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“Why?”
“So they’ll feel better.”
Jacob took another bite, blinking several times. “Oh.”
“She said it’s one of her super powers.”
Jacob set the remaining half of his Sloppy Joe down on his plate before looking at David with shadowed eyes. “It is?”
“It sure is. Anyway, I know you’ve been feeling sad, so I called her, and Lauren said she wants to use that super power to help make you feel better.”
“She does?”
“Yes. Would you like that?”
Jacob seemed to give the question a lot of thought before finally nodding.
The tacit admission that he wasn’t feeling all right, instead of lying again, was a positive sign to David, even as it caused his heart to hurt. “Good.”
Chapter 49
After an early dinner on Wednesday at Cracker Barrel—Jacob’s favorite restaurant—David parked in front of Lauren’s office and cut the engine. Then, turning to look at Jacob in the back seat, David asked, “You ready?”
Looking slightly anxious, Jacob nodded.
“Good. Now, remember, the more you talk to Lauren, the more she can help you, okay? But you have to be totally honest, so her, um, super power works really well, all right?”
“All right.”
After getting Jacob out of his car seat, they headed inside the building, where they were greeted by a receptionist behind a large, circular desk. She was in her mid-forties, with shoulder-length brown hair and friendly blue eyes. She quickly checked Jacob in for his appointment, then directed David and Jacob toward the adjacent waiting room, before notifying Lauren of their arrival.
They sat down on one of the couches, and to pass the time, David rifled through the magazines on the coffee table. One of them was a Scientific American, which made him smile as he remembered the conversation he’d had with Paige about evil people being allergic to animals. It had been a hit on Ashley, and something Paige claimed to have read about in ‘some scientific magazine’ while waiting to see her doctor.
He quickly snapped a picture of the Scientific American and texted it to Paige.
DAVID: Is this the scientific magazine you were referring to? The one you read at your doctor’s office?
PAIGE: Yassss! That’s the one.
He was about to text back how full of crap she was, when Lauren appeared in one of three open doorways off to the left. Having been told by Paige that Lauren was a bit of a hippie chick, David was still somewhat taken aback at seeing her in real life. Dressed in colorfully embroidered, flared jeans and a bright orange peasant blouse with long, bell sleeves that fluttered as she crossed the room, she looked more like a teenager on her way to Woodstock than a therapist who treated abused women and children. Her youthful, approachable vibe was reinforced by her flowing, honey-blonde hair and radiant smile.
Lauren approached David first, who immediately got to his feet. “Hi, David. Nice to meet you,” she said, holding out her hand, which was adorned with rings on almost every finger, a few of which were set with brightly colored stones.
David took her hand and shook it. “Hi, Lauren,” he returned, feeling himself relax under the direct gaze of her large blue eyes, which radiated kindness and strength. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Lauren then looked at Jacob for a moment, before squatting down and holding her hand out to him. “And you must be Jacob.”
He nodded slowly, and then reached out to shake her hand. “Hi.”
“I’m really glad you’re here,” she told him with a gentle smile, before asking, “So, how are you feeling today?”
He blinked at her. “I’m okay.”
“Hmm. Well, I’m going to help make you feel better than just ‘okay’, okay? How does that sound?”
“Okay.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” She smiled at him again. “So, are you ready to get started?”
