Chapter Eighteen #2
I approved payroll, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and mergers, then sent everything to Arnoldo for a final review before submitting to audit.
“Is that all I have left before therapy?”
“Not quite,” she noted, pulling up another, much shorter list from her iPad. “Attendance. Look through and let me know which you will be attending.”
Surveying the list, I said, “Dillon’s gala, the children’s hospital, St. George’s University school speaker, and all the Italy-based events.”
“Perfect!” she asserted. “I will have these emailed, the files re-collected from Mister Reyes, and finish up my tasks.”
“Thank you, Rachel. Take the rest of the day off when you’re done,” I demanded. “You deserve it.”
“Thank you.” She exhaled, smiled, and walked out of the room.
Dr. Saad’s office greeted me with the soothing scent of lavender, offering comfort amidst my turmoil. I sank into the worn leather armchair, my mind a tangle of memories and unresolved emotions. Her calming presence met my gaze with understanding eyes.
“How have you been, Ronan?”
I exhaled slowly, collecting my thoughts. “Let’s start with Italy… it was both beautiful and painful,” I began, recounting the sun-dappled streets where each corner held a memory of my childhood. “I saw Nina again,” I continued, my voice softening with emotion. “It was messy, but there is hope.”
Dr. Saad nodded knowingly, her expression inviting me to delve deeper. “What was so messy?” she prompted, her pen poised to capture the nuances of my emotions.
I told her everything from my arrival to bumping into her, seeing her at the fashion show, my jealousy, her words to me, and meeting her mother but truth be told, all that came to my mind was Nina’s laughter echoing through the piazzas, her deep brown eyes, mirroring the rich earth after a gentle rain, held a depth and warmth that seemed to encompass the whole world, grounding me with their steady gaze, and how every shared moment felt like a stolen a breath of hope midst my grief.
“Why would you say no hope is lost?”
“Her eyes still sparkle the same way they did five years ago, even beneath her anger,” I confessed quietly.
Dr. Saad leaned forward, her presence a steady anchor in the storm of my emotions. “And is that what you’re sure you want?”
“Absolutely. Today, I met with a patient, and for the first time since my mother died, I felt myself reliving it. She was so soothing, like my mother, and it felt as though I was looking directly at her.”
“That’s…interesting,” she noted, hooking her glasses on top of her head. “Tell me more, if you’re comfortable,” I told her about it all, and then we went on to wrapping up the session.
She leaned forward, her voice mild yet firm. “Hold on to those moments, cherish them.”
I nodded gratefully, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “Thank you, Dr. Saad. For helping me see that.”
“You’re welcome.” Her voice was warm, with a reassuring smile on her face. “Take care of yourself.”
“Goodbye, Doc.” I rose from my chair with a lighter heart.
“Before you go, Ronan.” Her voice stopped me, and I looked up. “Go get her back. I’m not speaking as your therapist now, I’m speaking as someone who’s had the privilege of knowing you for the last few years.”
I nodded, her words sinking in as I tried to find my own. But nothing came; all I could manage was a half-smile.
I entered the gym, nodding to the receptionist as the familiar scent of sweat hit me. Ready to burn off some energy, I headed to the weights area and approached the bench press when familiar voices sounded behind me.
“Ronan?” Alex’s deep voice called out. “What are you doing here?”
Turning around, I spotted Alex and Mikkel walking towards me, both grinning broadly.
Alexander Williams, my other best friend, was at the top of his bachelor’s program and a brilliant pilot.
His renowned skill led him to retire early and invest in two airlines.
Tall, powerfully built, with piercing gray eyes and a sharp taper-fade, Alexander had an undeniable presence.
His wife, Mara, like a sister to me, was pregnant, and I could already picture him doting on their child with the same dedication he brought to everything.
“Suarez. Alex,” I greeted them warmly, shaking hands with both of them. “No text in the group chat to say you were coming?”
“We did text, and everyone said they’re busy.”
“What?” I shockingly stated and grabbed my phone. “There’s no wa—oh, you did. I was busy.”
Mikkel rolled his eyes. “As always, friend.”
“Just starting or finishing up?”
“Starting,” Alex replied, wiping sweat off his brow. “How are you? Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Yeah, been a bit caught up,” I admitted, leaning against the bench. “I was in Italy for a few.”
They exchanged glances with Alex raising an eyebrow. “Ah, yes. You saw Nina, didn’t you?”
I nodded, a smile popping up at the very mention of her name.
“What the… How was it?” he peered.
“Not so good, but all will be well. Any advice for me, married guy?”
“Compromise, great sex, and consideration, Ro,” he listed off the bat. “Being rich helps too. It’s not a requirement, but it helps.”
I clicked my tongue, offering a heavy laugh. “I see.”
“So, you hitting the weights today?” Mikkel asked, changing the subject cheerfully.
“Yeah, thought I’d work off some steam,” I replied, grabbing a dumbbell and starting my set. “A lot on my mind.”
We three went through a rigorous session of interval training, focusing on cardio and core exercises. I was definitely going to need an ice bath after this.
We continued our workout, the clang of weights and the hum of conversation filling the air. Midst the physical exertion, my mind drifted back to Nina. Her laughter, the way she effortlessly lit up a room—it was hard to shake the memories and fuck it.
I didn’t want to. I desperately wanted to be around her.
After the workout, I said goodbye to my friends and headed home, unable to resist grabbing a slice of pizza from the nearby pizzeria, though it wasn’t as good as the one in Italy. As I sat alone at my table, the taste did little to distract me from thoughts of her.
Back home, I collapsed onto my bed and stared at the worn Polaroid in my wallet. One simple picture, yet it held everything—the sparkle in her eyes, the warmth of her smile.
I closed my eyes, chasing the echo of her laughter in my mind.