we still need to see the extent of the head trauma.”
My stomach lurches, and I fight the urge to throw up. “The couple who came out of here earlier, are those her parents?” The doctor nods.
Emma didn’t have a partner, as far as I know. Although I kept her suitably informed of most things in my life, she didn’t reciprocate.
I leave and start to head towards the elevator doors, but just as I press the button to descend, I turn and head back. I spend a few moments talking to her parents, trying to comfort them, watching them cry in front of a stranger who can do nothing to alleviate their pain.
As I walk away, all I can think of is how I was going to tell her how last night went. She wanted to know about it. She believes in Kyra and the work Redhill is doing. I was beginning to think that Emma is Team Kyra rather than my PA. She has never approved of my actions at Redhill, and now I can’t even tell her how things are going. She would be interested in knowing what we did tonight.
Shame curdles in my chest when I recall my initial plan. It’s bad enough that Yvette’s boy and girl have raked up a cauldron of memories.
Now this.
She wouldn’t have been in that accident had it not been for me. It’s all my fault. My fucking fault. How is it that I’ve ruined this woman’s life? As if a mirror is being held up to my face, I see myself for the monster I am. For what I’ve done to Emma, and what I have set out to do to Kyra.
I am my father’s son. Whichever father you look at.
I don’t want to go home. Even if I go and do a high-intensity workout, it won’t help.
That’s not the solution for the healing I need. I go for a long walk, heading towards Greenways, to remind myself why I have embarked on this crazy-ass journey. I question my motives, because I don’t feel right. Maybe taking a look at that piece of land will remind me of what is at stake; the multi-million-dollar development and all that I stand to make from it.
I head in the direction of Redhill. The area is deathly quiet on the weekend. Factories and buildings stand silent. When these become million-dollar condos filled with people who have good money, this place won’t be dead. It will be quietly, discreetly buzzing. The row of stores will have the kinds of eating places that people will want to visit.
Even as I try to imagine this, my heart is heavy and I’ve lost the will to continue with my deception. I close my eyes, trying to get a handle on my life, because right now, I am not feeling this. My world has turned slate gray, hard and dark. I don’t want to do this anymore.
“Brad?” My eyelids fly open. “Brad?” Kyra walks towards me, smiling and happy, as if she’s pleased to see me. Oh, shit. “What are you doing here?”
My mouth opens, but no words come out because I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how to start. She seems warmer, and friendlier, staring up at me differently.
“I just, uh… I was in the area.” It’s a lame answer, but it’s true, and it’s not like I can really tell her why I’m here.
“In the area?” She lifts her hand to her forehead because the rays of the sun are getting in her eyes. She squints. “Do you live around here?”
“Not so far away.”
“I didn’t know.”
Thank goodness I didn’t put my address down on my resume. I nod, wondering how to get out of this mess. I need to go. To walk away. “What are you doing here?”
“I had some cleaning up to do. I left soon after you did last night, but I needed to do a quick check of the inventory. We need to have enough supplies for the upcoming food night.”
Another food night?
Doesn’t she get tired of this shit? We had a big event last night and here she is, bright-eyed and eager, planning for the regular weekly event.
I feel exhausted just thinking about it.
She’s here now, on a Sunday, on her day off, working. As much as I’m trying to resurrect my defenses, they always seem to get weaker when I’m around this woman. I don’t have the fight for any of it.
“Are you okay, Brad?” she asks me. What