Page 39 of Together at Ruby's

“Is that who we are waiting for?” Liza asked. “You mentioned that someone contacted you, Rey.”

Rey nodded. “Yes,” she said. “The police called, and that’s how I found out that Nikki was in the hospital. Somehow, they got my number and called me at work to tell me Nikki Vander was in an accident.”

Pausing for a moment, Liza absorbed what Rey said. Clearly Nikki had her as an emergency contact somewhere. “Did they tell you anything specific about what happened?”

“Not much,” Rey said, shaking her head. “Only that the driver had run a stoplight and hit Nikki full force in the bike lane.” Unable to help herself, Liza flinched at the image. She knew the damage had to be severe.Thank God she’s still alive, she thought not letting herself think of the alternative.

“Was she wearing a helmet?” Liza asked.

“Yes,” Rey said. “The policeman mentioned that and said it probably saved her life.” No one said anything for a few minutes. Liza’s mind raced through scenarios. She had seen hundreds of photographs of car crash damage. Crumbled metal, shattered glass. The idea Nikki, wearing only a helmet for protection, was hit by a moving car made her stomach ache.

Allie squeezed Liza’s hand. “Is Tate on her way?”

“Yes,” Liza said. “I contacted her through her assistant. She said she would come.” Again, there was nothing but silence while they were all lost in their thoughts about what happened. Suddenly, it occurred to Liza she had no idea about Nikki’s family. “Has anyone tried to contact Nikki’s parents? They would certainly want to know about her accident.”

The group all looked from one to the other. “I don’t know anything about Nikki other than just what she’s told all of us,” Allie said. “I don’t even know what kind of family she has.”

“She must have parents,” Liza said. “Maybe brothers and sisters. I mean we went to that fancy house for Christmas last year that was a friend of her father’s.”

“That’s true,” Vivian added. “But how we find them is the question.”

Reluctantly returning to the boardroom,Tate stepped inside and realized no one was presenting. She walked to the front of the room. Apparently, Walt’s update had been short and likely insignificant.Just my luck, Tate thought as she picked up the projector’s remote and turned to look at the group. “Glad you could make it,” Chad said with his voice full of sarcasm. “You’re wasting all our time.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Tate said. “Let me get started.” Clicking to the first slide in her presentation, Tate looked at the screen for a moment and said nothing. The numbers. flowcharts, and graphs all seemed to run together. She gave that kind of information diligently over and over for the last ten years. It was who she was and what she did, and it made her good money.But is that enough?she wondered.Do I want to do this for the rest of my life? Especially if I don’t have leadership’s respect?

Chad leaned forward in his chair. “Are you going to say something?” he asked. “This is getting ridiculous.” Tate looked at the man sitting in his business suit with an expensive tie. His hair was thinning on top and there were wrinkles on his face, but worst of all, he looked tired. He had aged a lot over the last ten years, but he was a lifer exactly like she thought she was.Do I want that to be me?she wondered.Old and tired and still here giving presentations?

Slowly she set the projector’s remote on the boardroom’s large table. “Actually, I won’t waste any more of anyone’s time here today.” Tate scanned the room and saw the faces of her colleagues, all looked uncomfortable at what was transpiring. Some she had had drinks with, maybe even gone to some sort of promotional event with, but none were truly friends.None are anything to me like Nikki, she thought. “I’m going to go now.” She turned to Chad. “My friend is in the hospital, and I need to be with her.”

“You’re not serious?” Chad said his face flushing with anger. “I think you need to reconsider what you’re about to do. You’re on thin ice already.”

Tate’s eyes widened. The words coming from a man she had respected and considered something of a mentor surprised her. Then she had a thought and looked down the table at Aurora Price. Unlike everyone else in the room, she was smiling, only to Tate it looked more like a smirk. In that instant she realized Aurora had been doing far worse than simply harassing her. She had talked to Chad behind her back clearly saying things that were not good for Tate’s career.She’s trying to sabotage me,Tate thought.To keep me under her thumb.It seemed crazy to Tate one person would do that to another, but she was not going to take the time to analyze it today. Combined with everything else that had been happening in Tate’s life recently, it was too much.

She looked at Chad again. “Regardless,” she said. “I am leaving right now.” The man looked ready to say something, but Tate held up a hand. “If I’m not welcome back, then it is what it is. I’ll be here tomorrow to discuss it.” Without another word, she strode out of the boardroom and hurried toward the elevator. She had someplace to be, and it wasn’t there.

27

Holding Allie’s hand as they sat together on the uncomfortable vinyl couch, Liza forced herself not to tap her foot. Tate should be there, and she considered calling her again to find out what the delay was. Nikki was very important to Tate, and it made no sense she would let anything stop her from coming to the hospital. Just as Liza was about to take her phone out of her purse, she saw her girlfriend jogging down the corridor toward them.

Standing, Liza met her at the edge of the waiting area, and Tate enveloped her in a big hug. The feeling of the woman’s strong arms around her, holding her tight, made everything a little less scary. Tate was strong on every level, and she was her rock. Finally letting go, Liza stepped back but kept her hand on Tate’s arm as they moved further into the waiting area.

“Okay. Tell me the details,” Tate said. “Everything we know.” Her businesslike tone was exactly what everyone seemed to need to help them focus. Even Allie, who had not been able to stop her tears lifted her head to listen.

Her voice filled with emotion, Rey recounted everything the group knew. Liza watched Tate’s face as she absorbed the news. Only her eyes gave her away—fear for her friend.

When Rey was finished, Tate nodded. “Waiting on the doctor, it is,” she confirmed and led Liza to another of the short couches.

“One other thing,” Vivian added. “Do you happen to know how to reach Nikki’s parents?”

Tate pursed her lips. “Actually, I don’t,” she said, surprising Liza. She was certain if anyone knew, it would be Tate. Apparently, Nikki was a closed book to all of them. “I don’t know much about Nikki’s background, but I think she has family somewhere back east. We never spoke about it in any depth.” Tate sighed. “She’s just Nikki.”

Everyone nodded. “But we have to find out,” Marty said. “We need to let them know. Someone.”

“Did anyone try to see the contacts on her phone?” Vivian asked.

Rey nodded. “I looked but the phone is smashed and won’t turn on.”

“Wait,” Tate said. “I do have a key to her condo.”

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