Page 65 of Broken Beyond Repair
“I’ll try. I doubt I’ll succeed.” Sydney grinned as she held down a tight muscle, causing Beatrice to flinch and suck in another breath.
“Now, ladies, play nice,” Rosie smirked as she observed Sydney’s handiwork. “That’s spot-on, Syd. We’re trying to encourage blood flow to the area to help heal it. You broke your leg four weeks ago this Friday, is that right?”
“Yes,” Beatrice replied, amazed at how well informed Rosie was. What else had they discussed about her on their night out?
“All being well, they should move you into a walking boot for a couple of weeks, which will protect the bone whilst allowing movement of the surrounding muscle tissue. The walking motion will reduce muscle wasting and make physical therapy more effective as you can start strengthening exercises sooner.”
After fifteen minutes of further torture at Rosie’s hands, her leg was beginning to feel better. They then went over ankle stretches, ankle rotation, and ankle flexibility exercises that she would need to do daily once her cast was off. Rosie had her writing out the alphabet with her good leg, drawing a snigger from across the room.
“I can hear you sniggering, Miss MacKenzie. If you can’t be professional, I suggest you leave the room.” She allowed a hint of flirting to enter her voice, pleased her assistant had lightened up a little since the arrival of her friend.
A stifled giggle came from behind her laptop. “Sorry.”
With Rosie seen back to her car half an hour later, Sydney reappeared in the kitchen and headed straight to the kettle, flicking it on.
“Thank you for encouraging me to have physio,” Beatrice said. “That really helped. I’ll be out of your hair in no time with her hardcore regime.” With no response forthcoming, she looked over to find Sydney staring at the kettle. “Sydney, are you okay? You seem a little distracted since… we woke.”
“I’m fine, it’s…” Sydney turned to her, agitation etched on her face. “Look. I’ve been thinking about the book; are you absolutely decided that Peter should be left out of it?”
“He’d sue me if I wrote anything about him.”
“But it’s all true.” Sydney joined her on the sofa and took a deep breath. “And there’s more.”
Beatrice’s eyebrows twitched. “More?”
Sydney nodded and then opened her mouth to speak only to close it again.
“It’s okay. I can take it,” Beatrice reassured her, desperate to know what was so bad it could silence Sydney. Was this what was playing on her mind?
“It wasn’t only your co-star and prostitutes…”
Beatrice’s stomach tightened in anticipation.
“He got hands-on with… most of your assistants.”
Beatrice’s gaze fell to the floor. After a moment of silence, she found her tongue.
“How did I not see that?”
“There’s a lot you miss when you’re looking at yourself.”
It was the truth, but it stung like hell.
Sydney placed a hand on her arm and gave it a light squeeze. She was growing fond of that hand reaching out to her, reassuring her in moments of need.
“It was never you, Beatrice. Always him. There’s never been anything wrong with you. You’re perfect. I’m sorry I suggested you were driving them away.”
“I’m sure Peter can’t have a claim to all of it. I know I can be… challenging.”
“Are you? Or are you a result of a lifetime of manipulations by those who were supposed to love you?”
She examined the anxious expression on Sydney’s face, confused as to why it held so much concern.
“It’s kind of you to even suggest that. Thank you for telling me. However… I cannot prove it.”
“I can,” Sydney said, pulling up a recording on her phone. Her finger hovered above the play button. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”
Beatrice would have no idea if she wanted to hear it until she’d heard it, so she encouraged Sydney with a nod.
