“That’s strange. You know, I’ve been getting e-mails from him once or twice a year ever since you introduced me to him. Every time he runs across research that he thinks could one day be promising for me, he sends a link.” She shook her head. “I think he feels guilty that he couldn’t help me with my eyesight.”
Kendra gazed at her friend and didn’t state the obvious, that she felt guilty, too. She and Olivia had met as children at the Woodston School for the Blind in nearby Oceanside, and one of the great pains of Kendra’s life had been leaving her friend behind in the darkness. Olivia, who had lost her sight in a childhood auto accident, sustained optic nerve injuries beyond the reach of even Waldridge’s revolutionary techniques. He had graciously met with her and reviewed her medical case files and seemed genuinely regretful when he was unable to help her. Kendra wasn’t surprised that he’d kept in touch with her even though years had passed. Olivia was a very special person, and he must have recognized that fact. “Maybe not guilty as much as frustrated. He’s something of a genius, and he doesn’t like to admit defeat.”
“Believe me, I would have been ecstatic to be one of his successes.” The wind from the bay blew Olivia’s long brown hair up and around, gently caressing her beautiful, olive-toned face. Never once had she expressed a single iota of jealousy over Kendra’s amazing transformation, but she did harbor hopes of one day regaining the eyesight that had been taken from her.
“He really did want to help you,” Kendra said gently.
“I know. He’s a good man.” She smiled. “You know, the way you always talked about him, I’m surprised nothing ever happened between the two of you.”
Kendra’s eyes widened. “What? You mean in a romantic sense?”
“Why not?”
“There’s twenty years and eight thousand miles between us. I never thought about him that way.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Kendra found her tone getting defensive.
“The twenty years wouldn’t have bothered me,” Olivia said. “Mature men are more experienced, and that makes them sexier. The eight thousand miles are an obstacle that can melt away in a heartbeat. Did you ever hear about jet planes?”
“I’ve never described Waldridge as sexy to you.”
“I’ve heard you describe him as brilliant at least a hundred times. And refer to him as good-looking on at least half a dozen occasions. I know you, Kendra. The intelligence alone is a big draw for you. Put those two descriptions together, and you come up with sexy.”
“He is good-looking. It doesn’t mean I want to jump him. And it doesn’t take a schoolgirl crush to know that he’s a brilliant guy.”
“Of course. It’s just a vibe you put off.”
“No vibe. The man changed my life in a profound way, so naturally I’m going to feel a certain amount of…”
“Awe?”
Trust Olivia to zero in and strike home. How could Kendra help but feel a certain amount of hero worship toward Waldridge, who had not only given her a fantastic gift, but had been the only man in that first year to teach her, work with her, and chase away all the fear and uncertainty. Even Olivia would never realize what he had meant to her during that time. So don’t try to explain the unexplainable. “I was going to say gratitude.”
“Well, I’d sure feel awe.” Olivia felt the face of her Bradley touch-capable wristwatch. “We should start back. I have Reddit online chat in less than an hour.”
Olivia’s online Web destination, Outasite, featured articles, interviews, and product reviews, all geared to a vision-impaired audience who accessed the content via audio-reader software. Outasite had quickly become a very successful business for Olivia, and she spent many of her waking hours generating material for the site.
“Okay,” Kendra said. She looked down the sidewalk. “Clear!”
She had developed a verbal shorthand for guiding Olivia through a variety of terrain and conditions on their frequent runs together.
“Side!”
Olivia ran beside her as they continued their conversation.
“Will you see him again before he leaves?” Olivia asked.
“That may be up to him. I tried to call his cell phone this morning, but he didn’t answer.”
“Try him again.”
“I will.” She had no intention of letting Waldridge fly out of her life again and leave her with this feeling of uneasiness. He’d had a reason for contacting her yesterday, then had backed away. She couldn’t just let it go. “As soon as we get back.”
They ran through the Gaslamp District and cut down Fifth toward the five-story building that housed both of their condominiums. But as they neared the building, Kendra saw a police car double-parked outside with flashers on.
“What the hell?” she murmured.
Two uniformed officers stood on the sidewalk. One of them turned toward Kendra as she put her key in the front door. “Dr. Michaels?”
“Police,” she said to Olivia. She looked from one officer to the other. “You’re here for me?”
“Yes. Lieutenant Ortiz would like to see you at the station.”
“I’m not doing police consulting work right now. He usually calls me.”