Love's Second Chance (Second Chances Series) (14 page)

The day dragged on and still nothing from Korinne. I called her client for the day and they raved about how they were really happy with their meeting with her. She obviously was doing just fine, which made me wonder if she was avoiding me. Hastily picking up my phone, I decided to call her again. That made probably the tenth time I’d called her since last night. The phone rang and rang, but no answer. When her voicemail picked up, I made the decision to leave a message. Once the beep sounded I started recording my message. “Korinne, I’ve called you numerous times and I really wish you would call me back. I need to know that you’re okay and that I haven’t done anything to upset you. Whatever is going on, you have to know I’ll help you through it. I don’t think I deserve being put in the dark. Please call me back.”

I slammed the phone shut and sat it on my desk. If she didn’t call back by that night I was going to pay her a visit. I didn’t want to come off as being overprotective, but I had no idea why she’d be avoiding me and I wanted answers.

The rest of the day passed by in a haze, and with my thoughts and feelings being everywhere I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I decided to head home early and work out my frustrations in the gym by giving my punching bag a brutal beating. Needless to say, my knuckles were bruised and bloody after that workout.

After showering and getting ready for dinner, the call finally came. When I saw it was Korinne calling I let out a sigh of relief even though I was pissed from her ignoring me. “Korinne, what’s going on?” I barked out.

She sighed, her voice sounding sad and distressed, “I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier.”

“Are you all right? I’ve been worried about you. Did I do something wrong?” I asked hesitantly.

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong, Galen. I just need some time,” she said.

I shook my head, not understanding at all. “What do you mean by that? I thought things were going great. Are … are you leaving me?” I asked incredulously. Her silence hit me square in the gut. How could she do this to me after everything we’d shared? “Answer me, Korinne,” I demanded.

She let out a shaky breath. “I’m not leaving you, Galen, but there are some things I need to sort out first before I can completely move on with you. Don’t you see? I realized I’ve been hiding behind you and not fully dealing with my problems. When I’m with you I can forget, but as soon as I’m alone I’m hit with the grief and loss once more. I need to put that grief to rest before I can be fully happy again. It’s not fair to you or this relationship.”

Her cries erupted over the phone and all I wanted to do was comfort her. I understood what she was saying, but giving her space was not something I wanted to do. “I love you, Korinne, and I want to be there for you. Please don’t shut me out.”

“I’m not shutting you out,” she cried softly. “I have things that need to be taken care of, and I need to do them alone. I love you too, but please understand that I have to do this.”

I sighed heavily into the phone. “The only way I’m going to let you go is if you promise me something. Promise me you’ll come back and I’ll give you the space you need. I told you I wasn’t going to let you go, and I’m going to hold onto those words.”

Korinne didn’t take promises lightly because once she promised to do something she always did. That was one thing I’d always loved about her, she could be trusted. “I promise I’ll come back to you,” she whispered. Those were the last words she spoke into the phone before the line went silent.

The days felt like years. I’d been working nonstop for the past few days, and I’d even slept in my office the past two nights. It had been five days since the last time Korinne had spoken to me. It killed me not to be able to hear her voice every day.

“Mr. Matthews?” Rebecca called over the intercom.

“Yes, Rebecca.”

“Richard Carmichael is here to see you.” I groaned and placed my head onto the desk. This day was not a good one to have visitors. After pushing the blueprints I’d been working on aside, I tried to straighten my wrinkled clothes that I’d slept in last night. Doing the overnighters was starting to wear on me. I could barely keep my eyes open.

“Send him in,” I said. A few seconds later the door opened and Richard walked in. He did a double take before laughing and taking a seat across from me.

“Damn, son, you need to get some sleep,” he stated awkwardly.

I chuckled lightly. “Yeah, I know. I’ve worked nonstop the past couple of nights.”

Richard shook his head. “I don’t see how you do it.”

Shrugging, I asked, “What can I do for you?”

Richard handed me a thick envelope and I looked at him questioningly. “I wanted to give it to you personally. Next Thursday there’s going to be a special reception at the City Club in honor of our doctors. Dr. Carson Anders will be mentioned along with a new plan the board of trustees have come up with.” At my questioning look he continued, “You see, the money you donated is going to help us hire more doctors and nurses. The tragedy with Dr. Anders should’ve been prevented. There was no reason for him to have worked so many hours the night he was killed. We wanted to help prevent this sort of thing, and you’re generous donation is going to help us with that.”

I was speechless. I wondered if Korinne knew about this, because if she did it would explain why she felt the need to take a step back. Curious, I asked, “Have you contacted Dr. Anders’ wife and informed her about this?”

Richard nodded. “I left her a message a few days ago. She hasn’t responded yet.”

Having no doubt, I knew that this reception was what saddened her. “Did you happen to mention in the message about this new plan?” I asked curiously.

“No, she doesn’t know,” he replied. “I didn’t say anything about it in the message nor did I mention anything about the money you donated in his honor.”

“Good, let’s keep it that way for now, please,” I requested.

“Certainly, Galen. So I’ll see you at the reception? Sarah will be awfully happy to see you again.”

“Yes, I’ll be there. Tell Sarah I’ll be happy to see her, too.” I extended my hand to him and he shook it before saying good-bye and walking out the door. I knew Korinne would be at the reception, and I wondered what she’d do when she saw me there. Would she be distant or would she come back to me? I could only hope it would be the latter.

The reception was tonight and I still hadn’t heard a word from Korinne. It had been two weeks since I’d talked to her. Two long, agonizing weeks that I hadn’t been able to hear her voice or see her angelic smile. Hopefully I’d get the chance tonight. When I pulled into the City Club parking lot, I searched for Korinne’s car. I didn’t see her yet, but I knew she wouldn’t miss that event. Opening the door, the valet gave me a ticket before taking my car away. The City Club was a nice establishment where the upper crust would hold their dinner parties and such. They had a ballroom that held at least seven hundred people and then some. I would say it had reached its limit with the amount of people in there.

The people stared at me as I made my way through the crowd. It was no secret who I was, and what I did. My father was widely known in this community and well-respected. “Mr. Matthews!” a woman called out. I turned to see who had said my name, and a beautiful lady—probably in her late thirties—was headed my way. She offered me her hand. “Mr. Matthews, I’m Catherine, it’s so nice to meet you.”

I took her hand and shook it in greeting. “Hello Catherine, it’s nice to meet you, too.”

She smiled and stood a little straighter, making her oversized breasts perk out of her dress, and she started to move closer to me, maybe just a little too close. “I’m on the board of trustees and I wanted to personally thank you for everything that you’ve done. It’s going to bring about a new change to the hospital.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” I said. She smiled flirtatiously at me, and when I didn’t reciprocate she pouted a little and decided to try harder.

“I would love to hear more about you, and of course I could tell you about everything we plan on doing to the hospital because of you. If you didn’t bring a date would you mind if I sat with you to discuss it all?” I didn’t want to be mean and thankfully I was saved when the voice I’d been dying to hear spoke out behind me.

“As a matter of fact, I mind,” Korinne announced. “I happen to be his date for the evening.” I turned around to see her eyes burning with jealousy, and she was staring straight at Catherine. This was a side to her I hadn’t seen before.

Catherine’s mouth flew open, and then she narrowed her eyes at Korinne in a silent battle. She turned to me and smiled. “Maybe some other time then Mr. Matthews.” She winked and sashayed her way to the other side of the room.

“What did she want to talk to you about?” Korinne asked curiously, with a jealous tone imminent in her voice. “I was beginning to think blondie there was going to get down on her knees and worship you … among other things.” She mumbled the last part, but I heard her clear as day. Korinne was elegantly dressed in a form-fitting, black sequined evening gown with her arms crossed at the chest. She looked amazing and pissed. I began to feel somewhat hopeful, since she had gotten jealous over another woman. “What are you doing here by the way?” she questioned.

Before I could open my mouth to speak, Richard’s voice came out over the crowd. I guess she would find out why I was here in just a moment. “Ladies and gentlemen, will you please take your seats.”

“Shall we?” I said, motioning to the chairs behind us.

She gave a small smile. “Sure.”

We took our seats side by side, and thankfully she didn’t move away from me when I sidled closer to her. Even if it was just a simple touch, it made me happy to be next to her. Richard’s voice boomed across the crowd. “We’re here tonight in appreciation of our wonderful doctors and staff. They’re love and dedication to their patients has made our hospital one of the best in the United States.” Murmurs of agreement floated through the crowd. Peeking over at Korinne, I noticed her shoulders were stiff as boards and her face was void of any emotion. I could tell she was trying to be strong by acting distant. Reaching over, I gave her hand a brief squeeze so she would know I was there to support her.

“Another reason we’re here is to celebrate a new plan that is effective immediately. Starting tomorrow we have several new doctors and nurses that will be circulating through our hospital halls. We were given an extremely generous donation from an amazing gentleman who wanted it to be placed in one of our former doctor’s memory.” Korinne gasped lightly beside me, and it was her this time that grabbed
my
hand and squeezed it tightly. “This lovely donation is the reason we could fund this new plan in Dr. Carson Anders’ memory. His passing was a tragedy, and we’re doing this to help prevent things like this from happening again.”

A tear escaped from the corner of Korinne’s eye, but she was still holding herself up strong. I knew it had to be hard for her not to break down, but she still listened intently to Richard’s speech. “The board would like to thank this generous donator with an award of appreciation.” Richard looked out at the crowd, and when his gaze landed on mine he smiled. “Everyone, I’d like you to show thanks to Mr. Galen Matthews.” Korinne sucked in a sharp breath and stared at me with wide eyes.

“Oh my God,” she murmured.

“I’ll be back,” I said. As I stood up the room erupted with the booming sound of everyone’s hands clapping. Richard handed me a plaque as soon as I walked up to the front. “Thank you,” I said to him, and to everyone out in the crowd. When my eyes veered to Korinne, I noticed her swiftly making her way out of the ballroom. Nodding to everyone, I left the stage to chase after her.
Please let me make it to her in time
, I said to myself. Dashing through the front doors, I was surprised to see Korinne standing there, motionless. Her back was to me but her gaze was locked on the city lights of downtown.

“Korinne,” I said softly. She didn’t speak, so I slowly moved closer and closer until I finally wrapped my arms around her. Twisting in my arms, she put hers around my waist, laying her head on my chest. It felt so good to have her there again.