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“Hey, Aaron,” Belle greeted him.
“Mrs. Evans, thanks for agreeing to drop by.”
She shook her head, her red lips curving into a smile. “I’ll never get tired of being called Mrs. Evans.”
Bently leaned over and kissed her temple. “Good thing, because you’re stuck with me for life, angel.”
“I think I can live with that,” Belle teased before facing Aaron. “Is Brynn here by chance?”
Aaron shook his head. “No, she’s having a rare day off at home today.”
“Aww, I hope she gets some rest.” Belle tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
“Me too.”
“I’m gonna go nab one of those cookies. You want one, Belle?” Bently asked.
She shook her head. “No, but is that cocoa I smell?”
“Sure is,” Aaron answered.
“I’ll have one of those.”
“Coming right up.” Bently kissed her cheek and then headed towards the table of goodies.
Belle picked a piece of lint from her sweater. “What did you want to chat about?”
Aaron surveyed the room. “Actually, do you mind stepping into my office?”
Lines formed between Belle’s eyebrows. “Sure. Is everything okay?”
He nodded and motioned towards the hall leading to his office. “Yeah. I just need your advice.”
She followed him into his office, setting down the bag she was holding on the floor beside the chair before she undid her coat and sat. Aaron took the seat across from her behind his desk.
“How can I help?” she asked.
“What we talk about—can it be in confidence?”
She nodded. “Do you want me to keep it from Bently too?”
He hesitated. “No, I mean, it’s nothing like . . .” He took a deep breath and let it out. “I wanted to know, from your experience being a SANE nurse, if you had any advice on how to help a partner who’s gone through sexual trauma. Is there anything I can do to make her feel safer? Or maybe something I shouldn’t do?”
Belle relaxed into her chair, her gaze wandering to the rainbow handprints before landing on him. “I’m not saying this is the case, but for some people it will take a lot for them to be able to be intimate with someone again. We have good days, and bad days.”
We? So, Belle was talking from experience. Aaron’s chest twinged. Why weren’t people doing more to help end this epidemic of sexual assault?
“It’s a lot of work to be with someone who has been through any trauma. Someone who has complex PTSD like Brynn will need a lot of support and therapy, but ultimately, she has to do the work. As her partner, you can help her by giving her patience, validation, empathy, and don’t be afraid to encourage her to push past some of the areas that are more difficult for her, to go out of her comfort zone. But don’t push too much.”
He nodded. He’d been doing all of that, as far as he knew.
Belle leaned forward. “I think she’s trying as hard as she can to overcome her demons. All you can do is keep loving her like you do and be patient.”
His throat bobbed. I do love her. But Brynn would be the first one to hear him say the words aloud. “She’s one amazing woman.”
“Brynn has come a long way since she arrived in Shattered Cove.” Belle’s gaze clouded over as her forehead marred, as if in concentration.
Had Belle treated Brynn when she arrived?
