“You ever try to do the right thing for someone you care about, no matter what it costs you?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
Remi nodded, like that made her feel less alone. Then, quietly, “I told him to take the job in the city.”
“I know,” I said.
She blinked. “Ava?”
“Jack.”
Remi exhaled, leaning back in her chair. “Of course.”
“You know he’d stay if you asked him.”
“That’s exactly why I won’t.”
I let the silence hang. Outside, the wind picked up, scattering the first fallen leaves against the clinic window.
“Why push him away if you don’t want him to go?” I asked finally.
She didn’t answer at first. Just stared at the wall, like behind the paint was some version of herself she hadn’t spoken to in years.
“Because I’ve seen what happens when you ask someone to stay and they do it out of obligation,” she said. “It poisons everything.”
“Sounds like you’re protecting him.”
“And maybe a little of me, too.”
I studied her, then nodded. “You don’t have to explain it to me, Kiddo. But you should know… Jack’s not walking away because he wants to. He’s walking because he doesn’t know if he still matters to you.”
That landed. I saw it, the flicker, the recoil.
Her voice sharpened. “You want to ask me something, ask.”
I didn’t flinch. “Are you still in love with him?”
Silence stretched. Then, finally: “He’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me. But I don’t know if that’s enough. What if my bar is so low that someone saying they’ll stay is the best I’ve ever had?”
I didn’t push. Didn’t have to. She kept going, softer now, like she couldn’t stop herself.
“Some days I think I should hold on to him with everything I’ve got because he’s a good man. And then other days…” She swallowed. “Other days, a part of me still wonders about happily ever after. About a love that doesn't leave you feeling like this. About a man who can see me at my absolute worst and still look at me like I am the only one for him.”
We let it sit. The clock ticked on the wall. Somewhere down the hall, a printer hummed and clicked.
Then she pivoted, fast as she always did when the air got too heavy. “How are you and Ava?”
I blinked at the sudden shift. “We are... good.” I smiled, unsure of why she was asking me and not Ava.
“She let you in?”
“A little bit day by day,” I answered honestly.
“She’s not built for halfway, Chief. If you’re going to hurt her...”
“I’m not,” I said quickly.
“Good,” she replied. Her eyes glinted. “Because if you do, you won’t have to deal with her rage first. You’ll have to deal with mine.”
