he greeted.
“Hey! Just wanted to tell you about the art?—”
“I know. We’ve all seen it… and we were also informed that yours won’t be published. I’m sorry.”
“Just spoke to my editor about it. How is the mood at the office?”
“Our PR team is flipping out. We’re going to have a meeting about it today.”
“Okay. We’re still on for lunch?” I asked.
“Sure. In two hours, right?”
I just wanted to be with him so we could regroup together.
“Yes.”
“Sure, babe. Just come here. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
I smiled, feeling a lot lighter after hanging up. I sat in the coffee shop long enough to finish my decaf mocha before heading to the theater. Avery and her group were already in the lobby. She barreled into me, wrapping her arms around my middle, grinning up at me.
“Hey, lovebug. How was the show?”
“Super boring. Are we still going to see Ryker?”
“Yes, we are. Come on, let’s go.”
I chuckled, hugging her with one arm. After thanking her teacher for making attendance the next day optional, we headed to Central Park.
We still had an hour and a half until we were meeting Ryker.
It was going to be a short (and very late) lunch, because we still had to make it home in time to get Avery’s bag and head to JFK.
We ended up taking a long stroll through the park, and when we arrived at the fund, the receptionist handed me a visitor badge automatically.
I wasn’t there on official business, but eh, she didn’t need to know that minor detail.
Once we were on Ryker’s floor, we stealthily made our way to his office.
No one paid attention to us. It seemed even crazier than usual; everyone was running around in a frenzy.
Even Ruby lacked her usual spark. Her hair was in disarray, as if she’d run her hands repeatedly through it.
I waved at her, but she didn’t notice me.
I was surprised to find Ryker’s office empty.
“Let’s wait in here,” I told Avery. “He’ll come soon.”
She immediately sat in his leather chair, spinning around, grinning from ear to ear. I intended to call him, then noticed that his cellphone was lying between two stacks of paper on his desk. Okay, nothing to do but wait, then. I sat on the other chair.
“Avery, please don’t touch anything,” I warned.
“Yes, Mommy. I’m a big girl. I’m careful.
” She touched one of the stacks, just barely, but it tumbled down from the desk the next second.
I jumped from my chair, trying to catch them all, but only managed to get a paper cut on my left palm.
The papers just spread everywhere. Jesus !
I went to my knees, gathering them. Shit, I didn’t know how to put them back in order.
The pages weren’t numbered. I just placed them back on the desk as best as I could.
“Heather?” Owen’s voice sounded from the doorway. Crap.
“Hi, Owen. This is my daughter, Avery.”
He stepped inside, glaring at the disorderly stack of papers. “Those are confidential documents.”
“They just fell on the floor, and I put them back.”
“They fell because of me,” Avery said apologetically. “But I don’t know how. I was being careful.”
She was still sitting in Ryker’s chair, which Owen definitively didn’t appreciate.
“What are you doing here, Heather?”
“We’re just waiting for Ryker so we can go to lunch.”
“He can’t take a lunch break today. He’s in a huge meeting.”
“Oh. Okay. We’ll just wait for him.”
“It’s going to take hours. You can’t wait here. This is not a place for children.”
I straightened up, jutting my chin forward. “I know. It’s…. Can I talk to Ryker for a minute or leave him a message?”
“No. Look, Ryker needs to focus right now. He doesn’t have time to chase children around the office or clean up after them. He’s got more important things to do.” His voice was so harsh that Avery gasped. Her eyes widened. She clutched the armrests with her tiny hands. I rolled my palms into fists.
“I know you’re pissed about the article, but honestly, it’s your fault for bringing Dawson into this in the first place.” Now, why I went and said that I’ll never know, but attacking my girl just pushed me a little too far.
“I can do whatever the hell I want.”
“Yes, but I’m not going to let you take it out on my daughter and me.”
“Don’t wait up here.” With a dismissive nod, he turned around, leaving the office. I hurried to Avery, who was rubbing her eyes. Oh, no . She was crying.
I crouched to her level, cradling her head with both hands. “Baby girl, why are you crying?”
Avery let out a heart-wrenching sob. “Ryker doesn’t want to see us.”
“It’s not that, baby. He’s busy.”
“He forgot about us.” Her lower lip was trembling.
“Sometimes, you only find out you have a meeting a few minutes before. Like Mommy sometimes has to go for interviews, you know?”
“But now we’re here, and he’s not coming to see us,” Avery insisted. “What if he doesn’t want us anymore?”
My heart just cracked. “Avery, of course he does.”
“But that mister said that Ryker has more important things to do than us.”
“He only meant the meeting.”
“How do you know?” Avery asked, tearing up again. “How do you know?”
I had to change topics, take my girl’s mind off it.
“I just know, honey. Please trust me. Listen, why don’t we go home? We need to take your bag and leave for the airport anyway. Then you’ll be with Gran and Pops and all your animals.”
Her sobs subsided a little, but she held out her hands.
Oh, no! Lately, she only wanted in my arms when she was inconsolable.
I carried her all the way out of the building.
On the cab ride to the apartment, I tried to talk more about her animals and her best friend there, Jillian, but she only gave me monosyllabic answers.
Once we were at home, we ate some leftover pasta, and then I did the last checks on her luggage. She was usually so bubbly and happy before leaving for Phoenix. But now, she was just sitting on her bed, dangling her feet. I sat next to her, caressing her cheek.
“Honey, what’s wrong? You don’t want to go?”
“I have to go. Tony misses me. And Gran and Pops too.”
“That’s right, they do.”
“Can you come with me?”
“To Phoenix?”
“Yes. Pleaaaase .”
Oh, God. I couldn’t just buy a last-minute ticket to Phoenix.
But I also couldn’t just let my girl leave like this.
She needed reassurance, and all the love I could give her.
I just had to pack in a hurry and buy a ticket.
It was only the weekend after all, and I could edit my articles out of my parents’ place too.
Jesus, I already didn’t know my ass from my elbow.
I checked the price of a last-minute ticket, because this was honestly the deciding factor.
I blew out a breath of relief when I found one that fit in my budget.
Two hours later, when we met Mom at the gate, I was a mess, and so was Avery.
I’d thought I managed to soothe her but quickly realized I hadn’t because my girl had wanted to stay in my arms most of the time.
We barely made it on time to the airport.
I’d texted Mom on the way to let her know I was traveling with them as well.
Thankfully, she hadn’t asked why. She gave me the usual Mom-check , and her eyebrows went high up her forehead.
She opened her mouth, but I shook my head lightly, pointing toward Avery.
Mom pursed her lips but focused on Avery.
“Sweetie, Tony misses you. He can’t wait to see you.”
Avery sighed. “I miss Tony too.”
“I need to make a phone call before we board the plane. I’ll be right back.”
I walked a few steps away, because I didn’t want Avery to know I was calling Ryker. I hadn’t had time until now. I couldn’t wait to hear his voice. Only… he didn’t pick up. He was still in that meeting? I panicked when the ding for the voicemail came. Crap. What was I supposed to say?
“Ryker, hi! It’s me. I mean, you know that, of course…
. Listen, I don’t know if Owen told you that he talked to me when we were in your office.
Anyway, he was out of line, said things that upset Avery.
She thinks—” Another deep breath. “—that you don’t want us anymore.
And I just don’t know how to calm her down.
” My voice wobbled. “Anyway, she asked me to come to Mom’s too, in Phoenix, and I couldn’t say no.
I’m at the airport now. I’m staying this weekend?—”
A ping informed me I’d used up all the seconds in the voicemail. I dialed his number again, then disconnected the call, because I had no clue what to say.
We still had a few minutes before boarding. Maybe he’d see the call and… call back? I’d really been hoping to hear his voice. When the flight attendant announced that passengers with kids were invited to board, I sighed, slipping the phone back in my purse.
Mom was magic—she really was. Within a few minutes, she managed what I hadn’t in hours: she shifted Avery’s focus completely. By the time we were sitting inside the plane, Avery was telling us both everything she wanted to feed Tony… right before she fell asleep.
Mom waited exactly five seconds before pouncing on me.
“Want to tell me what’s going on? I’m happy of course, but why are you coming with us?”
“Avery asked me to.” Mom listened closely while I half whispered everything, afraid to wake up Avery.
“She’s a little emotional,” I finished.
“And how are you?”
Good question. I was…
“Tired. Guilty. Wondering if I’m selfish.”
“For what?”
“Not keeping it just the two of us, like I promised her all those months ago.”
“Don’t you think like that.”
“I know, I know. I’m just a mess.”
Mom put a hand over mine sympathetically. I was so glad that she was here. “I’m going to take care of both my girls. You just wait.”