Page 64 of Heal Me
Chapter Seventeen
“Kate, you don’t have to do this,” Robert said.
They stood at the bottom of Elliot’s Peak on Saturday, one of their favorite climbing locations. The view was killer and the climb was always challenging.
Kate checked her equipment one last time. “Yes, I do. I can’t let it beat me.”
Robert put a hand on her shoulder. “You have to be sure, Kate. You can’t go up there with any reservations. You know that a half-hearted climber is a dangerous climber.”
Kate met his eyes without flinching. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Her phone rang and her shoulders slumped. “Now, what?” Grabbing it out of her pack, a stab of surprise and longing ran through her when she saw Ric’s smiling face on her lock screen. “It’s Ric.”
“I can see that,” Robert commented wryly. “Are you going to answer it?”
“We’re supposed to talk this weekend, but I don’t see that there’s anything to discuss. He doesn’t want me to climb, but I love it and I don’t want to give it up,” Kate said. “He said that he can’t—”
“I know all that. Don’t rehash it. Don’t answer that, okay?”
Kate let the call go to voicemail. “What is it?”
Robert leaned on the rock wall. “I don’t like Ric giving you an ultimatum. You know that. But I know that he makes you happy. I love you too much to see you throw away that kind of love without at least talking to Ric more about it. I’m not saying that he’s right. I’m just saying that you should hear him out. That said, he needs to listen to you, too. He was reacting out of fear from seeing you hurt, with a little more time maybe he’ll think a little more rationally.”
“Maybe. I don’t know,” Kate said. “Phil never had a problem with me climbing or doing anything, for that matter. We did everything together. Parasailing, hang gliding, climbing. I didn’t know that this was going to be such a big hang up for Ric.” She hesitated before saying, “Maybe Ric doesn’t love me enough.”
Robert fiddled with his water bottle. “Ric isn’t Phil. Ric has never seen you climb or seen you do any of that other stuff to know how good you are at it. Now that his ankle is healed, you can start doing stuff like that together. Did you ever think about including him?”
It was a shock to Kate to realize that she hadn’t. Why not? Ric was a big, strong guy who liked sports and physical activity. There were bound to be some things that he’d enjoying doing with her. If not rock climbing, there was always hiking. Hadn’t he offered to teach her roping? Was it because she used to do those things with Phil and it had been their happy times? Was she subconsciously holding onto her past?
She shook her head. “That’s not the point. He thinks I’m an idiot for doing a lot of the stuff I like to do.”
Robert laughed. “A lot of people think we’re crazy, but we don’t get angry with them about it.”
“They aren’t trying to make us choose between our hobbies and them, though. That’s what Ric’s doing. Either I quit being an adrenaline junky, as he called me, or he can’t be with me,” Kate said. “I don’t let anyone dictate what I can and can’t do.”
“I’m not saying you should,” Robert said. “I’m saying that you have to be able to reach some sort of common ground.”
“Why is this so important to you?”
“Becauseyou’reimportant tome. I want you to be happy. A second chance at true love doesn’t come along every day, Special K. Is climbing some mountain really more important than building a life with the man you love?” Robert asked.
“It’s the principle, Robert.”
“So make him see that you’re not going to be bossed around, but don’t be so rigid that you can’t compromise. I think that Ric’s calling right now is a sign.”
Kate laughed. “You’re an idiot.”
“No, I’m not. I’m a big believer in that sort of thing. You need to go talk to Ric instead of climbing today,” Robert insisted.
Robert’s earnest expression convinced Kate that he was completely serious. Maybe he was right. She’d been completely miserable without Ric. It had weighed on her heart and kept her awake. Forcing herself to be reasonable, Kate admitted that at least hearing what Ric had to say was the right thing to do.
She groaned and let her shoulders sag. “All right. Fine. I’ll call him back.”
Robert smiled. “Good decision. I’ll start packing up our stuff.”
Kate’s stomach tightened with anxiety as she walked a short distance away. She hit Ric’s icon and waited.
“Hi, Kate.”
