Rafferty, Connie, and the lady behind the counter chuckled.
“I think he’ll do just fine here,” Connie said. “I’ll go ahead and take him back. I’ll give you a call when he’s ready to be picked up.”
“Wait, what–” she said, looking up from the form, but Connie was already gone with For All through the door to the back. It all happened so fast she wasn’t prepared, Justus felt her heart skip a beat, and she looked at Rafferty, but he only smiled at her.
She knew she was being silly. They’d came here for that very reason. She knew she was going to leave him here to be groomed. She couldn’t go back with him. She had her own appointment to go to. Nothing would happen to him while she was there.
The fact her little traitor was handling it much better than she was made her feel weak. And she silently chastised herself as she rode the few blocks to her counseling appointment with Dr. Saunders.She’dfilled out all pertinent information online and submitted it for the groomer in their secure portal, so shedidn’thave to do it once they arrived at the storefront. Whichmade dropping her baby off so much easier for the groomer but not for Justus.
Rafferty offered to escort her to Dr.Saunders'soffice, but she declined.
“You’dhave to wait out in the corridor for me. You might as well enjoy the sunshine in the park,”Justus said before entering.
She went to the second floor and buzzed into Dr.Saunders'soffice, waiting her turn. When she went in, she talked about her feelings concerning the break-in, what happened when she put on the swimsuit, and leaving For All at the groomer.
“You’vebeen through so much this week without Liberty by your side. It sounds like you hit a turning point in your relationship with Rafferty after the swimsuit incident.”
Justus nodded. “I saw him. Really saw him.”
“How has that changed your interaction with him?”
“Ithink it has been for the better. Wearen’tat eachother’sthroats anymore.I’mmore tolerant of Rafferty. We talk and truly get along now. He even found out for me that Dan is alive.”
Dr. Saunders shifted in her seat and sat up.“Dan? The one who helped Kurtis lure you and Chaney away?”
Justus nodded again.“Isn’tthat great? I had been wondering about him ever since the night of the auction. I never knew what happened once we left there. Hewasn’tamong those that were to stand trial. I had no idea where he disappeared. Turns out Liberty shot him, but he survived.”
“Why did she shoot him?”Dr. Saunders asked.
“He shot Asher in the arm. Why? Idon’tknow. And when I talked to Liberty about it, she said that night was a blur. She just reacted when Asherwas shot. Shedidn’tknow who the gunman was that she shot at, but Liberty knew she got him in the chest.”
“Then how did he survive?”Dr. Saunders asked.
“Idon’tknow. Rafferty said I had to get my answers from Dan when I see him.”
“Are you going to see him?”her therapist asked.
She shrugged.“I have no idea. Raffertydoesn’teven know if I will, but he made some calls and found out what we do know about Dan and that night. So, anything might be possible.”
Dr. Saunders frowned.“Do you think seeing Dan, if you can, is a good idea?”
“I’dlike to say thank you to him for looking out for me while Iwas abducted. He took risks where I was concerned,” Justus explained. “He allowed me to text Liberty, whether she ever got those– you know, we never talked about that.”
Justus took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “He was the one who gave me For All to keep me company.” She shook her head. “He might have been with Kurtis that day, but Idon’tbelieve they were friends. Kurtisdidn’ttreat him like one afterwe were takento the house. Dan was on his own as much as Chaney and I were.”
“I’dproceed with caution, Justus,”Dr. Saunders cautioned.“Maybe this man has been taken into protective custody as WitSec. Maybe that’s why heisn’tstanding trial like the others.He’sturned on them. Maybe he’s turned state’s evidence but he could still be just as dangerous as the others.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Justus promised.
“How has it been living without Liberty this last week?”Dr. Saunders asked, changing the subject.“I know you were talking about how she had been hovering. With her inFool’sGold againand you living with Rafferty so he can protect you, has that given you the space you needed?”
“Yes. It has been different. It’s also been nice,”Justus said.“I feel like I have some of my independence back that I had growing up.”
“It sounds like it. I can hear the difference in your voice. A good change for you,”Dr. Saunders said.“Is Rafferty waiting for you today?”
“In the park across the street.We’llgo by and pick For All up from his grooming appointment once we leave here.”
“You mentioned it was hard leaving him for the first time today,”Dr. Saunders said.“Do you think it was because it was the first time, or was it because it was something else?”
