Healing Inc. (15 page)

Evy looked away from her.  “He called that night and left a message apologizing,” she confessed.

“Ah-ha!  So he left a message Sunday night.  Is that all?” she coaxed.

“No.  He’s tried calling every night since then.”

“And?” she prompted.

“And I’ve purposely not been answering my phone.”

“Aaannd?”

“He’s been sending me red roses with cards apologizing for leaving me that way.  Why do I get the impression you know all this already?”  She cast Nita a wary glance.

“Well, Evy since you must know he’s been calling me like a mad man.  Whenever you don’t answer that phone he hangs up and calls me.  He wanted to know if you got the roses, the candy, the teddy bears! ” Nita stated, swaying her head and hand side to side with each item mentioned for emphasis.

Another pang of guilt gnawed at Evy.  She hadn’t considered the possibility that he would drag her best friend into this.  Now she felt bad for keeping the whole thing from Nita.  “I’m sorry Nita.  I had no idea he would go this far.”

“Are you kidding?  This is the man who sent you flowers every hour in an attempt to let him buy you dinner.  How could you not know?” she reminded her.  “Besides, your ass should be sorry about it.  You were wrong and now you got this man acting foolish as all time just because he wanted to do something good for you.  It’s time to stop punishing yourself for what happened and allowing it to keep you from what you deserve in life.” 

Nita wasn’t one to hold back at a time like this.  Evy knew her friend well and remembered that this is why she hadn’t told her about Sunday.  She knew Nita would find a way to make her see that Tyler was right.  Usually she would have conceded and ended this lesson right about now by breaking down and admitting to her part in it all.  But, this time something didn’t quite sit well with her. 

“You know I love you with all my heart girl but this time you have no reason to talk.”

Nita’s eyes grew large and her mouth flew open.  She placed her hand over her heart in dismay.  “Whatever do you mean, mama?”

“I’m talking about Anthony,” she answered putting her hands on her hips.

Nita looked as though she were hoping the floor would open up and swallow her whole.  “How did you… how did you know about Tony?” she gasped.

“I’m not stupid, Nita.  I saw how you two were before we left Chicago.  You actually thought you could live with me all those years and hide that from me?  I figure it got real serious around the time you finished law school.  Am I right?” 

Nita continued to stare at her, incredulous of her friend’s keen perception.  All these years she thought she’d been careful about her dalliances with Tony, only to find out that Evy had known all the while. 

“I know I haven’t spoken with him in a number of years,” Evy continued, “but if he’s anything like I remember I’m sure he wants a little more from you than the occasional weekends you’ve been giving him.”

Nita’s face was on fire with embarrassment.  Here she was laying a guilt trip on Evy when in fact she was blameworthy of the same thing.  “Not so easy to see it when you’re the one sinning, huh.  Wow!” she acknowledged.

 They sat in silence each assessing their predicament.  Lifting their heads to face one another they suddenly found the whole thing hilarious.  The receptionist couldn’t help but gawk at the closed door that stood between her and the two women as they erupted into a loud roar of laughter.  She shook her head and smiled.  Her bosses’ happiness was contagious and always left her heart filled with glee.

“So, what are we going to do about it?” Evy asked as they sobered from their mirth.

“I’m not sure what time it is in Italy but your ass is going to call that man first chance you get so he’ll leave me the hell alone.  I only assured him that you are fine since I figured you needed some time to take this commitment into consideration.  Quite honestly, I wasn’t so sure I wanted you to be with him, you know with his reputation and the family he belongs to.  The white thing kind of bothered me too.  I thought that maybe he was trying to test the dark waters or something.”

Evy gave her friend an understanding nod.  “And now how do you feel?”

“He loves you.  Not only did he tell Miguel and Enrique that, he shows it in the way he treats you and the way he looks at you.  I had to tell his ass to get back to work quite a few times last Saturday.  By the way, do you know how much fun it is bossing Mr. ‘I’m a millionaire’ around?”  They both let out a low evil chuckle.  “Every time you entered a room he was in he would stop what he was supposed to be doing to gawk at you.  I thought to myself, ‘Damn!  She really hasn’t given it to him yet?’”

“Oh girl, you are crazy!  They both laughed.

“The question is, are you in love with him?” Nita prodded.

Evy knew the answer but was afraid that saying it out loud would ruin things for her.  She was more afraid of losing what she had with Tyler than she had ever been of anything in her life.  The nightmares and sudden flash backs had gone away completely, having been replaced with sweet dreams of him.  Lately whenever she thought about the past it was to compare it to her current relationship with him and how happy he made her.

“Well?” Nita prompted.

“Yes!  Yes, I am in love with him.  It’s almost scary sometimes how the mere thought of him makes me feel.”

“Makes you wanna holler, huh?  I know how you feel,” Nita agreed throwing her hands in the air and shimmying in her chair.  Evy joined in laughing. 

A warm smile passed between them, each one bursting with genuine happiness for the other.  They had gone through so much together, good and bad.  It was wonderful to finally see it come full circle for both of them.   

“Now back to business.  Why not let Jose come on board to help me out while you’re gone?  He’s doing pretty well as a trader and I’m sure he’d be more helpful than that pitiful stock broker we have now,” Nita suggested.

“Is baby brother willing to relocate for a month or more?  Oklahoma City is not New York.”

“I think I can convince him.  Why don’t you go on home and think about it.  I’ll give him a call as soon as you leave.”

“Why not ask Tony? He’s in the finance business as well.  I’m sure he’d be an asset to the corporation.”

Nita hadn’t expected that.  It did offer the perfect solution to their problem.  Question was would he be willing to give up his business in Chicago?  “I can ask him but he just mentioned something about taking on a new partner.”

“Sounds good.  I think you have it under control.  I guess if I were to go we could teleconference if any problems were to arise.”

“That’s what I wanted to recommend next.  None of those guys can take your place Evy but don’t you go over there and worry about us.  I would still rather run things by you before any major decisions are made.”

“Then it’s a done deal.  Now I just have to decide whether or not I should go.”  Nita looked at her with one lifted eyebrow.

***

Two Days Later at Tyler’s Hotel in Venice Italy…

“So, you patched things up?  She’s talking to you again?” Cecile asked her dad in reference to his falling out with Evy.  Calling each other had become a weekly habit, more when one or the other needed it to be, since she had gone away to college.  Tyler had called her every night since Evy had given him the blues.

“Yes dear.  She finally answered her phone when I called her Friday night stateside time.”  He wondered what Cecile was getting at as this was the second time he had shared this fact with her during the course of this conversation.

“And now you say she’s not answering her phone again?”

“That’s what I’m saying to you yet again dear daughter.”

“Well, what did you say to her Friday night that has her irked with you now?”

“What!  What makes you think I said something to make her mad?” he asked warily.

“I know you, Dad!  You say things to people sometimes that, you know...”

Tyler had to laugh.  First Nita had told him not to worry when he phoned her after Evy stopped taking his calls again; now Cecile was taking Evy’s side without having met her.  True, he had told his daughter about Evy after the first week of class and Cecile had seemed happy that he finally had someone.  But, he hadn’t expected her to take to the woman based solely on his assessment of her. 

“Ce-cile!  I am your father!  Why in the world would you say such a thing?”  He tried to sound gruff but he knew she could tell he was grinning.

“Because- its- true,” she stated, completely unfazed by his false irritation. 

Tyler couldn’t help but laugh again at his daughter’s comments.  She had more insight than most people twice her age.  The thing that worried him sometimes was that she wasn’t afraid to keep her observations to herself.

 “Okay, Dad, this is what you’re going to do.  Are you listening?”

“Yes sweetie, I’m listening.”

“Have room service bring you something light to eat, no steak or lamb.  Fish would be good; eat it with a fine glass of white wine; and then put on some soft music while you take a hot bath.  You need to chill, got it?”

“Okay sugar, I got it. Anything else you want to add?” he asked, humoring her.

“Yeah, be patient with Evy.  I know I haven’t met her yet but she sounds a lot cooler than all the other dorks you’ve dated,” she added sincerely.

Tyler erupted into laughter.  “What am I going to do with you little girl?”

“Love me is all you can do.  Bye Dad.  Love you.”

“Love you too sweetie, night now.”

Having ended the call, Tyler placed the phone back in the receiver.  He looked around the modest sitting room of the owner’s suite which was decorated in a modern/traditional French style.  Royal blue and yellow paisley wall paper adorned the walls.   The main door opened to the right of the Victorian styled couch which faced two wing back chairs, all upholstered in a soft golden Italian leather.  A traditional oval coffee table further separated the couch from the chairs and matching side tables were at both ends of the couch and between the two chairs.

Looking to the left, one encountered a large picture window with a view of the Great Canal.   Tyler had requested that minimal window treatments be used so as not to block the gorgeous view.  To the right of the entry was an old world style armoire and small dinning set. 

Straight ahead was the entry to the larger of the two bedrooms which shared the view of the Great Canal, the bed positioned to fully capture it.  The bedding in that room was a combination of masculine blue and white stripes with a baluster pillow and head pillows being the only items added.  The other bedroom was much more feminine with yellow and white flowered wall paper, pink and green bedding and plenty of colorful throw pillows. 

Both bedrooms were a modest size containing only a king sized canopy bed with side table, a small chest of draws and an upholstered wing back chair.  Each also had its own private dressing room and bath adorned with white and black Italian marble, double pedestal sinks and a double gas fireplace between the bath and bedroom.  The larger of the two baths housed a large oblong soaker tub in addition to a separate shower.