Rendezvous Part 12

Derrick knocked on the door and waited.

“Come in,” Natalie sniffed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to alarm you. I’m okay,” she lied unconvincingly.

“You don’t sound alright. Can I get you some tea or a brandy? Something to calm you?” Derrick sat at the vanity.

“No. I’ll be okay. I guess it’s all starting to really sink in,” Natalie confessed. “While you were away, I seemed to handle this so much better.” Derrick gave Natalie a confused look. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” Natalie eased to the edge of the bed.

“You miss him Nat. It’s understandable. You’re supposed to miss him,” Derrick stated sympathetically.

“You being here is great because nothing about you reminds me of home, but knowing you’re near, yet still at a distance is hard,” Natalie wiped away a threatening tear away.

Derrick said nothing and watched Natalie try to reconcile her thoughts and feelings. And then it dawned on him. Natalie was used to sleeping with someone — Lloyd. She was used to a man being around her in an intimate way, but the two of them were just friends. Derrick had developed intimate feelings for her and while he wouldn’t call it love, there was definitely an attraction. Derrick felt his defenses rise and he stood up.

“I’ll make you some tea.” Derrick quickly retreated from the room. Fortunately, Natalie didn’t notice his sudden change in demeanor.

Natalie crawled under the sheets and mindlessly surfed the channels until Derrick returned.

“Here you go. It’s chamomile infused with lavender. It’s supposed to soothe and relax you; Mother swears by it,” he placed the cup on the night table. “I’ve got to call home. I’ll check on you in a bit.”

Rendezvous Part 11

The time between the trial and Natalie going to Philadelphia passed like frozen molasses. The case was long and Derrick's time on the stand was extraneous. Testimony after testimony felt like a never-ending script and he was happy when it was over. The only reprieve Derrick had was spending time with his children. The faux family interactions drained him more than the case did, but he played his role as husband as required. He couldn’t wait to leave for Philadelphia though it would be another week. To Derrick’s dismay, his anticipated trip was delayed, and Natalie had already returned home. Their conversation bordered on terminal when she called to say she had to go back home and it was a few months before the two spoke regularly again.

Natalie let her work consume her days and even nights as a means of dealing with her grief. But after passing out at her desk, it was recommended that she take some time off again. With counseling and a retreat at a private spa, Natalie was able to reconcile her feelings toward loosing Lloyd. Though her being home wouldn’t have prevented Lloyd’s death, she felt that had she been home, she would have at least seen him at the hospital before he passed. Derrick’s friendship, support, and understanding had been paramount in her recovery once she’d checked in to see how he was doing and to update him on her life. An opportunity for her to return to Philadelphia presented itself when she was offered a chance to perform a series of lectures at the University of Penn for the Medical Sciences department and she called Derrick to see if the house was available. Fortunately for her it was and this time Derrick would be able to join her during the second week of her trip.

Natalie didn’t seem to mind being in the house alone and it wasn’t until Derrick arrived that she even noticed how solitary she’d been. Derrick took Natalie out for a tour of Philadelphia that was less touristy and took her to Atlantic City and New York. The days passed with ease, but a couple of times at night Derrick could hear Natalie weeping in her room. He’d chosen to let her reach out when she was ready, but this particular night seemed unusually rough for her.