Page 5 of Come to Me

“I feel refreshed.” And off kilter.

“Dr. Andres, this is Mark and Sheila Franks. They just got married.” Michaela motioned to the couple entwined on the porch swing.

“Doctor? What sort of doctor?” Sheila asked.

“Psychiatrist. And please, call me Patrick.”

“Ooh, you can read minds,” Sheila said.

“Not quite.” If only he could. Maybe he’d have figured out Julia’s plans to hurt Sydney and Mitch before she acted on them.

“Do you do therapy?” Mark asked. “When I was a kid, I had to go to a counselor.”

“You did?” Sheila stared at her new husband with wide eyes.

“Yeah, I didn’t like going to school.”

Sheila rolled her eyes. “No one likes school.”

“Little kids do,” Mark said.

“Social anxiety is common in school-age kids.” Patrick took a seat in one of the empty chairs overlooking the water, but still in view of the other guests and his host.

“Lemonade or tea?” Mrs. Kincaid held up two pitchers indicating his choice.

“It’s sweet,” Michaela warned. “Yankees usually like unsweet.”

“I can get unsweet. Don’t we have some just brewed that’s unsweet, Mick?” Mrs. Kincaid asked.

Michaela nodded. “Would you rather unsweet?”

“Lemonade would be fine.” Patrick didn’t want to be the high-need guest. He was well aware that New Yorkers were often viewed as brash and demanding.

Mrs. Kincaid poured the cup while Michaela put a cookie on a napkin. She brought his drink and snack to him. “It’s snickerdoodle today.”

“Thank you.”

Michaela sat in the chair next to him. “You know, Mitch says you’re stuffy, but you seem alright to me.”

“I’m surprised. I think I’m stuffy.” He took a bite of the cookie trying to remember the last time he’d ever had one. Maybe when he was a kid and he and Julia were over at Sydney’s house. Her mom made cookies a lot.

Michaela laughed, and there was a musicality to it that entranced him. “I was thinking he was just jealous that you and Sydney once had a thing.”

Starting to loosen up, Patrick smiled. “Yes, well, that was in high school. Those romances burn out.”

“Ours didn’t,” Sheila said.

“Usually. There’s no doubt Syd and Mitch are meant to be.” Patrick wasn’t prone to believe in destiny or fairy tales, but there was no denying that what Sydney and Mitch had was special.

Michaela’s cherry red lips widened into a smile. “You’re a romantic too. You’re full of surprises.”

He shook his head. “No, I’m not. I see it in others, such as Mr. and Mrs. Franks here, but that’s the extent of it.”

Michaela tilted her head. “No romance for you, Dr. Andres?”

“It’s Patrick, and no.”

“Why not?” Sheila looped her arms around Mark. “You’re handsome. You look like you’ve got money.”

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