"Sorry, old man, the young one needs to be worn down."
Frog grumbled a bit but settled down quickly. After about thirty minutes, he headed back inside. Both dogs were thirsty, and after he got them both water, he sat on the couch, restinghis head against the back, and closed his eyes. It wasn’t the most comfortable couch. He would need to replace it in the next year, but at least he had a place to sit.
The bed they'd left behind wasn't great. The mattress smelled a little and was lumpy, so he planned on replacing it first. He was looking at a few mattresses but wasn't sure which one to buy. There wasn't a nearby mattress store, so he would have to order.
He needed to get back on the computers and see if there were any emergencies he needed to take care of, and he needed to search for Brent. The police had a few sightings early on, but no one had a good lead on him.
This afternoon, he would figure out his mattress situation, then tomorrow, he would start searching for Brent.
The man might think he was great at hiding, but Thario would find him if it was the last thing he did.
Calla wishedshe had a reason to go see Thario today, but she couldn’t come up with anything. She had a therapy appointment this morning and was very nervous.
Elowen made pancakes, but Calla skipped the coffee, worried it would make her agitated. She thought about questions she might have as she ate breakfast.
“Are you okay?” Elowen asked as she sat across from them.
Calla shrugged. “I’m fine, just worried. I guess I don’t know what to expect.”
“I’m sure it will go fine. And if you don’t like this therapist, then you can find another.”
“Would that really be okay?”
“Yes. Just because someone is a therapist doesn’t mean you’re going to click with them. A therapist is someone you need to trust and feel good talking to. If you don’t feel good, you won’t talk openly.”
She nodded. “That makes sense. I guess I just wonder what they will think of everything.”
“It’s not their place to judge. And you did nothing wrong.”
“I didn’t fight enough to get free. I should have fought harder.”
Elowen shook her head. “He might have killed you if you’d fought more. I’m glad you survived.”
Calla put her fork down and met Elowen's gaze. "I wonder where my sister is. I need to look for her."
"Maybe we can start looking for her soon. I know Thario has his computer stuff set up now. Perhaps he can help."
The thought of working with Thario sent a shiver through her. If she had the opportunity to spend more time with Thario, she would take it.
After breakfast and a shower, it was time for her session. Elowen and Griz left the house, giving her privacy. She was grateful for the consideration they gave her.
When the session started, she was very nervous, but after about ten minutes, she opened up, telling the therapist everything.
After giving the full rundown of what happened, the therapist asked a few questions, then gave her some homework, which was basically writing down things she wanted to do now that she was free. The therapist gave her permission to write down the craziest ideas to the most basic things, like trying ice cream or pizza.
After she ended the session, she felt much better. When Elowen and Griz arrived home, she thanked and hugged each of them.
To keep herself from going to Thario’s place, she spent the day working in the garden and making bread. She needed time to think before seeing Thario.
She knew without a doubt that she wanted him to have a place in her life. Since she’d spent so many years held prisoner by her brother, she didn’t know how things worked, but she had more confidence now. And telling Thario how she felt wasn’t as scary as it had been a few days ago.
Chapter 34
Thario washappy to hear from Calla. She wanted to talk, so he invited her over for lunch. He wasn’t sure what to prepare, so he heated a casserole he’d picked up at the store.
Elowen dropped her off but didn’t come to the door with Calla. He waved as she drove off.
“I could have come over and picked you up.”
