“Oops, sorry. I was actually just going to call you. I had the day from hell?—”
“I know. He was here.”
I stopped on the sidewalk. “What?”
“Beck. Was here.”
Here? It was Monday.
“He came to the college?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think?”
Holy shit. “What did he say? I can’t believe he came to your work.”
“You and me both. Nearly scared the crap out of me since I didn’t expect any students. Beck told me all about lunch, and that you wouldn’t text him back. Apparently he looked for Pia but couldn’t find her.”
“She was at the doctor’s office,” I said, just as two kids went running past me toward the square. I watched him play kickball for a second and then kept walking. Baby. Kids. I wanted that.
Beck would be an amazing father, I had no doubt.
“Anyway, he wanted to talk about what happened. Asked for my advice.”
This day just kept getting weirder and weirder. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“I did, apparently. Words just came out of my mouth, as if I were Carolyn. Maybe I have learned a thing or two from her.”
Carolyn was Jules’s therapist. She adored her and had been with her for years.
“So he told you everything?”
“He did.”
“What did you tell him?”
She hedged. “I feel like that would violate patient confidentiality.”
She was a nut. “Except, he’s not your patient.”
“True, but still.”
That was one of the things I liked best about Jules, actually. She wasn’t a gossiper. So I let her off the hook. “Fair enough. But since you know the whole situation, what are your thoughts? For me, specifically, Dr. Porter.”
She cleared her throat. “Well, in my professional opinion…” I stepped onto my street. “I believe you two need a little space tonight to reflect. Talk tomorrow with clear minds and go from there.”
“Wise words,” I said. “I’m actually just walking into my house.”
“Alright, will let you go. I’m considering dragging my butt to the gym.”
“I have to get over there and join. Maybe we can convince each other to go.”
“Do you know how happy I am that you’re thinking to stay?”
“Yeah, well, to make that happen, I’m gonna need a whole lot of clients. We’ll see how excited you are when I make you carry my cards to hand out.”
