Page 42 of Penalty to the Heart

“No,” he retorts, resolute in his decision. “You and I both know leaving is the only option for me. Martha wouldn’t want me to spend the rest of my days like this. Suffering.”

“No, she would not,” I add sweetly, placing my hand on top of his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Still, it’s going to be hard not seeing her everywhere I go. Not sure how I’ll be able to cope, to be honest,” he admits pensively.

“You’ll be fine, Rex. Yes, the first few weeks, maybe even months, will be hard on you, but pretty soon, you will settle into your new norm and start living again. Just like Martha would have wanted.”

He smiles meekly, patting my hand with his.

“I will miss our afternoon talks, sweet girl. You always did have a way of making me feel better.”

“I should hope so. Otherwise, I’d be one lousy therapist,” I joke with a light laugh.

“A person can’t learn empathy and compassion. That comes from you.” He points at my heart.

“Stop.” I wave him off. “I’m not going to let you make me cry on my lunch break when I still have patients to see this afternoon.”

“Fair enough.” He chuckles. “And how is business treating you these days?”

“As expected. Some patients are more open to therapy than others.” I shrug.

“Anyone in particular giving you a hard time?”

“The new player Trent sent my way for one,” I frown, thinking about yesterday’s session with Caleb Donovan.

“Ha. I assume you’re referring to the younger Donovan.” Rex smiles. “Yes, I was there when Trent gave him the ultimatum to sharpen up. I think you’ll have your hands full with that one.”

“So I’m starting to learn,” I mutter, my frown deepening. “He’s quite… quite… what’s the word I’m looking for…”

“Smart-mouthed? Defiant? A bit of a class clown?”

“No, I was going to say… lost,” I reply in earnest, coaxing Rex’s teasing smile to fade away.

“Yes, well, that’s to be expected, too, I guess.” Rex lets out a sigh. “The Donovan brothers are thick as thieves in their own brotherly way. What happened to Jack was a tragedy beyond measure. Everyone is feeling the loss, but I’m sure none more so than Caleb. Poor kid.”

“They were that close, huh?” I ask, trying to get more intel on my reluctant new patient.

“Where one went, the other was sure to follow.”

“I’m surprised to hear that. Most siblings lose that type of bond when they grow into adulthood.”

“Well, that’s just the thing—Caleb Donovan hasn’t grown up yet. However, I fear that with his brother no longer in the picture, he’ll be forced to. I’m not sure how he’ll react to that.”

I take in Rex’s words of caution and chew on my lower lip.

“I don’t know, Rex. Maybe I’m not the right person to help him. What he really needs is grief counseling. He needs to be around people going through the same thing. Maybe I was too quick to accept this job from Trent.”

“Hogwash. I can’t think of a better person to help Caleb than you. You helped me, didn’t you?”

“So much so that you’re moving to another state. I hardly think that qualifies as me helping you.” I laugh, disheartened.

“But you did. You made me see that I still have life in me and that I should take steps to embrace it. That I should honor my Martha, not by dwelling in my own self-pity but by living the rest of my days as she would have wanted me to—happy,” he declares tenderly.

“You’re a sweet friend,” I say, leaning my head on his shoulder.

“I’m an old man with too much time on his hands, but it’s thanks to you that I now know how best to use it while still on this godforsaken earth. I’m sure you’ll give Donovan all the tools he needs to see his way out of the dark abyss he finds himself in. I have no doubt you’ll find a way.”

“I hope you’re right.”

---