Page 87 of Inked in Devotion

“And this?”

“According to Dora, it’s a homeopathic remedy. It’s for anxiety.”

“I’ve seen her use this,” I said. “She didn’t act like this.”

Theo entered the room with another doctor garbed in dark blue scrubs. She appeared to be in her late fifties with an austere manner.

“This is Doctor Wyeth.” Theo introduced us. “She’s the head of neuropsychiatry at Presbyterian Willis. She frequently consults with us.”

“Since the patient is sedated, can you give me the gist of what might have led to this?” she asked.

I was glad she didn’t waste time on niceties and launched straight into business.

I told her about fugue or dissociative states and the first time I encountered them. I told her about her friend Dora mentioning the same, including that bit about forgetfulness. Chloe kicking me out of the house because she thought I cheated on her—that was the safest way to explain what happened without mentioning the Vozhokari. And finally, my accusatory words after finding Sebastian choking. I didn’t make excuses for myself because it was critical for the doctor to have all the facts to diagnose why Chloe unraveled so spectacularly.

“We’re past the baby blues,” she said. “And from what you’re telling me, she doesn’t fit postpartum depression because it appears she has motivation for her work. Still, we shouldn’t rule it out. A new mother faces many challenges, as I’m sure you know. Lack of sleep. Anxiety about raising a child. Chloe is a single mother, correct?”

“Yes. But I’m helping.”

“You weren’t present on the day of the birth.”

“No. I was in jail.”

“I see,” she stated baldly. “Theo told me about her complicated parentage and the media storm over several incidents.” She gave Chloe an assessing gaze before addressing me. “The Chloe that you saw today, did you recognize her?”

I squeezed my eyes shut briefly as I replayed her stricken face after I raged at her about her carelessness. “I was an asshole. I couldn’t see past my anger after I found Sebastian…” I broke off, pulled in a breath before continuing, “Chloe is frightened of storms and when she left at the peak of one, that was when it hit me I’d gone too far. But that woman on the cliff who was about to kill herself? That wasn’t Chloe.”

“Wait,” Theo said. “Before she tried to step off the cliff, Chloe said, ‘She said it was the only way.’”

My head whipped to Theo. “You’re right. I remember that now.”

“Huh,” the doctor said in a contemplative tone.

“Did she mean…Marena, or her psychiatrist, or…” I hissed a breath, almost afraid to say it. “…an alter ego? What if in her disassociation she is someone else?”

“A split personality?” Lucy asked.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” the doctor said. “I don’t like speculating into specifics until I’ve talked to the patient. This episode seemed to have sharply escalated from what you’ve described⁠—”

“I reacted badly to the choking incident. That might have triggered what’s already there.”

“Maybe, but we have to make sure this isn’t chemically induced.” Her eyes fell on the pill bottles. “Is this what she’s on?”

“Yes,” Lucy answered. “That we know of.”

“I don’t recognize the prescriber,” she mused. She twisted the cap open and poured out the capsules. “These do not match the label.”

“What?” I rasped while everyone in the room uttered varying shocked reactions.

“Who’s her therapist?” Dr. Wyeth asked.

“Dora said Marena recommended her.”

“And who is Marena?”

“She’s the child welfare liaison with the women’s shelter. She’s also a counselor,” I said slowly and turned to Lucy. “Has Dora checked on Marena?”

“She tried to call her, but got voicemail.”