Page 173 of Her Wicked Plan

“She seems…” Dr. Bennett follows Veronica’s movement while she moves down the hall and to the door before he finishes his thought, “different.”

I step back to allow him access to the room. “She is different. We established this when I first arrived here.”

He laughs under his breath, enters the room, and sits in a chair.

“Yes, but this? I haven’t seen this side of Veronica before. She appears to be… happy. Of course, differently than I’m used to.” He crosses one leg over the other, hands clasped together on his knee. “The only other times I see her express joy is after she wins a fight. I never thought I’d say this, but Veronica seems genuinely happy.” Dr. Bennett doesn’t fight the smile on his face. “I guess we have you to thank for that.”

My smile falters the tiniest bit, though not enough to draw suspicion. My heartbeat quickens because even though I know he meant my progress with her as a doctor, that isn’t the real reason she seems so happy.

Technically, it is part of it. During our sessions, she has opened up more to me. She stopped fighting me so damn much when I brought up her past.

What he doesn’t know is that the time she and I have spent together, naked and vulnerable, are the times that really helped her open up. I’ve seen a change in her, too.

Although I would never admit it to her because I’m afraid once I do, she’ll crawl back into her shell of hatred for the world.

She still hates the world.

She just has a soft spot for me, I guess.

And maybe Eliza.

“Veronica has been making real progress,” I finally say. “She has opened up more than I thought she ever would in our sessions, and I think that talking through all of her issues in the past might help heal the issues she has now. I mean, she has taken an interest in Eliza Greene.”

“Yes, I have seen them together a few times in the common room,” he says warily. “I was worried at first. I thought Veronica was picking on the poor girl, but then I saw Eliza laugh.”

“I wouldn’t say they are friends, but it is something that we never thought Veronica would achieve.”

“And her visit with her sister?” Henry’s finger taps lightly against his hand. “I heard that didn’t end well.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “No, it did not. They both had different expectations for the visit. Veronica was angry, but I kept her calm so she didn’t hurt anyone.”

“I appreciate you, Leo.” Dr. Bennett softly smiles. “We were worried that Veronica would have scared you off, as she did the other doctors. You were the first and only person to get through to her.”

I felt my cheeks redden at the compliment. “She had Dr. Davis, though. From what I remember, Veronica quite liked her.”

“She did. Dr. Davis was wonderful, but she never broke through Veronica’s tough exterior the way you have done. I’m very glad we brought you here.”

“I’m thankful that you gave me this opportunity.”

“How are things with your mother?” He changes the subject as quickly as the weather outside.

I allow my eyes to drop momentarily to collect myself before meeting his stare. “She isn’t doing well.”

A sad smile appears on his face, the corners of his mouth not reaching his eyes. “I’m sorry that you are dealing with this. I lost my wife a few years ago because of cancer.”

“I’m sorry, Henry.” A pained expression twists my face. “I didn’t know.”

“How could you have?” An airy laugh escapes him. “I don’t talk about her much. Really at all. The pain is still there when I speak of her. Even with how long it has been.”

That’s not reassuring. “I’m afraid of that, too.”

“Leo, the pain will always be there. Some days, it will be unbearable, but others? You’ll hardly know it exists, but it does.” He uncrosses his legs. “It’s there, buried deep in a place that you deem safe. Never let go of that pain. Even when it makes you feel like the world is ending and you want to scream.”

“Letting go of that pain feels like the only way to keep living.”

Dr. Bennett stands while I remain sitting. “That’s where you are wrong. Keeping the pain, all that hurt? It is to make you remember you are alive. That you went into battle with the hardest parts of life, and you survived.”

The way he gives this advice reminded me of my mother. The wise words they both spew out in a moment, you need to hear them the most.