"I'm gonna say t-shirt, but I sure won't bitch about seeing you in a suit." She winked at me.
"It's off the rack, Vi," I reminded her.
"Still a suit," she countered, pausing with a strange look on her face. "I think that's them."
Sure enough, I could hear a truck getting closer, which meant I was officially running late. "I need a clean shirt," I said, heading up the hall at a brisk walk.
Thankfully, Violet went to get the door while I changed. Maybe I checked the mirror to make sure Luke would like what he saw, but it was just to be professional. Then I heard the laugh of a pre-teen girl followed right after by the chuckle of her dad. Damned if that wasn't hot, but I would not let myself think that way. Nope, not with a child in the house.
Although, when I came downstairs, I realized I was so screwed. Violet was hugging Faith like a long-lost friend. Luke was beaming at the pair like the proud papa he was. And the girl? She was definitely his kid. She had the same pouty lips and shape of her eyes, and her jaw looked like it was the feminine version of his. In other words, I almost hoped her father owned a gun, because shewouldgrow up to be a heartbreaker.
"Hey, Luke," I said, walking up to slap his shoulder. "I got some paperwork for you."
"So all official, huh?" he asked.
I nodded. "Gives me the right to talk to her about anything, and protects her right to privacy. Otherwise, we're just gossiping." Then I turned to her. "So you're Faith, huh?"
She stood a little straighter and nodded. "Yes, sir. Dad said I'm going to talk to a shrink to help Violet."
"And I'm the shrink," I said. "My name's Cy. I'm also one of Violet's oldest friends. Knew her when she was about your age. Kinda hoping I'm one of your dad's friends too, but they need an honest opinion about whether or not I'm any good at my job. Since they're already biased, you know. Think you can be hard on me? Make me work for it a little?"
She grinned. "Yes sir."
"Well, why don't you have Violet get you a drink, and I'll give your dad some paperwork." I looked at Violet, and once she nodded, I turned Luke up the hall. "Please do not judge me on the style of the office, ok?"
Then we walked into the room. Luke looked around, but his brow was creased in confusion. "What's wrong with it?"
"Straight man," I muttered, keeping my voice down so it wouldn't carry. "Trust me, it's bad."
He just laughed. "Looks like half the living rooms around here. I think you're fine, Cy."
It took me two seconds to find the clipboard with release forms, a few more to remember where I'd put my pen, then I handed it all to Luke. "Anything you're worried about or want me to cover?"
"Her mom's upcoming marriage..." He paused to read another line on the form, and without looking up added, "And her getting bullied at school."
I nodded, mentally adding the cutting to the list. Violet had made it clear that she couldn't tell Luke, but she was worried. I could see her point, but if I could get Faith to tell me, then I could talk to him about it. I knew how to do that without breaching Faith's trust in me, and it fell in that "need to know" category. The trick would be convincing Luke to trust me to deal with it.
Soon enough, I took the papers from Luke, led him back out, and collected my very first patient from Southwind. "Faith?" I asked, leading her back. "We're gonna start off with something serious." Then I let her in the room and eased the door closed behind us. "This carpet has to go, right? I mean, hardwood would be much better. Maybe laminate?"
She giggled at me and moved to sit on the couch. "Is this where I'm supposed to be?"
"Sure." I opened a drawer and turned on my recorder to keep a record of this. I always did with minors and criminals - just to cover my own ass. Then I grabbed the desk chair and pulled that over in front of the window, talking while I worked. "I'm serious about the floor, though. It's probably older than you. I'm thinking a dark wood."
She nodded, looking around the room. "I think you should match the shelves. And the desk is really ugly."
"I know!" I groaned to prove the point. "That's the bad part of moving somewhere new, you know? I want to make sure I make a good impression, but everyone has different tastes. So, yeah. I think I'll get laminate to match the shelves. See if I can find one of those really big wood desks. Always wanted one. They just look cool."
And that quickly, I had her. She was so focused on thinking about my problems that she forgot we were here to talk about hers. "You don't look like a big desk guy, though, and everyone has those little ones. Um, you know, like just..." And she made a gesture, making it clear she was talking about a minimalist desk. "That's what all my friends have."
"Huh." I looked back at the desk. "But I kinda want a big one. Is that wrong?"
She just shrugged. "I guess not. Probably won't be too many people seeing it, huh?"
Bingo. That was the in I needed. Carefully, I steered her towards opening up, and it was much too easy. Faith was a trusting girl who just wanted to please. Before I knew it, she had her legs crossed under her and was telling me all about how mean Esther was, and how Anna Marie was calling her fat.
"What do you do about that?" I asked, lifting a hand before she answered. "Full disclosure, I know Violet caught you cutting."
Her face turned pale. "She said she wouldn't tell!"
