Souls ReAligned (36 page)

He opens the storage console between the two seats and takes out the small square jewelry box. Opening it, he smiles. He knows that she was upset that she couldn’t accompany him on his last trip to London. But, with her around, he wouldn’t have been able to procure this ring. It was the sole purpose of his trip. He intends to make Olivia his: properly, rightfully… eternally. He’s eager to stand up in front of the entire world, and announce… She is MINE.

That thought fades from his mind as he’s reminded about her illness. It seems she’s not been well since they arrived in Ireland. He wonders if it’s some kind of homesickness.
Home
. He’s reminded that he had stocked up on soup and crackers the last time she was ill. He’ll call Shannon and have her take her home to their flat. Certainly, after this morning’s conversation, there’s no need for her to stay with Shannon anymore.

He looks at the time, knowing he’s cutting it close for this meeting. He hates that he can’t be with her; hold her, care for her. Poor thing. First, the infection that kicked her ass, and then the minute she finishes the medication, she’s sick again. He wishes she didn’t have to deal with the nausea… mood swings… WAIT A MINUTE! Swollen sensitive breasts the last time they made love…. her increased sexual drive: not that he’d ever complain about that. He sits frozen in the driver’s seat of the Zagato, stunned by the frightening realization. “Christ! She’s pregnant!”

He’s startled by the honking cars behind him. Now it all makes sense. Pulling off to the side of the road, he prepares to make a U-turn. He needs to get to her, right now.

“Ethan!” John’s voice booms over the Bluetooth. “Tell me you’re almost here.”

He can see the building a few blocks away. Looking down at the time, he’s torn. He doesn’t have time to get to her right now. It will have to wait until after the meeting.

Parked out front, he pulls out his phone and sends her a quick text.

Ethan: Just heading into a meeting. I need to talk to you.

When he hits send, a muffled beep is heard from under the passenger’s side of the car. Closing his eyes, he rubs his forehead in frustration. Not again! He reaches down and runs his hand along the floor, finding her phone beneath the seat. It must have fallen out of her pocket this morning. An alarm sounds, as the notification shows up on the display. Ethan holds the phone in his hand, realizing that it’s unlocked and its contents are available for him to view. Ashamed at his gross invasion of her privacy he opens her calendar and looks at today’s appointment; 11 a.m. 485 Yonge Street. No name of whom she’s meeting or why. She didn’t mention seeing a client today. He won’t likely be finished this meeting by then, so it will have to wait until later.

On the way in to the boardroom, Ethan can’t get Olivia’s appointment off his mind. His insecurities begin to run away with his imagination, and he begins to think the worst. Now that he’s on the other side of not receiving all the information, he doesn’t like it one bit.

He arrives just as everyone is heading to the boardroom. John is relieved to see him. Everyone takes a seat around the table as Ethan pulls John into the hallway.

“What’s going on? You’re starting to concern me.”

Ethan keeps his voice low, “Olivia is acting strange. I’m worried. Can you text Shannon and see if you can find out what’s going on? I’m not going to be able to concentrate on this meeting until I know.”

“Okay. If there’s something going on, Shannon will know. For now, can you get your head in the game? This is an important meeting.” He turns to walk away as Ethan grabs his arm.

“There’s something else.” He hands the phone to John, open at the calendar appointment. “I need to know who’s at this address?”

John looks at him in shock and tries to whisper. “Is that Olivia’s phone?”

Ethan glances into the boardroom at the waiting clients and tries to look inconspicuous. “She dropped it in the car again. I need to know where she’s going at 11 a.m.”

Feeling sympathetic, John takes the phone out of his hand, knowing that Shannon would strongly disapprove. She isn’t talking to him right now, anyway, so it may be a moot point.

Entering the boardroom, Ethan takes his place at the head of the large mahogany table; John takes his place at his right hand. Ethan begins the presentation, doing what he does best, even though his mind is in a bit of a fog. John discreetly sends Shannon a message, praying that she answers right away.

Shannon: She spent the entire morning crying after he left. She didn’t mention anything to me about an appointment.

John reads her reply, trying to hide his look of concern. Tapping the screen on Olivia’s phone, he opens her browser history. His blood runs cold with the results.
How’s he going to tell Ethan?

Ethan continually looks to John for an indication that he’s figured out what’s going on. After turning the floor over to the director of research, Ethan sits down, faking interest in what’s being said. He’s consumed with thoughts of Olivia’s appointment. He looks to John for an answer, becoming even more worried when he’s met with a pale, nervous expression.

John knows there’s no easy way to break the news to him; it’s not news that can wait until after the meeting. Whispering the words, “I’m sorry.” he gently pushes the phone across the table in front of Ethan.

Ethan becomes more nervous; worrying about what could be so bad that it would warrant that kind of reaction from John. His stomach flips in a nauseous way. He has a fleeting thought of her meeting Michael Kelly somewhere for a secret rendezvous. He has to know the truth.

Ethan picks up the phone and taps the screen, holding his breath as the browser opens the last page viewed. It reads … Yonge Street Clinic. TERMINATIONS

His heart feels like he’s just been hit full force with a Taser. “NO!” he shouts loudly. John puts his hand on his shoulder and squeezes firmly, bringing his thoughts back to the boardroom. When he looks up, the engineer has stopped talking and everyone is staring at him. He tries to swallow the emotions churning inside him, but he’s about to lose his mind. Sweat dots his forehead. All he can think about is getting to her in time.

“Gentlemen, I apologize. I have an emergency.” He gets to his feet, putting his hand on the back of John’s chair as he moves behind it. “John is familiar with this project. He can help you with any questions you have. Please excuse me.”

Looking at the clock on the wall, he hurries to the door, 10:30 a.m. How is he going to make it across town in time?

Jumping into the car, he makes the tires squeal. Pulling out on to the road, he shifts the gears with precision, in a hurry to get to her side. Brake lights flash in front of him and traffic comes to a complete stop. He doesn’t have time for this today. He pushes buttons on the GPS looking for an unobstructed route. Having a car with such power and speed is useless when you’re stuck in traffic. Becoming frustrated, he considers mounting the curb and pushing on, but there’s nowhere to go. Block after block of slow moving traffic, leaves him frantic… distraught. When he sees a spot open up on the next street he pulls into it and jumps out. He’ll get there faster on foot.

Running, as if his own life depended on it, he skids to a stop in front of the clinic. Looking down at his watch, he knows he’s cutting it close; it’s 10:55.

Panting and looking like a mad man, he makes his way to the receptionist. “I need to see Olivia James.” Trying to catch his breath, he looks around the waiting room. Most of the women waiting look like they suffer from some sort of addiction. Dear God, why, when she could have had the best medical care possible, would she chose to come to a place like this? This was his fault. He had failed her, so miserably that she felt this was the answer.

“Sir? Who are you looking for?” the receptionist asks a second time.

“Olivia James.”

Looking at the clock, he becomes agitated. “I need to see her now!” he demands.

“Just calm down, sir,” the receptionist advises, as she hits the security alert.

“Calm down? No, I’m not going to calm down… I’m going to freak out and throw shit, if you don’t let me see her right this fucking minute!”

Security bursts through the door, and tries to coax him to leave. When he refuses, they physically try to eject him from the building. It would take more than a couple of middle age family men to move the mighty Ethan O’Connell, when he digs in. Their efforts are unsuccessful.

The senior nurse wanders to the front to find out what the commotion is. “What’s going on?” she asks.

“He’s looking for Olivia James.”

The nurse purses her lips and looks up at him. “Miss James isn’t here. You’ve missed her.”

Running on adrenaline, Ethan pushes his way past her, dragging security along with him. Opening every door along the hallway, he checks for himself.

“How could I have missed her? Her appointment was for eleven!” Shaking his arm, he pulls away from the grasp of the security officer, flashing him a look that dares him to attempt it again.

“Yes, it was. But, we had a cancellation. We called her this morning and asked her to come in two hours earlier. I’m afraid she’s been gone for some time now.”

Ethan’s heart suffers a painful blow. It’s done.

“No,” he whispers to himself. “I didn’t want this. I need to find her. Make sure she’s okay.”

“Sir, if you don’t leave the building, right now, we’ll contact the Guard.” The security guard stands in front of him, still determined to do his job.

Escorting him to the front door, gently edging him out on to the street, he warns Ethan not to come back into the building. Ethan stands there, frozen… stunned, unsure of what to do next. He knows that making this decision probably killed her. Now, it’s done, and she’s somewhere out there, alone. Where would she go? He checks everywhere he can think of: work, Shannon’s, the flat… Maddie’s dance studio.

When she’s nowhere to be found, he drives, feeling desperate, to the ruins in the country. His heart crumbles when there’s no sign of her there. Getting out of the car, he feels compelled to stay awhile. His emotions are running high; being here only makes it worse. It’s the first time, since they’ve met, that he can’t sense her. From the moment his plane landed in Canada, it felt like his soul was honing in on her, calling her to him.

They immediately felt a connection so strong that neither of them could deny it. Right now, when he needs to feel it the most, it’s gone. Disappeared. Sinking to the ground against the stone wall, Ethan leans forward with his head in his hands. There’s a huge aching hole in his chest where his heart used to be. A vibration in his pocket grabs his attention. He reaches in to retrieve her phone, praying that it’s a clue.

The breeze picks up, sending a chill across his skin. Sometimes the universe works in mysterious ways. Ethan looks down at the notification on the screen: Airport checkin confirmation, flight 4424 to Halifax, now boarding.