Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (30 page)

Chapter 11

Day looked in the rearview mirror as Chase followed her to the hospital. His face appeared sad but stoic. His overnight bag already in his rental and ready to head straight to the airport after saying goodbye to her mother.

Day hurt all over. From her exhausted and jetlagged brain and body. To her passion-abused muscles. To her aching core and shredded heart. Not one single inch of her inside and out went untouched by that man. How had the bond between a little boy and girl become so twisted up in excruciating pain?

Chase parked next to Day in the hospital parking lot, and together they walked inside. The silence between them and tension of their impending goodbye were palpable. When they walked into Pat’s hospital room, she took one look at them and frowned deeply.

“I take it, it didn’t go over well?” Pat said, skipping pleasantries. “A mother can hope.”

“Hello, mom. How are you?” Day said almost sarcastically, calling to attention that she hadn’t even greeted them.

“Sorry. Hi, baby. I’m doing okay.” She said as Day leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Chase moved to her other side and also kissed her cheek. “You’re looking better, Mrs. D.” He grinned down at her.

“Thanks, Chase. I’m sure I’ll be outta here in no time. Kicking ass and taking names as usual.” She smiled sassily and Chase flushed, realizing that Pat knew his favorite saying for her. “Remember, I see and hear all.” She winked.

“God, I hope not!” Chase cringed and looked at Day.

“Uh huh,” Pat mumbled.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a few moments, between the three of them. Chase finally cleared his throat and gripped Pat’s hand.

“Well Mrs. D, I gotta get going,” Chase said around a thick throat. “Take care of yourself, alright?”

“Of course, sweetie,” Pat said. “Do you really have to go already?”

“It’s for the best,” he nodded. Day could hear the gruffness in his voice, getting deeper and deeper. It took all she had not to cry.

“Day.” Chase looked at her and nodded his head towards the door.

Day swallowed hard and followed him out the hospital room. He stopped right outside of the door and Day closed the door behind her so that her mother didn’t witness their goodbye. Day touched the bracelets on her wrist, and for the first time since he put them on, she took them off. Even through her wedding, honeymoon, and every time she made love to her husband, she wore those bracelets. But she couldn’t any longer. They felt like a thousand pounds on her arm.

She took Chase’s hand and placed the bracelets on his palm and then closed his fingers around them. Day looked up at him and he looked so lost.

“Day, don’t!” Chase exclaimed.

“I can’t wear them anymore, Chase. If I continue to wear them, I’ll continue to hope. And I’m so tired of hoping. I can’t take feeling this hurt one more time. It’s
killing
me,” she said as a sob broke past her lips.

Chase didn’t speak. His jaw muscle ticked as he clenched his teeth. His amber eyes shimmered with tears. With lightning speed they collided. Chase gripped her face and Day clutched the back of his head as their mouths came together harshly. Chase kissed her so hard that Day was certain she’d feel it weeks later. It would have to be enough to last them a lifetime. It was goodbye.

As quickly as he grasped her, he let her go and strode down the hall. Day placed a hand on her bruised lips as her eyes followed him, though it wasn’t like she could see him through her tears, but she could feel him. And she felt it when he was finally gone.

Day hurriedly opened the hospital room door to get away from the curious looks of the nurses nearby. She closed the door and pressed her back against it. She tried to take a deep breath, but the air got stuck in her throat. She said one word.

“Mom.” Her voice trembled and she broke.

“Aww…come here sweetie.” Pat held out a hand to her.

Day stumbled over to her bed and collapsed in the chair next to it. She laid her face down next to her mom’s leg as huge hiccuping cries burst past her lips. Her mom gently stroked her hair and cooed soothing words to her.

“This too shall pass,” Pat said wisely.

Day knew she was right, even though it felt like the pain would never stop.

Chase slammed the heel of his hands into the steering wheel of the rental over and over again.

“FUUUUUCK!!!” He roared in pain.

Tears blurred his vision and he swiped them away angrily. Besides coming to see Pat and to make sure she was okay, the purpose for him coming home was definitely not to end things permanently with Day. Hell, he had been hoping that if he couldn’t have her romantically; he’d gladly settle for getting his best friend back. But as always, his need for her physically. To connect with her in every way got him in too deep. In hindsight, he realized that coaxing her into having sex with him again, had only pushed her out of his life for good. He’d hurt her and she couldn’t take it any longer.

As Chase started the car and headed towards the airport, he knew that the ache in his chest wouldn’t be going away anytime soon. The pain seemed to worsen the further he moved away from Day and the closer he came to the façade of his storybook life.

~~~

“I’m pretty sure he’s sleeping with one of his students. I called him on it and he didn’t deny it.” Day admitted to her mother.

They were sitting on the couch at her mom’s house. Pat had been released from the hospital earlier that day. She rested on the couch as Daylen doted over her. It had been a week since Chase left and Day’s heart still didn’t feel any better. Both the Daniels women were healing broken hearts, just two very different kinds.

“I’m so disappointed in that man. I thought he was better than that though he did seem arrogant and controlling to me. But I try my best not to interfere with your private life,” Pat said and Day’s mouth dropped open.

“‘Try not to interfere’!” Day said in disbelief. “If I didn’t know you so well, I’d think that you purposely had a heart attack just to get Chase and I back together again.” She pursed her lips together knowingly.

“I’m not
that
crazy! I just want what’s best for you. And I truly believe that you and Chase are what’s best for each other. Your timing is just all out of whack. With a few mistakes thrown in for good measure.” Pat explained herself.

“Ain’t that the truth?” Day sighed and collapsed back into the couch cushions.

“So what are you gonna do? Are you gonna leave him?” Pat asked curiously.

“I don’t have much choice. I don’t want to have the type of marriage where we stay together and do our ‘own thing’ on the side.” Day shrugged.

“I so didn’t want divorce for my daughter. I wanted you to have better than me.” Pat breathed sadly.

“It’s okay, mom. I’ll make it through this. You did.” Day reached over and gently rubbed her mom’s hand that was bruised from the IV.

“I know. You’re a strong young woman. You’ll bounce back. Though, I find it interesting that you didn’t cry as you told me about ending your marriage with your husband. But you cried like a baby when you ended your relationship with Chase.” Pat said intuitively.

“I know! Am I a completely terrible person?” Day asked as she dropped her head back against the cushions.

“No sweetie, you’re not. You’re just a woman that knows what
real
once-in-a-lifetime love feels like. I can’t imagine it’s easy to try and love someone else with that kind of fierceness.” Pat consoled her.

“I’m
so
done with relationships. I don’t have to have another for the rest of my life.” Day said firmly.

“Don’t be like me. Don’t close yourself off. Maybe the right person, at the right moment will come along and change your mind,” Pat advised.

“Well, for now I don’t wanna think about it. Right now, it’s time for Daylen to focus on herself for once.”

~~~

Day carried her mom’s overnight bag she had borrowed into the London flat she shared with Rhys. Surprisingly he was home and sitting on the couch in the living room reading. He glanced up at her and laid his book down to the side.

“I didn’t know you were coming in today,” he remarked without much feeling or getting up to greet her.

“I’ve actually been back for a couple of hours, but I met with David first to let him know that I wouldn’t be coming back to the Philharmonic.” Day informed him and watched for a reaction. There was none.

“I’m moving back home, Rhys. My mom’s heart attack made me realize that I want to be closer to her. And at the same time, to pursue my dream of playing with the Chicago Symphony and working at becoming their first black principal cellist.” Day told him.

“I have little doubt that you’ll succeed. If nothing else, you’re an exceptional cellist.” Rhys complimented, his handsome face devoid of all emotions. He looked different to Day. No less handsome, just lacking the same mature appeal he’d once had for her.

“You brought it out in me. And for that, I will always be grateful to you.” Day said honestly.

“Well…” Rhys expelled a breath. “If you’re heading back, I might as well give you this now.”

Rhys walked over to his desk and pulled out a packet of papers and handed them to her. Day looked down at the papers and laughed. There in clear cut typeface were divorce papers.

“Well that settles that, doesn’t it?” Day shook her head.

“It is obvious where this was headed. I just took the next logical step.” Rhys said nonchalantly as if they were discussing getting rid of old furniture.

“No muss, no fuss,” she mumbled.

“Look, it’s not like you ever really loved me. You never got over your ex. I know where you went on Sundays during the autumn. I know you watched videos of him on the internet. You were as absent in this marriage as I was. We had a nice tumble. It was hot and now it’s fizzled.” Rhys defended.

“I’m not negating that, Rhys. I’m just kind of astounded at how easy this is all turning out. Most people battle it out for years in divorce court.” Day paused before continuing. “By the way, I don’t want anything from you. I’ll sign these and then we can go about our lives. I just need to box up my things and grab my cello.”

“Done. I’ll leave you to it. I’m going out. Call or text me when you’re done.” Rhys said as he grabbed his coat and shrugged it on.

“Alright.” Day nodded.

Rhys walked up to her and kissed her softly on the forehead.

“Good luck with everything, Daylen. I mean that.” Rhys said earnestly, finally showing some emotion.

“You too, Rhys. Thank you.”

Day watched as he walked out the door. It would be the last time she saw him. Instead of sadness filling her heart, she felt buoyant and hopeful. For a future, she would make on her own terms.

~~~

“I can’t believe you’re leaving me!” Catherine said as she watched Day tape up the last of her boxes the next day.

A mover from a shipping company slid more boxes onto his dolly and wheeled them out.

“I know. But maybe you could come visit me in Chicago.” Day suggested, sighing with relief that she was all done.

“Oh, posh! It’s not the same.” Catherine pouted. “You’re the only person here that doesn’t judge me for my scandalous affairs and lets me tell you all the juicy details.”

“I’m only a phone call or Skype conversation away.” Day reminded her.

“I suppose.” Catherine huffed. “Would you like for me to put in a good word for you with the Chicago Symphony? I have connections all over the world, darling,” she offered.

“As great of an offer as that is, I’m gonna try to do this on my own.” Day declined. “I want to know that I got it because I was good enough, not because I know the right people. But thank you for being a great friend, though.” Day smiled brightly at her unlikely ally.

“Well, I better go before I cry or something dreadful like that.” Catherine stood up and kissed Day on both of her cheeks. “Good luck, darling. Let me know how it goes.”

“I will,” Day said before Catherine disappeared out the door.

She looked around the flat that she’d called home for four years. Day knew her life wasn’t where she wanted it to be, at that moment. But she was proud that she was moving towards what she wanted and with no man in sight.

Reunions

Chapter 12

Present Day…

Chase went out to get the mail one last time. He walked back through the house, skirting large boxes that scattered the floor in his now near-empty San Diego home. It had taken five long years, but his divorce to Whitney was now finalized.

The moment he got home from visiting Pat in the hospital, he’d lawyered up. Chase had chosen the best divorce lawyer in the state of California. The lawyer had advised him on where to hide his money so that even the best lawyer couldn’t find it.

“But since I’m the best in this state and you’ve already hired me, any lawyer that she gets won’t be able to find it,” the man chuckled.

Chase prepared everything, safeguarding his future before he served Whitney with the divorce papers. She’d, of course, went ballistic on him. She also fought tooth and nail to take him for everything he had and stalled on signing the papers until she had what she wanted. After a while, Chase was pretty sure that she’d finally just given up, tired of all the fighting. His career ending injury in February hadn’t hurt either. His lawyer had argued that Chase would no longer receive the yearly income that he’d been getting, so it wasn’t fair for Whitney to still want the amount she sought in alimony.

In the end, with his money hidden and his professional football career over, Whitney only got fifty grand a year out of him and the house, which she was selling for the cash. The small fortune he’d amassed from his yearly salary and endorsements was safe from her greedy hands.

Chase rotated his still tender right shoulder as he sorted through the mail. His injury had happened in an almost fitting moment. It was the winning pass he’d thrown during the Superbowl. He’d been hit right as he launched the ball through the air. He had felt the tendons rip as the player’s helmet hit him.

It had taken them a moment to realize that he’d been hurt as his team rushed the field in celebration. He’d had no idea whether they’d won the game or not, he had been so blinded with pain. He rolled around on the ground, clutching his shoulder when they finally noticed. The stadium had gone silent as the medical team and his teammates hovered over him.

“Did we at least win?” Chase gritted out the question.

“Yeah, Chase. We won,” his coach told him with a grim smile.

They’d loaded him up on a stretcher and as they carried him off the field, he’d lifted up his good arm. He held up his index finger, silently saying,
we’re number one.
And the quiet stadium had roared. As they disappeared through the breezeway of the stadium, quiet tears had slipped down Chase’s temples. He knew it was over for him. The moment was bittersweet.

He’d led them to win the Superbowl his first season on the team and his last. It seemed appropriate, the way it ended. So when the doctors examined him and told him that his throwing arm would never be the same, he’d accepted it without too much heartache. It was never a matter of when, but a matter of how bad when it did happen.

Now that he could literally go anywhere, with his career finished and his marriage over, Chase still hadn’t decided on where he was going. Though an envelope with a familiar address from his hometown, planted the seeds of an idea in his mind as he opened it and saw what was inside.

The envelope contained two items. A ticket to a performance of the Chicago Symphony and a piece of stationery paper.

Chase,

She did it! She’s finally the principal cellist with the Chicago Symphony. This is a ticket for her first concert as principal. Please come!

Love, Pat

“YES!” Chase shouted out in the quiet house.

He was so proud of her. It was what she’d dreamed of for years, and she finally got it. He didn’t even realize she was back in Chicago. Chase hadn’t had any idea where she was in the world. When she’d cut things off with him, she’d meant it. Even her mom stopped contacting him, out of respect for her daughter. He didn’t even know if she was still with her husband or not. And even if she had divorced him, it had been five years and Day was a beautiful woman. She was probably already remarried.

Chase sighed. The moment of elation he had felt for her a few seconds ago quickly died as his thoughts spun out of control to a desolate place. He started to toss the ticket and note in the garbage, but a small voice stopped him.
What if…

Chase pulled out his smartphone and without thinking too hard about the consequences, he pulled up a site to book a flight to Chicago.

~~~

Chase found his seat in the packed auditorium. He sat down and straightened his jacket and tie nervously. He had no idea why he was so nervous. It wasn’t like he was performing though that didn’t stop his palms from sweating. It didn’t keep his hands from trembling. Nor did it silence his erratically beating heart. He wasn’t sure what had him more anxious.

Maybe it was because tonight was Day’s first solo performance as a principle cellist for the Chicago Symphony. Or maybe it was because this would be the first time he would see her in five years. He’d missed her every second of those one-thousand-eight-hundred and twenty-five days. Chase doubted that it was a coincidence that it had been literally five years to the day since he’d last laid eyes on her.

The sold-out auditorium became eerily silent as the heavy burgundy curtain rose. There in the middle of the stage, alone except for the polished wood and strings between her legs was Chase’s best friend. The love of his life.
My Pretty Day.

Even at thirty-four years old, Day had barely changed. Her smooth caramel skin glowed under the lights of the stage. Her plump cheeks were flushed with color. Her full lips were painted a deep red. The dark chocolate eyes, Chase knew all too well were highlighted with a dramatic smoky look. The voluptuous curves that fit against his body to perfection were stylishly covered with a black sleeveless wide-leg pants jumpsuit. The only difference that Chase could see was that she’d chopped off her straightened hair and grown it out natural. Now her hair was an adorable cap of gorgeous coiled curls that sprung out around her face, creating a dark halo.

Chase’s breath hitched and he thought about Daylen Daniels throughout the many stages of her life. He loved every one of them and prayed to God that he’d get a chance to know and love this stage as well.

A secret little smile graced Day’s lips and she closed her eyes. She drew the bow across the strings of her cello and the familiar strains of a song reached Chase’s ears. It was Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1. The same song she had recorded for him over fifteen years ago.

Chase thought that she’d played the song beautifully then. He quickly realized that her skill had become masterful. She no longer hid behind the cello like she once had. The passion that was etched on her face as she bit her bottom lip, made him squirm in his seat. She embodied confidence and sexiness, and the audience was mesmerized.

Then as the strains of the familiar song ended, a secondary curtain that was behind her rose and the entire symphony was behind her. The orchestra launched into a Vivaldi Cello Concerto, led by Day. Chase’s eyes filled with tears and his chest filled with pride. Day was magnificent. It was obvious that she loved playing, but it was also clear that she’d worked her ass off to reach the level in which she played.

After the showcase for their new principal cellist ended, they had a brief intermission. Once everyone was back in their seats and the symphony continued, Day sat with the rest of the orchestra for the remainder of the evening. But Chase’s eyes never strayed from her the entire time.

When the concert ended, Chase made his way out to the lobby of the conservatory. He hoped that he’d get a chance to see Day before she left. Several concert goers milled about the lobby, speaking with some of the members of the symphony when through the crowd, Chase saw her.

Day walked forward and a bright smile spread across her lips though she wasn’t looking at him. Chase’s eyes followed her line of sight, to two people that were standing waiting for her. Chase’s eyes widened and his heart exploded in his chest at who he saw.

Pat stood there smiling with a little girl in her arms. Chase watched in astonishment as Pat lowered the girl to the floor and she took off running on little legs straight to Day. As she raised her little arms, she shouted one word that sent Chase’s world into a tailspin.

“Mommy!”

Day leaned down and scooped the girl up in her arms. The little girl gave Day a sweet kiss on the lips and wrapped her tiny arms around Day’s neck. Daylen smiled and rubbed a hand in soothing circles on the girl’s tiny back. That was when she looked up to see Chase standing there. Chase watched as her eyes widened in shock, her smile faded, and her mouth fell open as her jaw slackened.

On unstable legs, Chase walked towards them. Pat looked nervously between the three of them. The little girl with skin fairer than her mother’s caramel complexion and wheat blonde unruly curls looked up as her mother’s body tensed. She looked at her mom’s face and then turned to see who her mom was looking at. Green-flecked light brown eyes collided with his eyes of the same color and Chase felt a punch to the gut.

As Chase finally stopped in front of them, he was barely able to tear his eyes from the child as he finally spoke.

“Hello, Day.”