“Oh, spare me,” Miranda called as she walked toward her own office. “The whole office knows you’re incapable of reason where your husband is concerned.”
“Nate says I’m besotted!”
“Nate’s right!” she called, as she entered her own office.
Joshua laughed as he moved out of the building and toward the clinic’s parking lot, and he felt a sense of happiness swell his chest. “Iambesotted,” he thought. He stopped for a moment, and remembering Colin’s warning, looked around him.
The parking lot was beginning to empty as therapists and patients made their way home. He could see no one at the moment other than himself, and once again he moved toward his car. As he reached it, a voice sounded from behind him. “Doctor Abrams?”
Joshua wheeled to see Chrissy sitting in the car parked right next to his, and from the corner of his eye he saw Dale Alensworth striding toward him around the back of the car.Dammit, Colin!He thought, feeling fear pierce his chest like a cold blade.Do you always have to be right?
Joshua dropped his briefcase to the ground and took a half-step back. “What do you want, Dale?”
“He wants to talk to you,” Chrissy said. “That’s all. Honest, Doctor Abrams!”
Joshua shot a glance at Chrissy who was getting out of their car, then his eyes darted back to Dale who was bearing down on him.
“Stay away from my wife!” Alensworth raged.
“I haven’t seen your wife in weeks,” Joshua said. He made every attempt to keep his voice calm and reasonable, and he made sure his body language was open and non-threatening. He met Dale’s eyes, his own steady. “I understand your anxiety, Dale. A patient’s spouse often gets the impression that their wife or husband has a closer relationship with their therapist than they do with them. It’s a valid concern.”
“I know you’re having an affair with her!” Alensworth blurted out, moving within a few inches of Joshua’s body.
“Dale, I’m not only married, I’mgay!” Joshua told him. “My only interest in Chrissy is that of a doctor for his patient.”
“You can forget about THAT!” Dale snapped. “She’s not coming back to yourtherapysessions and I don’t want you to ever contact her again. I’ve seen your number on her phone. I know she’s called you!”
“Dale, she’s called the clinic, not me. I’ve only seen Chrissy during regular office hours for her scheduled appointments.”
Dale grabbed the front of Joshua’s jacket and slammed him against the car; his face was mere inches from Joshua’s. “I don’t believe any of your bullshit. You stayawayfrom her!”
“That’s not a problem,” Joshua said, struggling to keep his voice from trembling. “A lot of patients leave therapy. I don’t go chasing after them.” Dale was close enough that Joshua could smell alcohol, and he made himself draw in a deep breath and count to six before speaking again. “I’m concerned for both of you, Dale. I can see you’re distraught. Are you OK?”
“I’ll be fine as long as you stop chasing after my wife,” Dale ground out through clenched teeth, but the hand clutching Joshua’s jacket relaxed, and he took a step back. “Because if you don’t, you’re going to wish you had! The bullet on your car should give you a hint what’ll happen next!” He spun toward Chrissy and shoved her toward their vehicle, slamming her against the door. “Get in the goddamn car!”
Joshua forced himself not to go to her aid. He remained stock still as Chrissy got into the car and Dale moved to the driver’s side and entered. Alensworth gunned the engine and roared from the clinic’s parking lot, narrowly missing several parked cars as his own fishtailed.
Joshua watched the car until it was out of sight, then slumped against his own vehicle, trembling all over. He forced his tense muscles to relax, and tried to control his staggered breathing, remaining propped against his vehicle until he felt the symptoms of panic begin to recede. “Oh god,” he groaned, easing himself into the driver’s seat. “I have to tell Colin about this and he is going to fucking freak out!”
His every instinct urged him to stomp on the accelerator and speed toward his house on the Rivanna River and the safety he knew awaited him there. But he still felt the shock of his encounter with Alensworth and drove with deliberate caution. He pulled into their driveway fifteen minutes later, weak-kneed with relief when he saw Colin’s car in the driveway.
“Hey, bud,” Colin greeted him, moving toward Joshua as he entered their home. “Since you didn’t start dinner, d’you want to...” But his sentence trailed off as he caught a glimpse of his husband’s stricken face. “What’s wrong? What happened, Josh?”
Joshua lurched forward, closing his eyes in relief when he felt Colin’s arms grow tight around him. “Dale!” Joshua blurted out. “You were right. He was waiting for me in the parking lot.”
Alarmed and angry, Colin pushed him to arm’s length and looked him up and down. “Are youhurt?”
“No. Just rattled a bit.” He met Colin’s eyes, his expression grim. “Looks like your task force isn’t the only thing on the prowl.”
Colin led Joshua to the couch and he collapsed onto it, clinging to Colin’s hand. “OK,” Colin spat out. “This ends right fuckingnow! I’m going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ talk with Mr. Alensworth.” He pulled free of Joshua’s hand and spun to stalk into their dining room, hissing out a breath through clenched teeth. “Goddammit!”
“Colin, you can’t! You can’t confront him. The only person who saw him accost me was Chrissy, and she’s not exactly a reliable witness. You’d end up in trouble.” Joshua caught Colin’s hand as he strode past the couch, halting his angry pacing. “Besides, there’s still the danger he could take it out on her. I have to go slow with this.”
“So slow that this fucker ends up shooting you?” Colin raged. “No, Josh! He’s taken it a step too far! First the bullet and nowthis?You’ve tried to help Chrissy time and time again, but she refuses to act on her own behalf.Sheisn’t my concern.Youare!”
“Can’t we file a restraining order against him? Maybe that would be enough.”
Colin stared down at Joshua’s ashen face then fell onto the couch beside him. “OK, baby,” he murmured gathering Joshua close in his arms. “I’ll look into getting a protective order first thing tomorrow.” He carded his fingers through Joshua’s hair. “But I’m also paying Alensworth a visit. He needs to understand who he’s fucking with.”
