“What’s the matter with Emily?” Joe asked.
Jake explained what they found on the thumb drive and Garrison’s admission of hiring the men to kill Emily’s father and brother. “She’s no longer in danger, but I’m concerned about how she’s been acting. Except for her initial reaction, she has shown no emotion. No tears, no crying, screaming, nothing.”
“She’s processing right now. Losing someone like she did is difficult, but to discover someone you know and trusted, someone you thought cared about you, is responsible... that takes longer to process. She’ll go through stages of denial, anger, acceptance, and depression, but she may not manifest them emotionally.”
“But I’ve seen her cry and be angry at the same time,” Jake said, remembering how Emily had pounded his leg when she got news of her brother’s death.
“I have too,” Joe said.
“She told me about what she went through after her mother died.”
“She told you about her struggle with...?” Joe’s surprised voice died off as he realized he was about to say something he shouldn’t.
“About not being able to eat because she didn’t mourn her mother properly? Yes. I’m worried about her. I can tell she’s lost weight. And she hardly ate a thing this evening. Talking with you helps, but she didn’t even want to call you tonight.”
“She’s struggling with more than the loss of her brother and betrayal by her father’s partner right now.”
“Like what?” Jake asked, confused.
Joe took his time answering. “I’m not at liberty to say.” Then after another brief pause, he spoke again. “She needs you Jake, but she doesn’t want to admit to herself that she needs anyone. Emily is a strong, independent woman, but she knows she’s alone now, and she’s trying to process how she’s going to make it all alone.”
“She doesn’t need to do it alone,” Jake said, trying to hide the fervency in his voice. He wasn’t sure he was ready to admit how much he cared about Emily to anyone, least of all to a stranger who was a shrink.
“I’ve told her the same thing. But Emily feels the need to prove it to herself. She doesn’t want to repeat past mistakes.”
“What past mistakes?”
Again, there was a long silence on the phone. “Never mind.” Then letting out a sigh, Joe continued. “This is not the first time Emily has lost a loved one. Although, I dare say, this is the most difficult loss. Something happened after her father died that makes Emily hesitant to rely on others. There are more issues here than dealing with her grief.”
“I’m part of the issue now, aren’t I?” Jake said, remembering how upset Emily was yesterday.
“You can’t take it personally. Her pulling away is an act of self-preservation. She’s trying to avoid getting hurt, nor does she want to hurt anyone else.”
What exactly did Emily go through after her father’s death? He had a feeling it had something to do with a man. Was it the Trent fellow she didn’t want to talk to when she notified Cameron’s friends of his death?
“So, I’m supposed to let her pull away and watch her starve herself to death?” Jake hadn’t intended to let his frustration make him sound so angry.
But he was angry. He was angry at Max Garrison for putting beautiful, sweet, Emily through the heartache she was having to endure.
“No, Jake, you don’t need to sit back and do nothing.” Joe’s voice was forceful now. “Make her confront her feelings. Make her admit her anger, encourage her to cry and yell, but whatever you do, respect the boundaries she has set.”
Boundaries?
Last night, Emily set clear boundaries to protect herself. The first and foremost no more kissing. He was such an idiot for having kissed her when he held her in her bed. He knew she was vulnerable, but he’d done it anyway.
Jake talked with Joe for a few more minutes, deciding if Emily hadn’t eaten or talked to Jake by the next afternoon, Jake needed to encourage her to confront her feelings. Either way, Joe promised to call the next evening.
Jake watched the bay colt, wondering what he could do to get Emily to talk to him without driving her away.
He wished he could hold her because he liked the feel of her in his arms, but also because she took such comfort from his embrace. How could he comfort her without the physical contact? He wouldn’t kiss her anymore. She’d set that boundary and he would respect it, no matter what. It wouldn’t be easy, but he respected Emily, and if it made it easier for her to handle everything she was going through, then he would avoid that kind of contact.
It wasn’t lunchtime, but Jake returned to the house, hoping to see Emily. He found his mom and Lottie visiting in the kitchen.
“Lunch will be ready in an hour,” Lottie said as she folded dish towels.
“It’s fine,” he said, with a dismissive wave. “I’m not even hungry.”
“You’re worried about her, aren’t you?” his mother asked.
