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Harleigh
“Harleigh, a word please.” Michael’s request made me falter as I helped myself to breakfast.
I’d assumed he had already left for the morning.
Obviously, he hadn’t.
“I’m actually busy,” I said, my hand tightening around the spoon as I refused to look at him.
“Harleigh, please, it’s important.”
With a heavy sigh, I turned around. “What?”
“The secretary from Albany Hills called.”
My blood ran cold.
“No, no, don’t be alarmed, it isn’t anything to be concerned about. They wondered if you’d tried to contact Dr. Katy at all? It appears she’s taking an unexpected sabbatical, and they’re aware some of her patients might not have been informed.”
“Is she okay?”
“She is, but she’s dealing with some things and needs to take some time off.”
“She didn’t call me to let me know.” A sinking feeling went through me.
“No, it would appear she left quite suddenly.”
So that’s why she’d never returned my call.
“What happens now?” I asked.
“You’ll be assigned a new lead therapist. Someone will contact you soon.”
“Okay.” I turned back to my bowl of cereal.
“Do you… want to talk about anything? I know I’m not a substitute for Dr. Katy’s years of training and expertise, but I have a good—”
“What are you doing?” I whirled back around and cut him with an icy stare.
“Excuse me?” He clutched his tie, loosening it slightly; the way he did whenever he felt uncomfortable.
“Why are you doing this? Pretending you care?”
“Harleigh, I do care. You’re my daugh—”
“Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it. I might be your flesh and blood, but I am not your daughter.”
I know what you did.
I know what you did.
I know what you did.
The words played on a loop in my mind. I wanted to roar at him. To grab the nearest sharp object and hurl it at him. I didn’t care that my therapists would deem that inappropriate behavior, the kind of behavior that could land you in a padded cell or stuck with a sedation needle like a wild animal.
He’d banished me there once, would he do it again? If I lashed out, called him on his secrets, his lies and betrayal?
“Harleigh, come on now. I know things haven’t been easy—”
