Page 45 of Cross + Catherine: The Companion

Catherine knew that however was coming. With Cara, there was always something else to be said or done.

“What?” Catherine asked.

“The longer you keep yourself in that mindset—the one of a victim—the harder it will be to leave it behind. Many women who have been assaulted don’t like to think of themselves as victims, but survivors. See, they have come out on the other side of their attack, handled the trauma it caused, and walked through the destruction it left behind.”

Cara smiled, adding, “In other words, Catherine, they survived. A victim is still processing, and not yet beyond that mindset.”

“So, maybe that’s what I need to be right now,” Catherine replied, shrugging. “A victim. Maybe I’m not ready to move beyond something I have barely allowed myself to think about, not to mention, considering telling someone else.”

“Maybe,” Cara agreed. “Or, maybe this place is comfortable and familiar to you. This place is easier to control how it leaves you feeling. It probably allows you to control how close you allow others, too.”

Catherine didn’t like how a lot of what Cara said made a hell of a lot of sense. She wasn’t ready to do anything.

“Maybe I don’t want them to see me as a victim, too,” Catherine mumbled.

Cara nodded. “I can understand that.”

“You don’t agree, though.”

“Catherine, this is your journey, not mine. I may push or encourage you in certain directions, but ultimately, it will always be you who chooses which road you want to travel.”

“Oh.”

“Yes,” Cara said quietly. “Now, I was thinking … why don’t we take a drive today? Go somewhere—do something new for this session.”

Catherine’s heart thumped hard in her throat at the prospect of getting out of the house without one of her parents practically holding her hand like a child. “Seriously?”

Cara pulled out a set of familiar keys. They belonged to Catherine’s matte black Lexus. Her father kept them well hidden.

“Where did you get those?” Catherine asked. “My dad took them away months ago.”

“I explained to him why he needed to give them back.”

“And why was that?”

“Because you are an adult, and not his child to punish. While I know he didn’t take the keys to punish you, I bet it still felt like it. Right?”

“Kind of.”

“Exactly. That certainly won’t breed anything good between the two of you. Contempt, maybe. He couldn’t hand over the keys fast enough at that point.”

Catherine swallowed hard. “Huh.”

Cara jingled the keys. “Wherever you want to go, Catherine, we will go today.”

She grabbed the keys faster than she thought was possible.

“The beach. I want to go to the beach.”