AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, um, that sounds nice. Would you, um, excuse me?” I rushed down the hallway and into the bathroom. I would’ve lost the contents of my stomach, but since it was empty, all I did was dry-heave. “Go away,” I groaned when I heard a knock at the door.
“Luisa, it’s Mom.”
“You can come in.”
She knelt beside me on the floor and rubbed my back. “I wish I had a way to make it all go away, baby.”
I sat back on my heels. “Nothing can make it go away, Mom.”
“I know. I just—”
“Press said he could make arrangements for someone to come to Seahorse. A therapist I can talk to.”
“That sounds like a very good idea, but…”
“But what?”
She waved her hand in front of her face and shook her head.
“No, tell me. But what?” I bit my lip hard enough that it hurt.
“I was going to ask if insurance covered it, but don’t worry. I’ll find a way to pay for it if it doesn’t.”
The cost hadn’t even occurred to me, and she was right. Having someone come here would be far more than we could afford. “I’ll look for someone my insurance covers, Mom. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
I stood, washed my face, and brushed my teeth. “Thanks for bringing my stuff here,” I said as my mom walked out of the bathroom. God, the last thing I meant to do was make her feel bad.
When I returned to the kitchen, Press was eating breakfast. Neither Beau nor my mom was with him. He stood as soon as he saw me walk in.
“Please, don’t get up on my account.”
He came around the island and took my hand. “What happened a few minutes ago?”
“Thinking,” I got out before my eyes filled with tears.
Press dropped my hand but embraced me. As I cried, he stroked my hair.
“I’m sorry,” I said, pulling back and wiping my nose with the back of my hand.
“First, do not feel as though you need to apologize to me for anything, let alone crying.” He handed me a handkerchief, and I wiped my face and nose. “Second, remember what I said yesterday? As soon as you feel ready, I’ll make arrangements for Dr. Benedict to come to Seahorse.”
I shook my head. “I can find someone. I’ll just check with my insurance.”
Press rested both hands on my shoulders. “I’m going to be very frank with you. Will that be all right?”
I hated that it sounded like he was about to scold me. However, the man had invited me to stay here. If he had something to say, the least I could do was listen. “Of course.”
Press put his finger on my chin. “Stop biting your lip, pet.”
I glared at him, and he smiled, but it left quickly, and his tone returned to serious. “As long as you are here, which I hope will be long enough for you to heal from all you’ve experienced, I do not want you to worry about things like insurance.”
I folded my arms. “I have no choice but to think about things like insurance, Press. I can’t afford to pay a therapist to make house calls.” My eyes opened wide, and I took a step back.
“What just happened?” he asked with eyes as wide as mine.
“It’s going to sound stupid.”
