Chapter Nineteen:
Ian
I never expected Lanie to invite me to join her on this research trip. She'd had it planned for a while, though she hadn't said anything about it to me. I was surprised Richter supplied the funds for it after he basically begged me for money. And the way Lanie had been acting lately told me work wasn't going well. It didn't make sense to splurge on something like this but I was taking advantage of it regardless. A weekend away with the woman I loved was special no matter who paid the bill.
"You okay?" she asked, seated next to me in the Uber as a light drizzle streamed down the window. Her hand wrapped around mine and she smiled encouragingly.
"Yeah, I'm great actually." I bumped my shoulder into hers. "So Richter really sprang for this when the foundation is needing capital?"
My question seemed to discourage Lanie, who appeared to be seeking escape from work stress, despite being on a work trip. Something was bothering her, as it had been for days now. Every time we spoke she didn't want to discuss work or the foundation. I worried something big was happening that was about to change things for us, but I tried not to let my thoughts get out of control.
"Yes, well... We've had this planned for about eighteen months. It's all nonrefundable too, so..." She let her voice trail off and turned to stare out the window but in the reflection I saw her blinking back tears. My guess was that the foundation was in dire need of funds, which was why Lanie was so worked up. I wondered if that was why Richter had been courting Ward too.
Uneasiness settled over me that I wasn't able to shake, but I pushed it away to stay positive and keep Lanie encouraged. This sort of thing--studying bugs and dirt--was her happy place. While I didn't quite understand because I wasn't a science guy myself, I could at least appreciate that she was feeling torn up inside and that this trip could be an escape for her. I wanted her to be happy, especially if the foundation was in trouble and she was feeling insecure.
"So what's on the agenda for today?" I asked, hoping the change of subject would lighten the mood a little and it worked.
Lanie turned to me with a bright smile and readjusted her position on the seat next to me to angle her shoulders in my direction. "Tonight is all ours. We can do whatever you want." She curled both arms around my bicep and hugged it.
"I want to go to the beach, but it doesn't look like the weather is cooperating." I glanced out the window behind her at the gloomy clouds that darkened the sky like dusk even though it was only late afternoon. The weather forecast indicated some heavy rain, but Lanie refused to bail out on this trip. That was how I knew this was important to her.
"Well we can do anything indoors that you want," she chuckled. There was her positivity shining through. I wanted to keep the momentum going.
"What about a movie?" I asked and she immediately scrunched her nose.
"A movie? You're ridiculous. We can see a movie in Charlotte." Her lips pursed into a pout and her playful scowl deepened. "There isn't an indoor pool, but if it's not lightning we can sit in the hot tub."
"We could lock ourselves in our condo and do really bad things to each other. I saw this move where you put your feet behind your head and--"
"Ian Gregory," she giggled and slapped my arm. "None of that."
"What? Can't a guy dream? It's not my fault your body is on fire. I'm dating the hottest girl in the northern hemisphere and she doesn't want me to try new sex positions. I'm tortured." I pressed my hand to my chest and she laughed more. Now that was the Lanie I knew and loved.
"Alright, alright... But nothing weird." Lanie leaned over and kissed me senseless until the car pulled up outside the condo.
Light rain was just beginning to fall when we got our bags. We had to jog across the lawn to the building and let ourselves in before we got soaked. I held the door for her as she managed to squeeze past and we dropped our things by the door and grabbed towels to dry off.
"Wow, that's ridiculous," she said as she mopped her hair up. I could see the nervousness in her eyes. Rain like this would completely ruin any attempt to get her research done and there would be nothing left in the budget for Richter to reschedule. The peak season for the cicada harvest was now.
"Yeah, but you don't have to go out until tomorrow, right? Let's just wait and see what the weather does." I dropped the towel onto the small wooden island and walked around it to take her hand. "We can find a show or play cards for a while? Want to have dinner delivered? I bet they have Uber Eats or DoorDash around here."
She followed me but her steps were heavy. It didn't bode well for my plan--to tell her this weekend about the bet and hope she didn't hate me when I confessed. I wanted her to be in a good mood when that happened, not so I could ruin her good mood, but so hopefully she wouldn't react as negatively. Maybe that was selfish of me, but I had to tell her. I couldn't let it get back to her from some other narcissistic plot Ward had cooked up.
"Fine," she said, sulking.
I grabbed the remote and sat on the couch and she curled up next to me while I surfed the TV Guide channel for a while but nothing looked interesting. The condo didn't have much of a cable package, and Lanie seemed a little glum about not getting to the beach tonight. A huge clap of thunder announced the worsening storm and the winds started to howl.
"Cards instead?" she asked as we quickly realized there was nothing on.
"Yeah let's see what this condo has." I flicked off the TV and tossed the remote and while I was perusing the condo's information binder Lanie's phone started ringing. She got up to go fish it out of her bag by the door and I pored over the guts of the manual.
When she started talking I got the distinct feeling that something was wrong. Her tone got hyper professional and her gaze met mine briefly. I noticed she looked upset as she retreated to the bedroom, which I hadn't even seen yet, and shut the door. I couldn't hear what she was saying and it was none of my business, but I felt like it was bad news.
The manual said the games were in the bedroom closet, but Lanie had hidden herself away for a reason. I didn't want to just barge in there and rudely interrupt her call, especially if she was talking with someone from the research team this weekend or a coworker. I waited a while, thinking she'd come back, but when fifteen minutes passed and she hadn't returned, I got curious.
I tiptoed to the door and listened. I thought I'd hear her talking softly about science or something but I heard her sniffling. She was crying, and that made my heart go nuts. I instantly wanted to know who had hurt her and why. I pushed the unlatched door open and saw her phone on the floor by her feet and her hands in her lap. Tears streaked down her face and she was seated on the foot of the bed.
"Info binder says games are in here. Are you okay?" I walked over and picked up her phone and sat down beside her. Her shoulders were slumped and her chin drooped.
"The entire research area is flooding. They are canceling the event until further notice." She spoke the words with such a tiny voice I could barely hear her.
"Gosh..." What could I say to her? Lanie had been looking forward to this for a long time and the weather ruined it, and based on what she told me in the car, it wasn't going to be rescheduled. Richter didn't have the funds. Even if the team here in South Carolina rescheduled the event, Lanie would probably have to pay for her own condo and flight, which would be difficult on last-minute notice.
"This sucks so bad," she whimpered and then she threw her arms around me and sobbed.
I held her, rocking her gently back and forth and she climbed onto my lap and straddled me, draping over my chest and shoulders. I knew this was probably a long time coming. She'd been stressed for weeks and I had noticed it at times, but when I asked she never told me why. After the fundraiser months ago when Richter walked off with Ward, I wondered. Richter probably knew his foundation was in trouble and had been pushing for donations for a long time.
"Look, baby, I'll make sure you get to come back whenever they reschedule. If Richter and the foundation can't afford to do it, I'll sell my Rolex or something, alright?" Rubbing circles on her back, I tried to be as comforting as possible but she was so upset it was like there was something else on her mind, something she hadn't told me yet.
"I'm going to lose my job, Ian." Her muffled sobs were garbled and swallowed by my chest so I forced her upright.
"What?" I asked. "Lose your job? You can't control this. Why would Richter fire you?"
Lanie swiped at her eyes and shook her head. "You don't understand. The foundation is broke. The only reason I came on this trip is because it was already fully funded. Richter is out of money and we've already laid off just about everyone. If he doesn't get five million dollars by month's end, GlobalCare is bankrupt and I have to find a new job, which might take me out of state."
The weight of that announcement crashed over me like a tsunami and I understood why she was so emotional. If she had to take a different job out of state that would mean a very challenging long-distance relationship. That or a breakup, which I wasn't about to let happen. She was the best thing to ever happen to me. I thought we were moving the opposite direction--like toward something lasting.
