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“I love you, Myla,” he said before ending the call.

Myla placed the handset back on its base, then grabbed her purse to leave.

“I know I only heard one side of that conversation, but I know you’re not about to leave work and neglect your patients for a person that was willing to cause you emotional distress to get your attention. The man had a woman call here and say your niece was in an accident. Are you really going to drop everything for someone willing to hurt you for their benefit?” Jessica asked.

Myla’s face flushed red. She couldn’t make eye contact with Jessica because the truth is, she was going to see her man.

“If you don’t mind, reschedule my remaining appointments. I need to take some personal time.”

Jessica was disgusted. She never thought she’d see the day that Dr. Myla Pleasant would choose self over selflessness.

“A person that’s willing to go to the extreme just to get what they want is not a good person. The moment you say no, they’ll take that as a betrayal and go out of their way to punish you for it. But you know that better than anyone since you’re the mental health professional. Be careful with that one; he’ll make you lose everything,” Jessica said before leaving Myla’s office.

As the receptionist, she had already begun receiving complaints and escalations for Myla’s behavior during sessions. Jessica knew what Myla did not know yet. The stellar reviews and positive professional reputation for Dr. Myla Pleasant had come to an end.

20

“It’s Heaven. Leave a message. Thangyaa very much!!”

Heaven’s cheerful voicemail put a smile on Myla’s face. Even though she knew the accident that Dante used to get her on the phone was false, she still needed to hear Heaven’s voice for her own peace of mind. At the beep, Myla left a message.

“Hey, girlie! I just wanted to check in. I’ve been so busy at work that I’ve been MIA. I wanted to know if you were busy this week. I’m taking a few days off, and I’m feeling like I need a new wardrobe. Let me know if you’re tagging along. Love you. Bye.”

Back-to-back text messages came through instantly.

To Aunt Piggy from Heaven: I’ll always make myself available when you want to spend your money on me LOL.

To Aunt Piggy from Heaven: I’ll have to take a rain check this time. I’m in Lumberton with my crazy dad.

To Aunt Piggy from Heaven: This man really asked me if I thought Mommy would marry him again. Just crazy.

To Aunt Piggy from Heaven: And speaking of Mommy, can the two of you fix whatever is wrong? This feels strange. Luv U. CU when I get back.

Myla sighed. She hated it when Heaven used single letters to spell a word instead of spelling it out. Using the letter C for see or the letter U for you irked her nerves. As annoyed as she was, she couldn’t deny that Heaven was right. Not talking to Miranda felt awkward.

They had never gone this long without speaking.

“Is my relationship with Dante really the issue?” Myla wondered. “I’ll call Miranda as soon as I leave the hospital,” Myla said as she exited her car at Redwood Hospital.

It was becoming obvious that Dante had a wicked hold on her. It was the middle of the day, and she was doing things that she wouldn’t ordinarily do. She had left work without a second thought for her man, yet she had refused to miss work for Heaven’s first swim meet.

“There is no need for me to feel guilty. I already made it up to her by buying that expensive ass purse. And I’m taking her shopping so as far as I’m concerned, we’re even,” Myla said as she exited the car.

“Dr. Pleasant, may I have a word with you?”

At the sound of her name, Myla’s monologue stopped. She glanced around, assuming it was a behavioral health clinician, but none of the people nearby looked familiar.

I know I just heard someone call my name, she thought as she looked at all of the unfamiliar faces in the hospital parking lot.

“Dr. Pleasant, it was me.”

Myla squinted.

The woman, with her blond hair and blue eyes, looked vaguely familiar. But for some reason she couldn’t put a name on the face.

“I’m sorry, but I seem to be at a disadvantage,” Myla replied. Her voice was straightforward, neither polite nor impolite.

The woman fidgeted. She seemed uncomfortable, and Myla couldn’t understand why. The woman had called out to her, not the other way around. If she was so afraid to speak, she could’ve simply kept walking.