Page 7 of Insatiable

“Please, Tay, let us help you. I know we have all led separate lives these past eight years, but it doesn’t mean we don’t want to be there for you.” I keep my voice calm and quiet as I plead with her. I don’t say what I want to say, that we still love you and how we would move heaven and earth to have you by our side. That the day you walked away from us, time stopped, and we are all living a half-life without you. If I could have told her that right now, I’m sure she would walk away from us all over again.

“For your safety, and as your doctor, I don’t advise you to go all the way back to LA without help.” I have to throw the doctor card in for good measure, and judging by the thumbs up from Jay, I know it didn’t go over too authoritatively. “I just want what’s best for you, Tay. We all do. We will be there for the rest of your recovery every step of the way. I’ve taken a leave from the hospital for a few weeks. You’ve got our very best version of a black Bill Gates behind you, who will be at your beck and call. Sean is in between jobs for the time being—”

“Sean’s here?” Tate looks up at Jay and then back to me, as a stray tear finally falls.

“We are all here, Tatter-tot. We’ve got your back.” Jay gives her shoulder a squeeze and her eyes soften just a little.

“I don’t want to disrupt your lives. But—” She chews her lips between her teeth, and I notice the slight tremor in her right hand, and I quickly take it in mine to steady her.

“Paul is on the road. I don’t think I am ready to go back to my house, not yet, anyway,” she whispers the last part, and I find myself gritting my teeth in anger for what happened to her.

“Your best friend Paul knows where you will be. I am sorry I didn’t spring this on you sooner, but you’ve had a lot to deal with since you woke. Please forgive me for omitting it.” I poke my lips out apologetically and she smiles. It was small but it means everything.

“Only for a few weeks,” she says decidedly. “A few weeks. PT will be over by then, and hopefully it will give me time to figure things out.” Tate nods to herself as if she is giving herself a pep talk. I feel like I can finally breathe because it could have gone the other way.

“You won’t regret this, Tate,” Jay says as I stand up and push the button quickly to call the elevator.

“It will be like old times. Except this time, we don’t need to eat ramen noodles or hot dogs,” I say with a wink, she finally throws her head back and laughs. Tate smiles wide and my soul sings. There’s the Tate I know and love.

“That shit was always disgusting, Cace.” She laughs again and relaxes back into the chair. Jay locks eyes with me again. Tate's acquiescence is one thing, but his approval further validates my relief I did not fuck this up.

“Let’s get you to the house,” Jay says as the elevator pings and the doors slide open. I check my watch and can already hear Sean cursing my name that no one was there at my house to let him in. I pull out my phone out and shoot him a quick message.

ME: Touch and go for a second. Didn’t think she was going to agree to come.

Sean: Only you would wait to the last minute to tell her. I am sure Jay loved that. 😊

ME: Fuck off. They are on their way now.

Sean: Fine. I don’t know how good I am going to be for her. But for Tate, I will fake it until I make it.

ME: She will be happy you came. You should have seen her face when I said you were here.

Sean: I’m outside your house, so I will see her face when she pulls up into your massive ass driveway. Why do you need a house this big, Cace?

I laugh at his message.

ME: I had hope.

Sean: I am not even going to dissect that at all.

If he is thinking of laying down roots in a beach house in Santa Barbara well, we would need to discuss this further. What if that’s not what Tate wants? Is he thinking family, marriage, and kids? Oh, Cace and his incessant planning.

ME: See you soon.

Sean: Yea.

“Cace, are you coming?” Jay asks as he holds the door open for me. I lift my phone and wave it around.

“Sean is waiting. I will catch up. I have a few odds and ends to tie up before I leave my department in the hands of my deputy,” I tell them.

“Is Sean’s wife here as well?” Tate asks a little too excitedly. I spare a glance at Jay then back to Tate. Obviously, she hasn’t heard the latest news.

“Sean’s divorced.” Tate’s mouth flies open wide with shock, but she gestures with her hands for me to tell her more.

“I will fill you in on the ride to Cace’s. Ultimately, it’s Sean story to tell.” Tate closes her mouth and nods her head in understanding. Jay salutes me as the doors close and then I am left alone. I take another deep breath and turn back towards the nurse’s station.

“Nurse Grey, I’ve signed off on all the patients paperwork. Dr. Sims will be in charge until I return.” Nurse Grey smiles up at me softly then her eyes go back to the computer in front of her.