For Your Eyes Only

Chapter 29: Call and Connect

March 6, 1998

"Today's meeting will be focused on personal responsibility and accountability" Dr. Thompson announces. "Now these two subjects are confused and interchanging with one another and there is a difference between them. While responsibility focuses on what happens and is shared among people, accountability focuses on what happens after an event and it only applies to one. Now, accountability and responsibility are not the same as blaming, but it can appear that way by many factors. Tone and reaction are two factors of that misconception. We're going to come up with one event that we feel accountable".

Everyone comes up with one example and shares it with the others. Kenya acknowledges that while Andre hurt her, she does not have to let what happened keep her feeling pain and Rob mentions that what happened to him years ago didn't define him and he doesn't have to be known for that. As everyone listens, they all agree that certain things are just out of their control and that they aren't always at fault. The meeting ends and many of the other members ask about Rob and Kenya's wedding plans and the day.

They haven't decided on on yet, but more people have become interested and want to attend. Later, everyone goes home and Rob and Kenya go over their list of people to invite. "This list is getting pretty big" Rob says. "I know, we already have 150 guests" Kenya tells him. They decide they may have to cut some people to make the ceremony more intimate and cut down the cost. After a short time, they manage to get a number of people that will attend with a few opening reservations left over.

There is a knock and Kenya goes to open the door. Jordana walks inside, cheerful as usual, to help with the wedding. "This wedding is going to be wonderful. Are you guys still going to have it in the summer?" she asks. " I hope so, we just had to cut down the list" Kenya says. There's another knock on the door and opens the door and sees Andre. "Andre, what are you doing here?". Jordana looks up. "Andre? Oh hell no!". Andre steps in. "Good to see you too, Jordana. I came to see how Rob was doing". "Why would you want to know that?" Jordana asks. "I wanted to see if he had felt better after leaving the hospital". "Hospital? What is he talking about, Rob?" Kenya asks. He gets thrown off guard and looks at Jordana before answering . "I didn't know he was there". "I should explain. Some time ago, l saw him at the hospital and he looked pretty ill. I guess the flu that was going around hit him hard". Rob and Jordana sigh quietly in relief. "Um...thanks, I am feeling better" Rob answers.

They didn't want to tell what really happened, out of fear Kenya would blame herself. Andre drops off a small envelope to Rob and Kenya. It's a card from Justine to congratulate them on their engagement and apology that she will not be able to attend their wedding. He leaves shortly after and Jordana asks what that was about. Kenya tells her about Andre helping Rob to find her, only to tell his wife about meeting her when he and Kenya still together and her leaving.

"Wow, the holidays were months ago! Then again, you can't blame her for leaving. No one wants to find out this way" Jordana says. They agree and continue to make plans for the wedding. After Jordana leaves, Rob and Kenya start to get exhausted with Rob moving ahead to go to sleep. Kenya looks over the list of guests they plan to invite and notice only a handful of people Rob knows personally are listed. His cast mates, the members from group therapy, his sister and Felix. Kenya thinks about one other person that he would be happy to see, but doesn't know how to get contact. She decides to invite them as a surprise as she goes to sleep.

March 7, 1998

The next day, Kenya is at work typing and printing another article for the magazine when she gets a call. It's Dr. Thompson calling with an update about Rick. Rick is out of his coma and she can come visit him in the hospital this evening. Kenya is relieved to hear the good news. Dr. Thompson tells her while Rick can hear what is said to him, he won't be able to speak, but can use non verbal gestures to reply. Kenya takes note of it and hangs up to finish her work for the day.

That evening, Kenya goes to the hospital and meets Rob with some of the other members in Rick's room. They greet each other and Kenya looks at Rick with bandages around his head and connections on his body. "Hi Rick, it's Kenya". Rick blinks twice to say hello. Some of the members told him about her and Rob's engagement and he taps the rail on the bed "Congratulations". "Thanks a lot, Rick. It means a lot to us you are still here" Rob says. Tears run down Rick's face as he taps again to say sorry for putting everyone at risk, especially to Rob and Kenya for the ambush. The group listens and accepts his apology.

After a while the doctor arrives and says she needs to monitor more of Rick's condition. Everyone says goodbye to Rick and head home.

Later, Rob and Kenya go to her apartment and finish getting everything else ready for the night. After Rob dozes off, Kenya takes out her journal to put in another entry.

March 7th 1998

A lot of progress has been made over the last few months. Rick is out of his coma, but he can't speak, so he communicates through blinking and tapping syllables. He can hear us and managed to say sorry for everything he has done. A part of me felt angry for what his carelessness caused, his neglect for his mental condition. Looking at him now, that could have been anyone, including me. At least he pulled through, but it looks like it will be more of an uphill battle to recovery.

Back to Rob and me, I have an idea on who to invite to the wedding, but I want to make it a surprise for Rob. I think he will really excited, but I just have to find out how I can get in touch with them. It's still pretty early where they are, so that should give me sometime to see if I can find their number to call.

She turns to see Rob still sleeping and making a slight twitch. She gets up and goes to her bedroom and picks up the phone. Kenya dials a number and the operator picks up. "Hello operator? I would like to make a long distance call to Los Angeles, please". "What is the name of the person you would like to call?" the operator asks. "Fabrice Morvan" she answers.