Page 4 of The Paradox Club

“Neither. Friend of the family.”

“And did you feel safe with her?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you mention her before, when I asked you where you would feel safe?”

“Like I said, Vivian is, I guess the polite word is eccentric.”

“In what way is she eccentric?”

“She tells stories.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I mean stories about her own past—stories that can’t possibly be true.”

“Let’s set her storytelling aside for a minute. Would you feel safe with her?”

“Yes.”

“Is there someone you could talk to there? A professional, I mean.”

“I suppose.”

“Then it doesn’t seem to me that a few strange stories merit eliminating your aunt Vivian’s as a possible safe haven.”

“I’m afraid she’ll be disappointed in me.”

“Has she ever been disappointed in you before?”

“I’ve never dropped out of college before.”

“You dropped out of your own family, and she took care of you then.”

“I got forced out.”

“Don’t you think she’d take care of you now?”

“Sometimes I like her stories. Sometimes they make me feel better.”

“Then why not go to her?”

“What if the stories mean she’s got dementia or Alzheimer’s or something? What if I end up taking care of her?”

“Would that be so bad?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m going to adjust your meds, Tess. And I’m going to encourage you not to drop out of school. But I do think you should take some time off. I can arrange for you to take a medical leave. You need to get away from the stress of school for a while. Do you want to call Vivian and tell her you’re coming?”

“She likes surprises.”

“Do you think you can get there safely?”

“There’s a bus. And then I can take an Uber.”

“You might take this as an opportunity to at least reach out to your mother. You clearly have some unresolved issues.”