Wish I had appreciated my agility when I had all four limbs.
Caleb stood behind his brother, scowling again. Phoenix turned. “Hey, welcome to my wheel-in closet.”
The stupid play on words was the first thing that popped into his mind. His brother stored the bulky bag in the back of the closet and parked the wheelchair there.
“Want me to stay?”
“Nah, go. Thanks for coming for this.”
“Well, call if you need anything.”
With Caleb gone, reacquainting himself with the apartment took just minutes. His thoughts turned to Orchid.Hope she’s happy.
He typed her a text. “How are you—”
His thumb paused, poised over the keys. He pictured her arriving at his door as she had several times in the past, then her open-mouthed shock, and his quiet explanations trying to calm her.
“Listen, there was an accident, I didn’t want to tell you. But now I’m better and—”
The words died in his mind. His injuries had rendered Mrs. V mute. What could he say to comfort the fear in Orchid’s eyes when he was the one causing it?Better for her to remember me as I was.
Reminding himself of all the reasons it couldn’t work with this particular woman, he deleted the text.
CHAPTER 29
THE WORLD
Phoenix
MONDAY NOVEMBER 12
Inaugural day at work. Phoenix rode the elevator, glad for a few minutes of not seeing anyone he knew before he faced the office. Leaning on his cane, Phoenix exited the lift to counterAgency’s floor. The refreshingly light space elevated his thoughts. The design spurred ideas.What if hospital rooms sported the same individuality and airy, who-cares architecture?That was a relief; the train hadn’t stolen his creativity.
“Look who’s here!” the receptionist called as he entered the agency. Co-workers turned from a table laden with food and broke into applause. The sign above the breakfast platters proclaimedWelcome Back!Colleagues trailed closer to greet him with hugs and hellos. A producer reached out, then froze as he fixated on Phoenix’s occupied grip. Phoenix shifted the cane under his left elbow and clasped the guy’s hand. “Great to see you,” Phoenix said with affection. It struck him that he’d need to help people feel comfortable with the changes in him.
“So much for flying under the radar,” he quipped to the growing crowd, transferring the cane back to its supporting position. “Come to think of it, so much for flying at all.” The hubbub echoed through the industrial space of painted ductwork and whitewashed brick walls, bringing more staff into the open foyer.
“You look great,” said a copywriter with a sleek blond ‘do and black suit. Her urbane get-up made him feel disheveled in comparison. The feeling had nothing to do with the crisp suit he’d donned, and everything to do with the jacket sleeve cuffed halfway up his forearm and the crutch he leaned upon.
“We’re so happy to see you!” A bubbly producer threw her arms around his neck. Her enthusiastic embrace caused him to wobble and adjust his stance. He cupped an arm around her and then let go.
“Thanks. I appreciate all the cards and flowers. How are you?” He looked around at his staff, nodding and murmuring affirmations. Their care warmed him, yet wide-smiled stares were tinged with tightness. A young copywriter broke away from the huddle, but not before he glimpsed her crumpled chin and wet eyes. He’d exerted monumental effort to go from immobile in a hospital bed to walking. In his own assessment, he was doing much better. But this employee and her colleagues had last seen him as a capable, whole man.
He straightened, an attempt to regain the feeling of stature his physicality had lost. The group quieted, waiting for his words.
“It’s really great to be back. I’m proud of the bang-up job you guys are doing. Congrats on winning REBBL. I know how you really pulled together these last few months. So many of you reached out to me. I’m sorry I wasn’t in any shape to see all of you. It’s been . . . hard.” His throat tightened.
He glanced away, seeking to regain composure. Here he was, at the center of the business he’d built. Where everything was the same—maybe even better—except him.
“Now that Phoenix’s here, we are really going to kick some butt,” came a jovial voice. The crowd cheered. Dex stepped around the back of the group to join Phoenix at the center of the ragged circle. “Who are we going to win next?”
People called out names of pitches and accounts under review.
Dex’s familiar grin was just what Phoenix needed to pull himself together. He turned towards his buddy. “Thanks to you, and Liv and everyone for helping out these last few months.”
“You would’ve done the same for any of us,” Dex said. He faced their employees. “This team’s really the best in the business. Now go scarf some pastries.”
The crowd dissipated, most heading towards the buffet. Some art directors and copywriters pressed nearer. “Hey, can I set up time to bounce an idea off you?” “Do you have time to meet my new hire later today?”
