“Can we go straight from here?” Murphy asks, as we finish up our lunch together in the gym café. “I can’t wait for you to see what I have lined up. Thanks for letting me help you find a new place.”
“Are you kidding? I owe you big time for doing it. I’ve been so busy trying out nannies and looking at preschools, not to mention the time I’m spending with my mom, that I haven’t even been able to think about it. You are a life saver. And, yes, we can leave from here. I should be done with my last client at five thirty.”
I pick up my trash and throw it in the garbage can. But before I leave, I can’t help it. I have to ask.
“Murphy, have you talked to Brady? Did he say anything to you?”
She laughs. “I was wondering when you were going to bring that up. And yes, I got an earful last night. He reamed me out for not telling him you and I were friends.”
Guilt consumes me. “I’m so sorry to have put you in that position. I never should have asked you to keep your mouth shut. It was unfair of me.”
“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think it was the best thing for both of you. But at least now he knows you didn’t change your number because of him.”
“Is that really what he thought? I had no idea he was going to try to call me, especially after six weeks of radio silence.”
“He was going to invite you to my wedding in January.”
“What?”
She smiles and nods. “It’s true. He ran the idea past me, and at the time, you were still in Tampa and we hadn’t become good friends yet. I told him to go for it. But truth be told, I couldn’t believe he was even considering bringing a woman to a wedding. I mean, this was Brady Taylor we were talking about. But that was just the first of many changes I’ve seen in him since he came back last fall.”
Murphy was the second person I called when I decided to move back to New York. My mother was the first. Murphy and I had gotten along well during her visit to Tampa. We kept in touch afterward and she told me if I ever needed anything to call her. Being a single mother with a parent in a memory care facility does not lend itself to friendships and most of the friends I made growing up and in PT school had fallen away.
I stand here looking stunned about the fact that he wanted to take me to Murphy’s wedding.
“Don’t look so surprised, Rylee. The man was completely taken with you. Still is, if his behavior last night tells me anything. I told you, he’s changed.”
I look at my watch and realize I’m late for my one o’clock. “I have to go, Murphy. I’ll see you tonight.”
Walking back to the PT room, I wonder what she means by that. He’s changed. He’s changed how? He’s not an arrogant spendthrift? He’s not bedding everyone in sight? He’s not running away from hospitals?
As I contemplate the possible answers to my questions, I come to a halt when I see none other than Brady Taylor himself sitting on one of my training tables. I look around for Jeannie Nolan, my one o’clock.
“Brady, I have a client. You can’t be here.”
“I know you have a client. I’m it.”
“You are not my client, Brady. Not anymore.” I walk back to my office to check my schedule on the computer and shake my head when I see Brady’s name pop up in this time slot.
“What? How?”
“I ran into Ms. Nolan at the front desk when I was trying to make an appointment with you. She agreed to switch her appointment to a later date.”
“She agreed?” I stare him down.
“Well, after I said I’d pay for it.”
I snort at him. Yeah, still an arrogant spendthrift.
“Brady, you can’t go bribing my clients so you can talk to me.”
“I didn’t do it so I can talk to you. I really do need a physical therapist.”
He holds out his left arm and my eyes find a new pink scar. Not the scar from his broken elbow. My eyes snap to his. “You had the nerve transposition surgery?”
He nods. “Some smarty-pants PT told me it was my best shot.”
“When did you do it?” I ask.
“Right before training camp,” he says. “I felt my progression had halted. I wasn’t getting any better. It was do or die time. And, well … I knew you’d be there to help in my recovery. Or so I thought.”
“So why come here now? You have team PTs you can work with.”
“I’m allowed to work with any PT I choose, even those outside of the organization. I know you. You will push me harder than anyone.”
“But you’ll travel with the team, won’t you?”
“Yes, whenever I can. But I’ll work with you when I’m home. You’re going to get me back, Rylee, I know it.”
I know he means get him back in the game, but I think of how else that statement could be interpreted.
“How long have you worked at the gym?” he asks, oblivious to how his double entendre has affected me.
“A little over two weeks.”
“But you quit your job more than six weeks ago. Did you leave before spring training because of Alex or because of me?”
I shrug. “To be honest, a little of both. I needed some time off after … everything. I was beginning to fear for my safety being in Tampa. Alex knew where I lived. And I had been away from my mom for too long. And yes, there was the thought of having to see you.”
“How is your mom?” he asks. “I know dealing with Alzheimer’s can be difficult.”
I furrow my brow. I’m positive I never spoke of her.
“I walked in on you one time when you were Skyping your mom. I didn’t want to say anything because we weren’t talking about personal stuff.”
“But we are now?”
He looks to the floor. “Depends on what stuff, I guess.”
“Meaning we can talk about my stuff, but not yours.”
I start to walk away but he pulls my arm, tugging me back to him. “Meaning we can talk about lots of stuff, but not all the stuff. Some things I just don’t talk about, Ry.”
I look at the clock. “If we don’t get started, you’ll have wasted a lot of money for nothing. Let’s do your evaluation.”
He watches me meticulously as I measure his wrist flexion and extension and his grip. He silently follows my direction when I put his arm, wrist and fingers through their paces. I’m reeling on the inside, knowing he’s already stronger than he was last fall. If anyone can overcome this, he can.
“You’ve done a lot of work today. I’d like to ice your arm before you leave.”
“What, no manual therapy?” He winks at me.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
I can sense that he’s getting ready to argue, but then he backs down.
“Fine, ice me up. We’ll work up to the other stuff.”
I type my notes into my laptop while he sits with ice on his arm.
“I tried to get you a transfer, you know. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it happen.”
“You did?” I look up, surprised.
“That day when I saw you Skyping your mom, I called the team owner and put in a good word for you.”
“So that’s why I got the job offer.”
He looks confused. “You got an offer to come back to New York and didn’t take it?”
“They offered me a staff PT position, but it would require traveling with the team during the season. I couldn’t do it. Not with Stryker. But thank you for trying.”
“How is he – your son?”
I can’t help smiling. “He’s great. He recovered quickly and is just like any other precocious three-year-old.”
Brady’s eyes close and he winces.
I touch his arm. “Are you in pain? Is the ice too cold?”
“It’s fine,” he says.
My next appointment comes in the room. “I’ll be right with you, Kathy.”
“Can we talk some more?” Brady asks. “After work maybe?”
“Sorry. Murphy’s taking me apartment hunting.”
“You don’t have a place yet? Where have you been staying all this time?”
“In a hotel. I know, it’s awful, Stryker and I sharing a room. I put all my stuff in storage. But I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had a chance. Murphy has been great. She’s lined up all the places for me to see.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty great, isn’t she? I’m glad you two have become friends.”
He studies me as I unwrap his ice pack.
“I guess I’ll see you next time,” I say.
“Ry.” He looks over at my next client to see that she’s keeping herself busy with her phone. “I’m sorry for how I left. I had my reasons. Reasons that had nothing to do with you. I just wanted you to know that.”
I shake my head. “You don’t owe me any explanations,” I say. “I knew what we were doing was a short-term thing. If I allowed myself to think anything else, it was my own fault.”
He steps closer. “Are you saying you wanted it to be something else?”
I look up at him but don’t answer.
He sighs and brushes a stray hair behind my ear. “It’s okay, Rylee. I wanted it to be something else, too.”
He walks away, leaving me incapable of … anything.
I hold a finger out to Kathy, letting her know I’ll be just another minute. Then I go into my office, close my door and just breathe.