Page 64 of Matteo

I take it for a brief handshake. “Amy Goff. Amy, please.”

She nods as she sits down in a smaller chair that fits her perfectly and gestures to an oversized chair in front of her own. “Tell me, Amy. Are you here because you want to be or because Matteo pressured you?”

“Wow, going straight for the insults.” I thought there would be a little more of a progression.

Her smile is brief. “It isn’t an insult.” She studies me. “Before we begin, I want to verify you are coming to me based on your desire to do the work. It is a great deal of work, considering what Matteo told me. It will simply save us time.”

“I’m here because I want to be. I didn’t want to come at first. Until Matteo helped me understand therapy is like going to any normal doctor. There are some people who are lucky and always healthy enough they don’t go to the doctor often.”

I sigh. “Some people have a major accident like what Danny did to me. Sometimes, it’s like my childhood dealing with my mom and dad, and it will take a long time to fix. It can hurt, but it’s important and will help in the end.”

“Good.” She nods. “I’m glad you understand it’s going to hurt. Not just the EMDR with Danny. The roughest EMDR will be dealing with your childhood. We are going to have to dig up the foundation you’re standing on and tear it out piece by piece. That foundation was built by abuse and neglect. It enabled Danny to lead you to believe you deserved what he did to you—when you sure as fuck didn’t. You left one cycle of abuse to go into another. The work to figure out what to lay down as your new foundation can also be difficult if you aren’t here for you. That’s why I asked if you’re here for you or Matteo.”

Closing my eyes against the pain that she promises is ahead of me, I imagine getting up and walking out. Matteo said I could. He would accept it. He wouldn’t like it, but he wouldn’t argue with me.

“Are you ready to begin?”

Exhaling slowly, I nod.

Matteo

I’d gotten the warning Rafe was coming to join me for lunch at noon. His secretary called to confirm my lunch time with Cleo this morning. Cleo put the woman on hold and called me, asking what I wanted her to tell the woman. I told her to confirm the time.

I’m surprised he waited until today. It’s now Friday—almost a week since I brought Amy to the house for brunch.

Hope showed up Monday for a first lesson to teach Amy how to cook. I’m grateful as hell for Hope. Amy has been smiling and talking about it all week. She even got the courage to cook a few times. It wasn’t bad. One of the meals wasn’t great—she left out salt. But I didn’t dare admit it. The other things she cooked were good, though. I love how her confidence is growing every day.

I’m not worried about Rafe’s visit. Once he understands Amy and Layla are the only things in this world that will make me happy, he’ll lay down the concerned big brother mantle.

Once we settle this, I won’t have to worry about him giving Amy a hard time. I don’t want her upset, especially after everything has been going so well over the last week. It felt like Amy was growing more comfortable in her skin. She’s laughed and teased me often over the last week. Last night, she let me help her in the kitchen. We had fun to the point I couldn’t have cared what the food tasted like.

The appointment with Hillary was the only cloud in the sunshine of this last week. She came right into my arms out of Hillary’s office. I held her for a while before I felt good enough to drive us home.

She hadn’t been ready to talk about it. I assured her she never had to be. What happened in therapy was always between her and Hillary. I never wanted her to feel as if she needed to talk to me about it because she didn’t.

Over the last week, I have found myself leaving work earlier and earlier. I’m leaving today at three again. With Layla going to bed at seven, I wanted more time with her, and I don’t feel guilty in the slightest about it.

Rafe nods at me in greeting as he sets down a bag from one of my favorite Italian restaurants. I’ve got two favorites for lunch. If he got me a sub sandwich, he’s spoiling me. If he got me the chopped salad, he’s being Dad Rafe.

“Thanks, I’m starving.” I take the bag and set it on the table in front of the couch, where I usually have lunch with Amy.

Two chopped salads are inside, with the same no onions marked on each box. I roll my eyes as I hand him one and motion to the couch as I sit down on one side.

He takes the box and sits down. Putting down the box without opening it, he turns his attention to me. “I’m concerned.”

I exhale a laugh. “I was surprised it took you until now to make an appearance. Or is it because you’re rescinding your open invitation to brunch on Sunday?”

“I would never do that. You are always welcome. So are Amy and Layla. If they are family to you, then they’re family to us. I’m simply concerned you’ve?—”

“I’m the one who taught Layla to call me ‘dada.’ She is my daughter. As soon as Amy is ready, she will be my wife. I’m aware I need to get rid of her current husband, and I will. If you’ve done all your digging, you saw she was abused by the fucker.”

Rafe sighs and nods.

“I’m not exactly happy that security company of yours handed over her file so easily,” I mutter.

“They didn’t want to. And only did after I told them if they didn’t, I’d find another security company that would find out everything I wanted to know.” He defends them. “Remember, they’ve been my go-to for the last six years.”

“Whatever, it’s fine. I have a lawyer working on it. Amy signed off on the petition for divorce. Everything should be good to go to protect Amy and Layla within about two weeks. By that time, it will be the ninety days since she established residency here in Dallas necessary to file for a divorce in this county. Since the lawyer thinks it’s best to keep the number of special allowances to a minimum, he’ll be served divorce papers two days after the day—as well as a demand he terminates custodial rights. I’ll give him a week and demand a meeting for his signature on both. If need be, I’ll have a cashier's check waiting. It's nice when a judge up for re-election and needs a large donation is also a former victim of domestic violence. No better win-win than that. No need to wait sixty days for it to be finalized by the judge. The judge is also willing to waive the thirty days after the divorce is final before we can get married.”

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