This office is precisely under the main room where Cleo sleeps, so that grand window is also in here.
“Hey,” I greet him.“You have a minute?”
“For you, I have all the time,” he answers, obviously trying to assure me that I always come first.
Not sure when he got the idea that he has to do that, but I won’t argue with him.Better to have his attention than to discourage him.Maybe one of these days we’ll have to sit down and discuss us in depth.The last four months have been a fight between: ‘Do you know what the fuck you’re talking about?’and ‘You can’t fix us until she’s safe.’
It wasn’t that I need her to be a part of us, or this won’t work.It was more like I wanted him to place all his energy on figuring out a way to get her out of Dorian’s claws.
“What can I do for you?”The question is hopeful, and maybe he’s waiting for me to tell him that I’m ready to talk about us as a couple.
I’m not.
“Last night was hard, but I think we handled it,” I begin.“But ...what if we start bringing more people to the cabin?Obviously, just family.”
He studies me, then the window, then the thin line of horizon.“She’s only on day two,” he says.His voice is careful, like someone lowering a glass into a sink.It could shatter if he settles it too hard.“She’s still tired most of the time.We can’t throw a crowd at her.That would be—” He stops.The words hang.“It would be wrong.”
My momentum stalls.“I know.But I’m talking small in here.One brother ...maybe Kit and Arlo for an hour.”
Eddie runs a hand over his face.“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.Why don’t we take it one day at a time.Maybe?—”
“I’m not saying let’s have them here tomorrow morning—all of them,” I cut him off because he was obviously not going to listen.
He took the therapist's advice to give her space and avoid people until she was ready to talk.How can she be prepared if we don’t have options?
“We plan it,” I say.“We make sure it’s safe and she’s ready.Even though you’re Edgar Reznor, sometimes people can’t just drop everything when you request their presence.”
“You think she’ll benefit from it, B?”
Honestly, I could also use someone to come and play with me for a couple of hours.I’m fucking tired of using that new equipment he bought with the camera so I can connect with others online.The connection lags and can’t do much when you can barely catch the riffs while trying to figure out what Alec is saying on the other side.
Don’t get me started with that asshole.He gets angry because the connection is shit.Which isn’t anything new.Alec gets angry for everything and anything.
Eddie exhales.“Okay,” he says slowly.“But first, we need to clear it with the therapist.We get a protocol.We do this by the rules of trauma care, not by how much we think old Cleo would love a reunion.”
He presses the speaker and then dials the number the therapist left—an off-hour line, for emergencies.The line rings, and I count under my breath.I pace in a small circle, restless and watchful.Eddie taps the desk.
A voice answers.“Dr.Stevens speaking.”
“Dr.Stevens,” Eddie says, voice clipped.“This is Eddie Reznor.My partner, Barret, is with me.We’re calling from the safehouse where Cleo is currently staying.”
I stare at the phone instead of at him when he says, ‘My partner, Barret.’
Are we partners?I don’t even know who I am, and he’s giving us a fucking title.I shouldn’t be surprised.He does tend to skip a gazillion steps.So far, he’s been doing his best not to pressure anyone, so I guess this is his first strike, and maybe I won’t count it.He deserves a break just like everyone else.
I cut the pleasantries and tell the therapist about the past twenty-four hours.The moment we served breakfast to Cleo yesterday morning, up until all eight times she woke up screaming bloody murder after having a nightmare.
“We were thinking about arranging family visits.Try to offer her a new normal.”
“Is it safe?”Dr.Stevens asks.
I don’t wait for Eddie to say anything, just blurt, “Sure, we’re in the middle of fucking nowhere.”
“We would have to check with the security team,” Eddie says in a calm way that says you’re lucky I don’t maim you.
If we’re not safe here ...well, what the fuck?
There is a pause long enough for me to imagine a no, a dismissal.Something that will slam the plans closed.Instead, the therapist’s voice comes back, practical.“I’d suggest you reach out to your security team.See what that would look like for the visitors and Cleo.Then, once you have more of a plan, you can check in with me before you schedule anything.If she sleeps most of the time, let her sleep.If she wants to take long walks, let her.Be vigilant, but make sure she feels safe.”
