Page 2 of Extended Bridge

“Don’t you know it.” The reality of what's happening hits me. “What am I going to do?”

“I think you need to come out strong to the reporters. Tell your side of the story.”

“Which is what? Darren was prescribed pain meds, abused them without my knowledge, and overdosed? Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.”

Her shoulders lower. “You’re right. I was there, I remember. If they didn’t believe you then, how will they believe you now?”

My entire torso droops. A moment later, I sit up straight. “It’s different because I’m a different woman. I have two physical therapy clinics, just got a bank loan to open a third, and can use the money I’m getting from treating Bennett for a fourth. I’m respected in the community. Our services are highly regarded.”

“All that is true, but I feel we need something extra.” She pauses. “What about Bennett?”

My response is swift. “What about him?”

“Well.” Her gaze bounces around the room. “Are you hooking up with him? Going to join him on tour like the article said?”

“Courtney! You know therapists can’t cross the line with our patients.” Although I did. Several times. Barely an hour ago. My lady parts tingle.

“I know, I know. Just saying, I wouldn’t blame you. That man is fine. With a capital F.” She nudges my shoulder.

And capital I, N, and E as well. I resist the urge to nudge her back. I’m not about to reveal my shameful breach of ethics, so I choose the other truth. “Bennett wants me to join the tour as his physical therapist. We met with his doctor yesterday”—was it only twenty-four hours ago?—“who prescribed continued PT until he’s fully healed.” When it all went down, I had shared with her all about his grade three groin pull and my misdiagnosis as a grade two, and Court knows about our PT work together.

“How’s he coming along?”

“His muscle pull is healing. Between you and me and the doctor who saw him yesterday, we believe it will be at least three more months of PT before he’s fully recovered. The doctor and I agreed not to tell Bennett this, though. Honestly, if he keeps on reinjuring it, it’ll take longer.”

“What’s delaying his progress?”

“Oh, the usual. Making too fast of a movement.” My lips purse. “Usually caused by reporters following him like bloodhounds.”

“Sounds as if he needs you with him on tour. Do you think he’ll be okay onstage?”

She’s hit on my main fear. With injuries like his, recovery can take longer if they’re not babied. There’s no telling what crazy thing he’ll do while performing that could set him back weeks, if not months.

“Honestly, I’m unsure. He’s reckless.” I use Darren’s descriptor of him, even though the man I’ve gotten to spend time with is anything but. More like broken. I shake my head. “After all, he caused the groin pull by executing a crazy jump during their performance following the premiere ofUntamed Coaster Unleashed.”

“I finally got to see the movie, by the way. I liked how you were portrayed.”

I offer her my first real smile since leaving Bennett’s place. “Thanks. Quinn Walker, the director, has a gentle hand. To me, it showcased everyone as they really are, but with an undercurrent of quiet positivity.” I shrug. “Maybe that’s how they are nowadays. More introspective.”

Although I say this, I’m not sure. The only time I’ve interacted with all of them since Darren’s funeral was when I diagnosed Bennett backstage. When I was with their keyboardist, the band was hyper-focused on making it to the next level. He was the prankster, although their drummer took a close second with his huge personality.

“Perhaps they’ve grown up.”

Things might have changed for them—they certainly have for me. “Haven’t we all?”

In the time since Darren’s death, I’ve had to do a lot of that. Moving houses, starting my business. Going to intensive psychotherapy at Ma’s urging. As she put it, “I didn’t take you when my mother died, and you need to resolve these issues to move on.” As usual, she was right. There wasn’t any time for frivolities like concerts or even movie theaters during my recent past. My singular focus has been building my business. Despite my doubts as to whether Darren and I would’ve lasted long term, considering how different we were, I still want to open ten clinics to make him proud.

“What are you going to do?”

“The million-dollar question, huh? Bennett wants me to give him physical therapy during the tour. But I have obligations, like working with contractors on our third location and scouting out a fourth. Despite what you told me before, I’m not really in a position to leave these important tasks behind, given the new media landscape. Plus, Ma’s not getting any younger.”

Court laughs. “Your mother’s going to be around forever. She hasn’t aged a bit since I met her!”

I grin at my friend. “You’re right. Gives me hope for my own, long future.” I can see it yawning before me. An image of Bennett with me appears, each one of us holding a child in our arms. I blink it away.

“Maybe filled with a certain tall, green-eyed singer with luscious caramel locks?” Her eyes sparkle.

“Court!” I smack her. “Stop it. I’ve had enough of band members to last me two lifetimes.” My vision notwithstanding.

---