Chapter Twenty-Four
Everett
The words Liza said to me cut through me, like a blade slicing straight into my heart. But at the same time, it made me realize something. Her words didn't cut because I still loved her, they cut because I felt sorry for her. She was confessing feelings for me that I could never reciprocate. I had expected to feel something for her still because I had loved her more than any woman...until now.
Now, I knew that whatever Liza said from that moment on, my heart already belonged to Vivienne. I could not and would not betray her trust. Being there with Liza made me see that I cared for Vivienne more deeply than I ever had or could for Liza.
"I... I'm sorry that you made that mistake," I said, being careful about how I framed my words. "But that's old history now. Water under the bridge, you know. Those days are gone, and it won't do either of us too good to dwell on 'em."
She nodded, smiling sadly.
"I know. It doesn't change the fact that you're the best guy I ever dated, though."
"Well, thank you, I guess."
"You don't have to say anything back to me. I know what I did to you was terrible. It was my fault that you and I didn't work out, and over the years I've come to terms with that, and I've accepted responsibility for what I did. I messed you around, Everett, I really did, and with my selfishness, I ruined what could have been something amazing. Which could have... could have been the best thing in my life."
Her confession hit pretty hard. It did seem like she had changed. I know that often a leopard can't change its spots, as the saying goes, but sometimes people are able to turn over a new leaf. I mean, I never in a million years thought I'd hear her say that things were her fault. I never once imagined that she would take responsibility for what happened between us – yet here she was, doing exactly that.
"I appreciate that, Liza. Thank you."
"I owe you an apology, and I have always wanted to say that to you. I just never imagined that I would see you again. After all, I hardly deserved to see you again after what I put you through."
I didn't know how to respond to that. I waited for a while, seeing if a coherent response could emerge from all the mad thoughts bouncing around my head.
"I never imagined I would see you again, either. It's, uh, well I guess it's downright weird that you're here."
"Yeah, it is. Almost like... fate?" she said, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes.
Oh no. No, no, no. I wasn't about to let her grab hold of any hope of us getting back together. I was with Vivienne now, and nothing was going to change that.
"Or just a strange coincidence. I don't believe in fate," I said.
"Well, we all have our own beliefs, I guess. So, uh, how did you find life as a Navy SEAL? I always thought it was odd that you did that right after finishing a degree in education."
I wanted to say, "Well, it was because of you and what you did to me that I did that," but of course I couldn't. I wanted to keep things civil between her and myself.
"I guess I just always had a thirst for adventure, you know? And you understand how I have always felt a need to be the best I could be, and to push past my limits."
"Oh yeah," she said with a chuckle. "You used to be into all sorts of extreme sports back in college days. Remember the time we went bungee jumping together."
I smiled – that had been a good time. "I had to jump three times before you could work up the guts to jump," I said.
She laughed. "Yeah, you did! I was scared stiff, and I swear I almost had a heart attack when I eventually did summon up enough courage to jump. But wow, it was such an experience. And there was the time you took me skydiving for, was it for Valentine's Day?"
I laughed. "Yes, yes, that was on Valentine's Day when we were 21."
"Wow. How things have changed, huh?"
I knew I was treading on thin ice here; she might be playing all nice and nostalgic and pleasant now, but there was no way I could tell if it was some sort of act, designed to reel me in. Not that it mattered. I only wanted Vivienne.
"Things sure have changed," I agreed.
I needed to get the focus away from the past. All this nostalgic recollection was dangerous.
"But anyway, let's not get too carried away about how things used to be. What about now; I'm sure you have a great guy who doesn't force you to jump from hair-raising heights."
She shook her head, and a look of sadness came over her face.
"No, right now I'm as single as a girl can be. My last boyfriend was a bit of a jerk. He was a lawyer and seemed like a great guy."
"What went wrong then?" I asked.
"He had not only one, not even two, but three other women on the side. He was a serial womanizer. He strung me along for almost two years before I found out about the women on the side."
Part of me felt a little bit of vindictive satisfaction as I heard this. "So, now you know what it's like to have someone you love have an extended affair behind your back," I wanted to say – but I didn't.
"Gee, I'm sorry to hear that," I said.
Again, that glimmer of hope sparkled in her eyes as she looked at me.
"Thanks; guess it just means I'm wide open for Mr. Right."
"Well, I'm sure the right guy will come along soon."
I didn't want to give her even the slightest hint that anything could happen between us. In fact, I needed to get off this topic altogether.
"Anyway," I continued. "We are here to talk about my daughter, and I have a lot of things I need to attend to this afternoon. What can you tell me about Janie's condition?"
"Ah yes, well, according to the tests I had requested before I got here, she's got a nasty virus – it's a type of stomach flu that has been doing the rounds recently. It's a particularly virulent strain and usually hits the very young and the very elderly harder than most, and anyone else who doesn't have a particularly strong immune system. But I'll give her a few shots. I'm happy to say that she has passed the worst of it and is looking much better now. In fact, she might even be ready to leave the hospital later this evening. I just need to observe her for a few more hours before I can recommend that."
Whatever else I might think about Liza, her professionalism as a doctor was apparent, and I had to say that I was pretty damn impressed.
"I'm very, very relieved to hear that," I said.
"Yeah, so am I. I've lost two patients to this virus in the past two weeks. I did all that I could, but they just weren't strong enough to fight it off. Your little girl, though, don't worry: she's a fighter. Takes after her daddy, I guess."
"She does. And I'm very relieved to hear that she'll be alright."
She nodded.
"She will be. Like I said, she's already getting much better."
I could sense that she wanted to talk to me more – a lot more – but I knew that that wouldn't be a good idea.
"Is there anything else I should know about her condition?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Everything seems to be in order for the moment. Like I said, if she continues to show signs of improvement, I'll recommend that she be discharged."
"Thanks, Liza. Well, if that's all, like I said, I have some things to do this afternoon, especially if I might get to take Janie home."
"Alright, well you better take off then."
We looked at each other again, and there was an intense look in her eyes; it seemed almost as if she was on the verge of tears.
"Goodbye, Liza," I said, breaking the silence. "Thank you."
"Goodbye, Everett. It was good seeing you again after all these years."
"Yeah, it was. Maybe I'll bump into you again in another ten, huh," I said, smiling.
"Maybe sooner," she said, returning my smile.
She stepped forward and hugged me tightly, and I hugged her back a little awkwardly and then disengaged.
"Bye, Everett," she repeated and walked away.
As I was walking away, I got my phone out, and saw that I had missed a call from Vivienne; my phone had been on silent, so there had been no ringtone. I called her back and was utterly shocked to hear that while I had been away, Simon had broken into her house.
"I'll be right there," I told her and sprinted out to my truck.