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I remembered once again Corkscrew Curl, the intruder. Should I tell him? He would only worry and he had enough to worry about with me.

“The move was not great.” I kept my explanation short.

“Oh. Why?”

“I was distracted.” I shrugged.

“Well, you have tomorrow.”

Then he frowned and seemed to gather his thoughts. “Emily, don’t take this the wrong way, but what are you doing in my room?”

“I was looking for hangers.”

“Oh, of course.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude, and I didn’t want to interrupt you and Lulu.” I glanced down at the pot.

“We were just watching TV. I was just curious, that’s all. Do you want to keep the pot?”

“No, Billy made it for you.” I held it out for him, and his fingers curled around it possessively.

“You have an appointment with the bereavement counselor tomorrow.”

“Do I have to go?”

“I don’t think it’ll do any harm. Just try it once and see, please.” His eyes were bleak and filled with grief.

“Okay,” I murmured because I didn’t want to disappoint him or cause him any more pain. After all, he was all I had left—alive.

Chapter XI Tampons

Luke Fox must have been in his late thirties. He had short brown hair, two days’ stubble, and dark brooding eyes that crinkled with compassion when he showed me into his small office.

Well, I hoped it was compassion.

“I’ll wait outside,” Dylan called after me.

I gave him an anxious glance as Luke closed the door. It was early and I had no desire to talk to this stranger.

“Hi, Emily. Come in and take a seat.”

I sat down on the worn, green, functional armchair in front of his desk. The office was cramped, and on one wall, there was a collage of many, many photographs of various happy people. I wondered if they were his patients.

“Dr. Mills referred you.” He paused for a moment. “And, just so you know, anything we say in here is in complete confidence. Okay?”

I nodded. Good, nothing too controversial so far.

“I understand you’re Dr. Knightley’s niece.”

“Yes,” I said, then added “Sort of…” as an afterthought.

“Sort of?”

“Technically, we’re not actually related.”

Luke’s eyes widened a little, betraying his surprise.

“He’s my guardian.”