Page 94 of Rather: The Therapist

“I know. It was mine. And, I’ll never forgive myself for not searching for you. If I’d just tried, I would’ve found you in a flash. You were so close, yet so far away.”

“I was right there, all along.”

“All along.”

The blaring of my phone pulled me from my thoughts. Memories of my time with Priest were the most precious thing to me. Having them interrupted was frustrating, but the face on my screen made the interruption worthy of my praise.

Roulette and I had been playing phone tag for nearly two weeks. Our schedules simply weren’t aligned. Whenever we did speak, we weren’t the only ones on the line. What I wanted to talk to her about wasn’t for other ears to hear. It was only for ours.

“Hello,” I greeted her as soon as the line connected.

“Princess Rather,” she exclaimed, “How’s the castle?”

Her humor was infectious. “Roulette, please.”

“Talk about a fairytale. You’re living it.”

“I wish it were that simple,” I sighed, closing the book in front of me.

I was nose deep in the book full of therapeutic practices for pediatric patients with autism. The book was insightful. I’d began building the plan of action for Princeton’s therapy before I finished the first page. It was full of gems that had my gears turning and my hopes high.

Priest was ready to tear down the communication barriers between him and his son. I was desperate to help. Not only because I wanted them torn down, too, but because I was wholeheartedly invested in the progression of the small human I’d only met once and fallen for.

The incredible amount of time I had on my hands and the patience I was forced to practice until I was able to see clients again had a lot to do with how invested I was as well.

“When it comes to men, it’s hardly ever that simple. But, still, we move, love.”

“You move,” I chuckled, knowing how she truly got down.

“True. True. Now, what was it that you called me for that night? I called you when I woke up that morning but you didn’t answer.”

“I was kind of tied up.”

I buried my head in the pillow as thoughts of Priest returned.

“Oh, answer this FaceTime!”

I looked at the screen to find she was in fact calling me on FaceTime. Without hesitation, I slid the bar across the screen.

“Now, I’m listening.”

“When I needed you to help me make the executive decision, you needed sleep. The deed is done now. The mess has been made now. I’m in deep shit and I have no idea how I’m going to get myself out of it when the time comes.”

“You’re talking in circles, Rather. Tell me what’s going on.”

“PS102.”

“You went back?”

I nodded.

“To The Mansion.”

I nodded.

“And, he was there?”

I nodded.

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