He stood with me, extending his hand. “Is it okay if I come back this week? I like the laughing part of the session very much.” More than likely, he was discovering that he liked laughing period. What a sad way to learn that about himself.
I placed my palm against his. “I’m completely fine with that, Mr. Graham. I don’t mind you laughing at me as long as you understand it’s not a guarantee each session. I have been known to bring people to tears… mostly from boredom.”
I should have taken my hand back from his by now, but hadn’t. His touch was warm, callused while soft, and electric. All my cylinders were firing from all points just from a handshake. I had never been so alive. All the more reason to slip my hand from his gently, slowly.
“Alright, Mr. Graham. Go have fun. That’s an order.”
Disappointed at having to unhand him literally, I went to open the door. He tailed me out. My spine prickled at his nearness. I felt locked in someone’s crosshairs. He was definitely checking out my backside. It was all I could do to deter the smile determined to form on my mouth. Athena glimpsed up from her computer screen. Beside the device was an enormous crystal vase with a big red bow and bouquet of flowers. A tiny envelope stuck out of the petals.
I halted in my tracks, palming my stomach as it roiled. My gut was screaming Chad Lowell had found me. The big red bow and tiny white envelope was his calling card.
Athena eased up from her chair. “Dr. Johnston, is everything alright?”
No, it most certainly was not.
“Dr. Johnston,” Mr. Graham called, sidling up next to me. “Who are the flowers from?”
My mouth worked to satisfy their questions, but no words emitted. Nothing was functioning but my stomach. It worked overtime somersaulting then dipping. I forecasted my lunch reentering my throat any second now. How messed up was I that mere flowers reduced me to inoperable?
Mr. Graham left my side, approaching the desk. “Miss. Clark, read the note that came with the flowers.”
Athena gawked at me for permission. A mixture of me shaking and bobbing my head simultaneously was all I could give her. She could take that however she wanted to, do whatever with the gift. I wasn’t touching it ever.
Athena removed the card, reading it aloud. “Congratulations, baby girl. We’re so proud of you. Mama and Daddy.”
The flowers that I couldn’t break eye contact with were from my parents. Not Chad. It still took a full minute for all that to fully register. The grip of terror gradually liberated its hold on me. I didn’t feel free, only tired. Chad Lowell was still out there.
Reeling around toward my office, I stumbled inside. Dropping into the throne back chair behind my desk like a stone, I closed my eyes tight. Mr. Graham entering the room felt like a tangible object rubbing against my senses. For a split second, I permitted my patient’s proximity to eliminate the raw loneliness only a shitstorm could create. I couldn’t make that a habit. His broad shoulders weren’t the ones I could lean on ethically.
Mr. Graham lowered unhurriedly into the visitor’s chair on the opposite side of my desk. “Dr. Johnston, who did you think those flowers were from?”
Drained, I let my head lull to the side, too heavy to hold up. “If I answer that, I’ll commit professional misconduct. Patients are not supposed to get involved in their doctors’ lives. It leads to the crossing of some lines that can’t be uncrossed.” With him, I’d probably cross all of them without a care for the consequences. All the more reason not to bend his ears about my past.
Mr. Graham puffed out a breath from succulent lips. “It’s just a question, Dr. Johnston. We won’t enter into a romantic relationship if you answer it. The door is opened. Miss Clark can hear us if that makes you feel better. She’s my witness that I’m asking only in a professional capacity as a Marine whose duty is always to protect and defend. Plus, I’d be breaking my oaths if I left you here to deal with an abusive boyfriend or a stalker. Does either of that explain why you’ve opened this new office in New York?”
“Mr. Graham, I know you mean well, but we can’t talk about this. Please understand that.”
One look at my fumbling hands and he deduced I was lying. “If you’re afraid of someone bothering you, you can talk to me. I’ve dealt with bad guys all my life.”
Kneading shaking fingers together, I dared to tell the first patient to walk through my new office’s doors that I’d fled California to seek refuge in New York. One last-ditch effort to get him to leave was all I had left before I divulged everything. “Thank you for your concern, but I can handle it from here.” Chad Lowell hadn’t found me yet.
Mr. Graham gave me a single duck of his head as acceptance of my demand. “Is it okay if I come every day? I’m in a hurry to join the FBI. Their next picks for Quantico is in a month and a half. My next birthday is in two, and will disqualify me from ever being hired.”
Who was I to stand in the way of him being great? I imitated his gesture of acceptance. Without another word, he vacated his seat. A dull ache bloomed in my chest as he sauntered away.
Tobin
Dr. Johnston came across as capable of handling whatever situation was distressing her but not while shaking like a leaf. Something was terribly wrong. Something terrible brought her to New York. I was going to stick like glue to her until I got to the bottom of that something. Meanwhile, I’d be watching Cherise’s back and coaching myself on how to stop wanting to be with her.
Upon setting an appointment with the receptionist for the next day, my mind began listing things I‘d require for stakeouts. Whoever was bothering Dr. Johnston would make their next move sooner or later. They’d have me to deal with when they did.
Climbing in my truck, I fired up the engine. A searing gust of heat blew out the vent, quickly turning frigid. Just the way I liked it. A few blocks down was an assortment of restaurants. Today, I elected for freshly cooked, loaded bean burritos, hold the salt. Returning to the office block, I passed by my previous parking space in front of Cherise’s business and parked further down the lot. I settled in to catalog who was often in the area.
Construction workers toiled diligently to ready the other suites in the building. Random people passed by on foot every few minutes to get to the bus stop down the street. No one paid an unusual amount of consideration to Dr. Johnston’s office. No one rode by more than once or at a peculiar speed. Nothing was out of the ordinary. I hoped like hell it stayed that way but expected hell to break loose all the same. For a week, I waited, observed, and trailed her home every day.
When she left for the office in the morning, I was there. If she noticed she had an unwanted escort to and fro her gated community, she never said so during our sessions. I wasn’t about to bring it up during either. Each day, I examined her for signs that something had changed for the worse. If that was the case, she didn’t give it away. Calm and collected as ever, she listened to me pour my heart out about my life choices. Some choices, life made for me. Not once did she give the impression that she judged me for any of it. Maybe if she had, I wouldn’t be so hung up on her.
The w