Vicky signed, “I know. I really appreciate their concern. But, it would be nice if Jason and I could have some time alone.”
“Silence can be a great gift. But, sometimes it can be too loud. We just want to make sure whatever you need we’re here for you. Where is he anyway?”
Vicky understood the concern but she still wished everyone didn’t look at her with such pity. “He flew out to CkR Int’l a couple of days ago.”
“He’s keeping himself busy?”
“Too busy; I’m not sure he’s giving himself any real time to grieve and if he’s not consulting with the lawyers about Angel then he’s working. And, the worst part is no one can understand the pain he feels like I do. I want to share it with him but he’s shutting me out.”
“How do you mean?”
“He’ll fly out to CkR at a moment’s notice. Whereas, before he’d try to work via conference calls or Skype. Now, he’s barely here. When he is home, he makes sure to be gone when I wake up in the morning or he waits until I’m asleep before he comes to bed at night. And, if I do get a chance to see him throughout the day it’s mostly him making sure I don’t need anything. He’s avoiding me. ”
“Come on Vicky don’t be ridiculous. He’s hurting too. Men grieve differently than we do. I mean why would he be avoiding you? He adores you.”
Vicky wiped away a single tear that managed to escape. “I think maybe…he blames me for losing the baby.”
“What? That’s crazy talk. See, this is what I mean about silence being too loud. Sometimes it gives you too much time to think about things that don’t exist.”
Vicky shook her head, “You’re wrong Sandy. He won’t look me in the eye. He won’t even let me touch him. On the rare chance we get to lie in bed together, if I try to rub his arm or lay close to him, somehow he manages to break the contact.”
“Maybe you’re right but only about the needing to talk part.”
Vicky gave her a shaky smile then closed her eyes and thought back to a happier time in her life. She was nine, the sun was warm on her face, and shining brightly just like today. She could hear her mother’s laugh as she pushed Vicky on the swings. It was if she were standing right there next to her. Vicky began to sway on the swings just as she did on that day with her mother.
*****
Jason was in a staff meeting with his entire department heads. He barked at everyone. The goodwill and patience he received from his staff was wearing thin. When the meeting was over, Franklin lagged behind.
“How you holding up?”
“I’m good.”
“You’re sure? Maybe you should take a couple weeks off. I can handle things here until you get back.”
“Can’t…I just have way too much to do.”
“Jason, you didn’t take much time off after…”
“Franklin, I’m FINE.”
“Alright, you’re fine and I’m sure that’s why you bit Sanders’ head off and mine just now.”
“Well, maybe if he came better prepared I wouldn’t have had to bite his head off.”
Franklin knew Jason was in pain but he didn’t know how to reach his friend. “Maybe. Why don’t we go grab some lunch.”
“I can’t. I told you I’ve just got too much to do. And, I’ve got to call John Lucas.”
Jason’s cell phone rang. He looked at it, saw that it was Vicky, and pressed the ignore button.
“From what I’ve seen and heard in the papers the court of public opinion seems to be turning in your favor.”
Jason gritted his teeth, “Yeah, but at what cost? They talk about me and Vicky like they knows us. They don’t give a shit about our loss or pain. They’re just trying to sell papers.”
A moment later his office phone buzzed, “Mr. Rutherford, your wife is on the line.”
Exasperated, Jason rubbed the back of his neck, “Is it an emergency?”
“She didn’t say so sir.”
“If it’s not then, tell her I’m in a meeting and take a message.”
Franklin thought that was unusual. He’d never seen Jason not make her his priority. “So, how is Vicky doing? I haven’t seen her lately.”
Jason started looking at a file “She’s holding up.”
“Well, if you don’t mind I’d like to hitch a ride on your jet when you leave tonight. I didn’t book a flight.”
“I’m not flying out tonight. I’ve got so much to do that I’ll probably have to stay the weekend.”
Franklin gave Jason a hard look. “Jay, there’s not anything here that you can’t handle from home. Don’t you think you should be home with your family…with Vicky?”
“This place isn’t going to run itself. My mother and Shirley are there with her.”
“That’s good but she needs you.”
“Franklin…I really don’t want to discuss the needs of my wife right now.”
He threw up his hands as if surrendering, “Fine. We won’t talk about her. She’s your wife.”
“I’ve got to make this call can I catch up with you later?”
Jason was putting him out of his office. Another first. Franklin took the hint. He nodded to Jason but also decided not to fly to Atlanta tonight. He needed to keep a close eye on him. Jason was going through much more than he was willing to admit.
Chapter 20
It had been a long day. Jason was sitting at the bar waiting for the bartender to bring him his drink when he smelled a familiar scent of perfume and a familiar hand
