Page 51 of Out of Sight

Therapy was underway.

Chapter Nine

Lucia sat with Yorwell on his deck and looked out over the quiet green space behind him. He had just held her at Mik’s office, and then they had headed home.

When she finally spoke, she said, “Giants are steady, they are calm, and they have patience.”

Yorwell nodded. “And we are excellent dancers.”

She smiled. “That will be an interesting demonstration.”

“Oh, I certainly think so.” He nodded again. “How was your session?”

“Long, but we covered some ground. Less rage when I came out than when I went in.”

“How many diamonds?”

“Sixteen.” She shoved her hands into the pouch on her sweatshirt. She pulled her left out, and it was full of glittering stones, some of astonishing size.

“Those are impressive.”

“Slow tears are bigger stones.” She smiled. “I learned that today.”

He smiled. “When you have settled, do you have thoughts for dinner?”

“All food is like new. Even mac and cheese is a feast.”

He nodded and pulled up his phone. “I can work with that.”

She laughed and sighed, looking out at the peace of nature. “Well, it hasn’t been a completely horrible day.”

He chuckled. “I am glad to hear it.”

“I figure my headache from crying ought to stop anytime now.”

Yorwell got up and walked behind her, pressing his fingers lightly to her temples and massaging gently, moving his fingers through her hair. He reached the back of her neck and worked down her shoulders.

Lucia had never been on the receiving end of a neck rub, and she found herself twisting against it, a small purr coming from her throat.

Yorwell chuckled. “I have never heard a beta purr before.”

She practiced a phrase that Mik had coached her with. “It’s new.”

He kissed her neck, and she scrunched her shoulders. He chuckled. “That is a fair answer.”

She sighed. “Too much new.”

“Pace yourself. It is your first day.” He kissed the other side of her neck. “So how much time have you been spending in other people’s cellphones?”

“I am there right now. Why?”

He chuckled. “The silence hurts?”

“It frightens me. I am terrified of sleeping and the silence being never-ending. It was bad enough not to be seen or heard or be able to touch and be touched, but I was terrified of silence because that meant I wouldn’t be able to know if the world had ended or just my world. I have learned not to sleep, but I think that won’t be likely in this form.”

His hands still moved on her shoulders. “If you let me, I would like to help you figure it out.”

Lucia leaned back in his grip. She purred again, and he kept working on her tension. She started yawning, and he chuckled. “I think a nap might be in order.”