“Zoey, please. Listen, I want to meet your family, but I need a vacation. I’ve been working so hard. More than anything, I want you all to myself. We’ll have plenty of more Christmases together. I’ve got to get back to work now. I’ll count the minutes until we meetagain.”
Click.
I sat staring at my phone screen for a moment. Did I call back and demand he come down here, or did I set up dinner with everyone? He was busy, so busy, and coming down here would take time, but I wanted to be with my family. That being said, a vacation where we could spend time together without worrying about who saw us would bedelightful.
The clock turned to nine fifty-eight. I straightened my white button-up shirt, slung my purse strap over my shoulder, and marched toward the sliding doors. It was time to face Kevin and his judgement. This time, I knew I’d be seeing him, so I wouldn’t be caught by surprise, leaving me breathless with shock. That’s all it had been, a shock to seehim.
An excitement built inside that I hadn’t felt in a while. The idea of working with people instead of keeping my eyes trained on a book sounded good for achange.
The doors slid open, revealing a charming lobby that felt homey instead of clinical. A design that was outside the box with its pleasant muted colors and hardwood fixtures. Had Kevin designed the building, too? No way… He was a contractor, not anarchitect.
I spotted a man in a wheelchair behind the low front desk. He smiled at me with bright white teeth and soft eyes. He looked vaguely familiar. Perhaps he’d gone to our high school, but I couldn’t recall his name. “Can I helpyou?”
I straightened and put everything else out of my head so I could focus. No thoughts of Kevin building this center, or Edward’s desire to run away for Christmas, or my sister’s meddling ways. “Yes, thank you. I’m Zoey Dixon. I’m here to volunteer today. I believe Kevin Slayder is expectingme.”
There, that sounded professional. I wasn’t sure why I had been worried about Kevin distracting me. He was a construction worker, a contact the rehab center had obviously utilized to get volunteers. It wasn’t like he was a therapist I’d run intoconstantly.
“Ms. Dixon. Yes, Kevin told me you’d be arriving. Let me callhim.”
“If he’s unavailable, I’d be happy to speak to someone else. I’m sure he’s busy finishing thebuilding.”
“He’s not working construction. That’s done.” He dialed hiscell.
My palms were sweating, and the back of my neck was damp despite the cooltemperature.
He rolled into his office, and I could hear his muffled speech before he returned with some paper on his lap that he set on thedesk.
“Kaley will be out in a minute to escort you to the therapy gym.” He went to work filing and then disappeared into the officeagain.
Kaley? That sounded familiar. Why wasn’t Kevin coming out to get me? He was the contact. Of course, it was better thisway.
A tall brunette with perfect hair and a peppy step exited a side door with a winning smile. It was Kaley Foster, head cheerleader and Kevin’s high school girlfriend. The perfect girl who won the hearts of everyone she met. “If it isn’t sweet Zoey. I heard you were in town.” She flung her arms around me as if we were besties reunited. “Kev told me you’d be here today, but I thought he wascrazy.”
She hooked her hand in the crook of my arm and dragged me toward a door on the other side of the lobby. “We’re so excited to have you here to help us. There’s so much to do. Equipment is still being set up while patients are already being seen. Not to mention computer issues, labeling, inventory, and so muchmore.”
I fell into step with her by the time she swung open the door to a large room with parallel bars, exercise equipment, bikes, treadmills, and tons and tons ofboxes.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m so thankful to have this place. I mean, we used to have to drive an hour, sometimes even three hours each way, for therapy depending on traffic. Now, if anyone is injured, they don’t have to go so far. Isn’t itamazing?”
I spotted Kevin across the floor, and he waved. Apparently, my Kevin brain hadn’t improved, and it took me a second to lift my hand to waveback.
“Listen to me prattle on so. I guess not much changes, huh?” She bounded across the floor and stood on her toes to whisper something in Kevin’s ear, her hands on hisshoulders.
My breath caught, and I bit my lip. What did I care? It wasn’t like I was a high schooler watching them walk hand in hand in thehallways.
There was no reason for my chest to ache at the sight. We were all grownups, and I liked Kaley. Good for them. We could all be happy now. Perhaps Edward and I could double date with them. Okay, maybe not, but I was still happy for them. Kevin and Kaley were always meant to be together. And I had Edward now. The romantic, mature, amazing man who I’d be on vacation with soon. That was if my sisters didn’t kill him for stealing me away beforeChristmas.
