Owen raised his head and told Joyce to call Cristina. "Call her, now. Maybe it is not too late. Maybe she is still at the airport in Portland. Call her, now," he urged. Joyce didn't need to be told twice as she quickly dialed Cristina's mobile number. When it went straight to voice mail, she was disappointed. "It is going to voice mail," she told him.
"Leave a message. Tell her that Phyllis said she could stay for a couple more days. Tell her to call us," he said. He knew that Cristina was probably already in the air and her phone was turned off. He was feeling terribly dejected that they were not able to get in contact with her.
Cristina turned the key in the lock on the front door of her apartment. She had not seen the apartment in three months. In the meantime, she had sublet for a short term, so that the rent could be paid while she was in Maine. "Logan, we're home," she told her son. Logan had slept on the flight from Maine to New York, so he was feeling a little refreshed, even though they had been awake so early. Cristina was a little wary about what she would find in the apartment. She breathed a sigh of relief, when she saw the apartment looked practically the same way as she left it. She was glad the person who had sublet the apartment had been kind enough to clean it, before she left.
"Are you hungry, Logan?" she asked. "Yes," he said. Cristina checked her cupboards. They were as bare as Mother Hubbard's. She sighed. She would have to make a run to the store. "We don't have anything to eat, Logan. I guess we can pick up some bagels on the way to the store."
"Okay," Logan said. He liked bagels, especially with cream cheese.
There was so much to do, Cristina thought. She wondered if Phyllis really expected her to come to work today. She hoped not. She took her phone out of her handbag. It was turned off from since she went on the flight. She turned it on. There were messages, she noted. She would listen to the messages, after she called Maria Santos who was Logan's babysitter. Maria lived in the same apartment building and was a stay at home mom with a two year old girl. Maria usually watched Logan during the day, while Cristina went to work. She dialed Maria's number, which was promptly answered. "Cristina, you're back in New York?" the woman asked.
"Yes, I am back," Cristina said. "I may have to go into work, today, so can I drop off Logan?"
"Yes, Gabby has missed him a lot," Maria said. "How was Maine?"
"It was great," Cristina said. "I will miss it very much."
"How is the fabulous Owen Hunt?" Maria asked. "He always looks so handsome on his books."
"Well, he is," Cristina said. "Very brilliant writer and a wonderful man, too. I wouldn't mind working with him, again."
"Sweet," Maria said. "Just give me a ring and let me know if you're dropping off Logan."
"Yes, thanks, "Cristina said. She hung up the phone. She decided to listen to the messages. The first was Phyllis. There was no mistaking that crisp voice. "Cristina, it's Phyllis Dolan. I have been trying to get on to you but your bloody phone seems to be off. I just wanted to let you know that I have relented and you could take a couple more days in Maine, before you come back to the office. Owen asked for you. You will thank me later. Goodbye." Cristina shook her head and stared at the phone. "Jeez, I get this now?" She then listened to the second message from Joyce. "Cristina, it's Joyce. We got a call from your boss, who said you could stay a few more days in Maine with us. Please call us." Cristina sighed and shook her head, again.
She decided to call Phyllis, first. The crisp voice answered, "Phyllis Dolan speaking. How may I help you?"
"Ms. Dolan, this is Cristina Yang," Cristina said. "Ah, Cristina, you must be very happy to get a few extra days in Maine before you come back to all of the noise and traffic in the city," Phyllis said. "You see I can be a benevolent boss."
"Um, I got the message too late," Cristina said. "I am already back in New York. I got an early flight this morning and I just got the message, when I turned on my phone."
"Oh, what a pity, Owen must be so disappointed. He did call me, yesterday, imploring me to let you stay for another couple of days," Phyllis said. "Oh, dear, he must hate me for calling back so late. " Cristina rolled her eyes.
"Ms. Dolan, since I am back in New York, do you expect me to come in to work today?" she asked. There was a pause on the other end. "Well, if you are feeling up to it, you could come in after lunch."
"That will be fine," Cristina said. That would give her enough time to get to the store and get some food for the apartment. "Goodbye, Ms. Dolan." She then dialed Owen's number. She figured he would be upset. Joyce answered the phone. "Hunt residence. "
"Hi, Joyce," Cristina said. "Cristina!" Joyce shrieked. "We were trying to get on to you to tell you to come back to the house."
"I know but my phone was turned off when I got on the plane. I just turned it back on," Cristina said. "I am sorry that I didn't get the message in time. I would have liked to stay."
"We are, too," Joyce said. "I guess you wish to speak to Mr. Hunt."
"Yes, please," Cristina said. Owen came on the phone, "Hey," he said.
"Hey," she replied. "I am sorry that I didn't get the message in time. I am back in New York."
"I figured as much," he responded. "So what are you going to do?"
"Well, Phyllis told me to come in to work, this afternoon, since I am already here," Cristina said. Owen cringed on the other end. That was so like Phyllis to take advantage of the situation, he thought. She didn't give Cristina a chance to even consider going back to Maine.
"I wish I was still there," she said, softly. "Yeah, me too," he said.
"Take care of yourself, Owen," she said. "You, too," he replied. They hung up the phone, both feeling very empty. She let out a big breath and turned to Logan, "Let's get something to eat and then we will go to the store. After that, I will drop you off at Maria's apartment for the afternoon. I have to go to work."
"Okay," Logan said. "Will we see Owen again?" He had listened to her conversation to Owen. She ruffled her son's curly hair. "I really hope so, baby," she said. "I hope we do."
The next few weeks were hectic, as the book was edited. Since Cristina had such a major hand in the book, the editing process turned out to be a breeze. Then, they focused on the artwork for the book, as well as his tour schedule. She contacted Owen several times over the weeks to find out how he was doing and to keep him abreast of everything that was going on with the book. He was glad to hear from her, as he recovered.
In terms of healing after corneal surgery, it was slow going because restoration of sight was gradual. He had his eye shields removed the day after surgery but he still had to wear them when he was in the shower or sleeping. He had to use his eye medications and have regular check-ups, faithfully. As for his vision, it was still blurred and he was getting impatient with the slow healing process. Maybe he had been too optimistic and thought that his eyesight would have been improved to what it once was. But, as the doctor explained, it would never be like what it was. As healing progressed, his sutures would be removed after three months and then, he could get contact lenses to correct any astigmatism or nearsightedness. That should be by a little before Thanksgiving. When healing was complete, he could undergo further laser vision correction surgery to see without glasses or contacts, he was told.
He was impatient for his eyes to heal but the highlight of his days was when Cristina called. He always felt better whenever he spoke to her. She always encouraged him that his eyes were going to get better. Sometimes, he spoke to Logan, who was always a lively conversationalist. Logan had started preschool and he greatly enjoyed the social aspects of the environment. He relayed his many thoughts and opinions about preschool, much to Owen's delight. He missed them very much. He could not wait until his eyes got better and he could finally see what they looked like. He was going to New York just before Thanksgiving to start his book tour. He was fitted with his contact lenses and for the first time since the accident, he felt totally free. He didn't have to rely on other people or walking sticks to help him get around. He was so grateful for this gift.
He was very excited about his trip to New York. After dropping off his luggage at his apartment, he rushed to Meteor Publishing for a meeting. He was there, supposedly, to see Phyllis but it was really to see Cristina. As soon as he got there, he looked around for her but she was nowhere to be found. He asked the receptionist and was told that Cristina had taken some time off because her mother had taken ill. He sighed. That meant that she was in Westchester.
He had so wanted to see her and to see what she looked like. He had often imagined seeing her for the first time and that it was always a magical moment in his mind. He was dejected when he went to see Phyllis. She noticed his forlorn face, immediately. "What's the matter, Hunt?" she said. "As if I didn't know. She will be back, soon enough. Her mother is ill and she went to look after her."
"I know. It is just that I was so anxious to see her," Owen said, slumping in a chair.
"Wow, you're really attached to that girl. Are you in love with her?" she asked. She knew she was prying but she didn't care. Owen Hunt was like a son to her, even though they had a prickly relationship at times.
"Maybe," Owen said. He paused. "Okay, yes. I am in love with her." It was the first time he actually articulated it.
"Wow, I have known you since you were 22 and I know you got a lot of girlfriends but this is the first time I have heard you say those words," Phyllis said, with a grin. "I never thought the day would come because you are such a loner."
"Well, this is the first time I am actually feeling it," Owen said. "The thing is I don't even know what she looks like. I mean I felt her face, when I was blind and to me, she was beautiful."
"Oh, you won't be disappointed, Owen," Phyllis said. Owen smiled. That was what Joyce had told him, too.
"Well, let us start about the book tour," Phyllis said. "As discussed, your first stop will be the Barnes and Noble on Fifth Avenue and then, the next day at Union Square."
"Okay," Owen said. They got down to the details of his book tour.
The next day, he was at the bookstore. The line for his book-signing was very long. He took photos with a lot of fans, plus he did a couple of interviews with the media. It was getting late in the afternoon. He was glad the line was finally thinning out. His hand was starting to cramp from signing his name, so many times.
He flipped open a book and started signing his name. "You can make that out to Cristina," the person said. He knew that voice and immediately looked up. He could not believe that she was standing right in front of him. "Cristina," he whispered her name. "Cristina," he said, again. "God you're beautiful." He took in her smooth skin, full lips and lovely, dark curls. And yes, she did have expressive eyebrows. His heart was filled with so much love for this woman.
"Well, I guess you don't have to put my name, since you dedicated the book to me. Just sign under the dedication," she said. He grinned and signed his name under the dedication.
"I guess I will just have to purchase this," she said. "Don't you want a photograph with the author?" he asked, cheekily.
"Oh, I think that I will get ample chances to take a photograph with the author," she said, laughing.
"Where's Logan?" he asked. He badly wanted to see the little boy, too.
"Oh, right now, he is in the children's area," Cristina said. "They're reading books to them. So he is a little occupied."
"Can we go out after this is over? Just stay around," he said. "We can go to dinner."
"Okay," Cristina said. "I will just wait with Logan in the children's area. As soon as you're done." He watched her walk away, staring at the curve of her backside in her tight jeans. "Hmm," he said, appreciatively.
"Mr. Hunt, Mr. Hunt," said the next person in line. "What name shall I put?" he said, dazzling the woman with the sweetest smile. His smile matched the joy in his heart.
A/N Please leave your thoughts and comments. I do appreciate when you take the time to do so.