Page 68 of Mine

“Yeah.”

“Come on, let’s get some food.”

Breakfast was a buffet, so Landry and I went to pile our plates full of food. He left first, walking back to the table, promising me coffee.

“Trevan, is it?”

I turned and Dr. Armstrong was there. “Yes.”

He sighed deeply. “I appreciate what you did there, and I’m sure the Carters do as well.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Landry needs help, and you’re making sure he gets it by using yourself as the patient when we all know it should be him.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You handle him very well. I don’t remember him ever being so contained, so calm.”

He would not get me to incriminate my boy on any level. The fact that he was even there felt like an ambush to me.

“I see that the Carters were misguided,” he said and coughed. “But that does not mean that Landry does not need help.”

“Not him, me. I’m the one who needs a shrink. If he decides down the road that he wants one as well, then he will.”

“Trevan—”

“I have problems; you heard what he said.”

“I heard him say that he was out of control and you took care of him. That’s what I heard.”

I shrugged. “He agreed to go with me when I talk to someone, that’s all I know.”

“He’ll go with you because he thinks he’s doing it for you.”

“Or he won’t think he’s doing it for me, but he’ll do it for me anyway because he doesn’t actually wanna hurt me, and maybe he worries about that.”

He grunted. “That’s hardly fair, you denying things and then suddenly telling me that whatever I think, you know already.”

I shrugged.

“So Landry gets to pretend he’s doing it for you, seeing a therapist, and he gets to keep his pride intact, is that it?”

“That’s it.”

He stood there just staring at me.

“Doc?”

“That’s very selfless,” he said softly, his eyes locked on mine. “He has the potential to be very dangerous, you know.”

“Or not.”

“Or not,” he agreed.

I shrugged. “Don’t worry. If I die, no one will sue you for not committing him.”

“I couldn’t commit him if I wanted to. He’s not a danger to himself, and there’s no evidence that he’s a danger to others.”