Love's Second Chance (Second Chances #1)(30)
“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.