Page 2 of Lost and Found

We’ve reached the part of our relationship where all we do is argue about the amount of time I spend at work. She goes on and on about how she’s not a priority in my life, like I am in hers. She’s a fashion designer and I’m a doctor. My career is slightly more demanding than hers, and I don’t think I should have to apologize for that. Plus, I never asked her to put me above her career.

I sigh as I climb into my SUV. It’s okay, I expected this. All of my relationships end up going in this direction and eventually, the woman becomes too annoyed and leaves. I’m married to my job they say, and I won’t deny it. I love my job even if I do question it from timeto time.

As I start the engine, my phone rings and I brace myself for the wrath of Ella as I answer the phone. Her voice instantly fills the area of the vehicle since my Bluetooth is connected. “Reid, I swear if you aren’t on your way here right now, I’m going to lose it!”

Well, sounds like to me she’s already lost it by the screech in her voice. “I’m in my car headed toward my place now,” I tell her calmly, because let’s face it I’m too tired to care.

She huffs into the phone. “This is so embarrassing, Reid.”

I’m really not sure how this could be embarrassing to her, since she was making dinner at my place and then watching a movie. No one aside from us knows that I’m late. I understand she’s upset because she worked hard to make a meal for me. I get that, I do, but at the same time, when I’m in surgery sometimes it takes longer than I anticipated. It’s not like I can just leave in the middle of surgery because I have a date. When Ella insisted on tonight, I reminded her it was my surgery day, but she said it’d be fine. “Ella, you knew when you picked this day to schedule a date,that it was my surgery day. I’m sorry I’m late, but I can’t exactly help it.”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault that you are late for our date? That’s great Reid, just great.”

I sigh as I feel the familiar frustration start ebbing its way into my psyche. “I didn’t say it was your fault, I’m just saying that you knew me being late was a possibility, so don’t be so upset by it.”

“You know what, I’m going home. I don’t like the tone of your voice or the attitude that you are throwing at me. I slaved over this damn dinner for you, and you didn’t even have the common courtesy to show up on time. I hope you have a great meal…alone!” She hangs up the phone.

I sit there trying to figure out what in the hell I was supposed to do to make her happy. I mean, honestly, did she expect me to just drop everything and run there?This is why I don’t do relationships. Too much damn drama.

I pull into my driveway and listen to the constant sound of the waves. I know a lot of people dislike the constant sound of the waves, but I find it relaxing. It’s the main reason I bought this house. That and the fact that it was dirt cheap. It needed a lot of work, which I’ve done over the last couple of years, and now it’s my little slice of heaven.

I walk up to the house and find the door unlocked and all the lights on. Thanks a lot, Ella. Once I’m inside, I notice the absence of scent. The house should smell like food, yet all I smell is the lingering perfume from Ella. I walk into the kitchen and see the pasta sitting on the stove. I walk over and right away I know it’s from Mario’s downtown. I reheat it and fix myself a plate. No sense inletting it go to waste.

Once my plate is fixed, I head outside, onto my deck and sit under the moonlight, where I can listen to the waves in peace. I hear the far boom of thunder. That’s funny, I don’t recall seeing any storms on our forecast this morning when I checked it. I watch as the water becomes more aggressive and choppy, the clouds darken, until the stars are lost and then the moon. The wind picks up and the thunder roars again only closer this time. The lightning dances in the distance.

I start to pick up my empty dishes as the first large raindrop falls, followed by a pelting rain. The heavy, large raindrops come down mercilessly, making it impossible to even make out the stairs that lead off my back porch. It gives a whole new meaning to raining cats and dogs. I yawn and go through the house, locking it up and turning off the lights, before stripping out of my clothes and climbing into the bed. I’ll worry about a shower later. Right now, I just need sleep. I let the sound of the beating rain sing me into a deep slumber.

Chapter Three

Paige

The afternoon spent at the zoo and the park was a lot of fun, but also very tiring. The sun only got hotter as the day went on, and by the time we got ice cream and piled back into the car, the sun was starting to set. It didn’t take long before Corey was sound asleep in his car seat. As we make our way back to Sunnyvale, Codi takes my hand. He turns on the radio to my strange music, as he likes to call it. My musical taste is a little eclectic than his. I love alternative rock things bands like:Ra Ra Riot,Silversun Pickups,andSam Fender.Right now, one of my current favorites is playing on the radioMaybe, I’m Afraidbylovelytheband. I hum along and Codi glances at me and smiles. “What?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Just laughing at you and your strange music.”

“Well, not all of us are into hip-hop like you. Some of us actually like music,” I tease him back. This has always been the one point that we have never been able to agree on;our musical tastes. Cody looks over at me and for a split second, he’s not looking at the road, but it's long enough for us to run over something to cause a blowout on one of our tires. We swerve, Corey wakes up crying, and I grip the door as if my life depends on it. Thankfully, Codi is an experienced enough driver that he doesn’t panic and manages to navigate us to the side of the road. Once we’re safely on the shoulder of the road, I release the breath I had been holding, but didn’t even realize. Codi reaches over and pulls me into his arms.

“Are you okay? Is the baby okay? Do you feel like you’re hurt?” he asks, in a rush of air. I nod my head and Corey wails in the backseat.

Codi and I both hurry out of the car and I snatch him up into my arms. I kiss the top of his head that smells like baby lotion and sunscreen. It’s the best scent in the world. I walk around the car and see Codi staring at the tire. “Can you fix it?” I ask him.

“Yeah, we have a spare, jack, and tools in the back so we should be okay. I’ll get to work on it. Is Corey okay?” he asks.

I nod my head, yes. “He’s fine, just a little shaken.” I walk up and down the side of the road, until Corey finally drifts back off to sleep. The sun has gone down now and the night sky above us seems to be darkening by the minute. I make my way over to Codi. “Do you need any help?”

He lets out a string of curses and stands up. “No, I just need some damn light, but the cell phones are dead and the batteries inside of the flashlight are no good, and I swear that sky is just getting darker.”

“I think there’s a storm moving in. Maybe, we should just call roadside assistance.”

“Paige! The phones are dead. We’re stuck here until I get this damn tire fixed!” Codi’s voice bellows around us, and I know he didn’t mean to snap at me. I know he’s stressed, tired, and frustrated with the quickly dimming light, but I’m also pregnant and emotional. I bite back the tears that threaten my eyes and walk away from him. I don’t want to say something I’d regret later. I sit on the ground with Corey in my arms. Almost an hour later, Codi makes his way over to me. “Paige, I’m sorry I snapped at you. That was so unfair.”

I shake my head, dismissing the excuse because I don’t need one. I get it. “It’s okay, I know you were stressed.”

He helps me up with Corey still tucked away in my arms. “It’s not just that. I hated you being stuck out here all this time. I’m supposed to be protecting you and Corey.”

I laugh and caress his cheek. “You do protect us. Don’t let this one time that you couldn’t see what you’re doing, make you think you aren’t protecting us.” He smiles and leans down to kiss me, just as the thunder booms in the distance.

“Looks like you were right, there is a storm moving in.” Codi takes Corey and places him in the car seat for me before slipping back behind the wheel.

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