Page 30 of The Girl in the Woods

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER

Laurie crossed and uncrossed her legs. The desire to flee was too much. The clock on the waiting room wall said 6.15. Her appointment had been for six. Several times she had eyed the exit. All she had to do was tell the woman at the desk that she felt unwell and needed to go home. The jacket could be left at reception, and that would be that.

Closing her eyes, she tried to take a calming breath. It didn’t help. Looking at the shut door opposite, she suddenly jumped up and was about to head for the exit when a voice said, ‘Laurie, sorry to keep you waiting.’

Her heart beat a little faster. ‘That’s okay.’ She turned around and came face to face with him. Today, she wore a winter skirt covering her knees and a loose jumper.

He opened the door for her, and she walked in. Her legs felt like jelly, and she walked quickly to the brown leather couch in case they gave way. In the future, whenever she smelled leather, she would think of this room and how her skin, even through her skirt, had stuck to this couch and how the wetness must have dripped onto it.

‘I brought your jacket.’ She handed it to him.

‘How are you today?’ His soft, cultured voice washed over her, a sound she could listen to all day.

‘I’m okay. I’m sorry about Friday,’ she stuttered. Laurie had the feeling he was looking at her differently.

‘I’m pleased I was able to come to the rescue.’

‘Yes,’ she said, blushing at the memory of her low-cut top and short skirt. She hoped he wouldn’t mention that.

‘It’s a bit warm in here. I’ll get us some water, and we can begin.’

While he was gone, Laurie forced herself to take several deep breaths before he returned with the water. The glass was cold where he’d added ice, and Laurie held it against her flushed cheek before drinking.

‘So, would you like to talk about Friday night?’ he asked gently.

God no, thought Laurie. That’s the last thing I want to talk about. ‘Not really.’

‘It wasn’t a hen night, was it?’

‘No, it was, honest.’

He laughed. Laurie thought how handsome he was when he laughed. ‘I think you’re lying, Laurie.’

She lowered her head. It was like he could see right inside her mind. ‘It was just a night out.’

‘Do you often have nights out like that?’

Laurie swallowed and reached for the water. When she lifted her head again to look into his handsome, caring face, the room spun, and a sudden wave of nausea attacked her. She lifted the glass to her lips and drank, hoping it would help the sick feeling in her stomach.

‘No,’ she lied.

He smiled at her indulgently. ‘You need to be honest with me, Laurie, if we’re going to make progress.’

Laurie sighed. ‘It’s just a few drinks with friends now and then. Honest.’

He looked deep into her eyes as though he were reading her mind. ‘How often do you have drinks out with friends?’

Laurie hesitated. For a moment, she couldn’t think clearly.

‘Have you been missing school, Laurie?’

She shook her head. It felt funny.

‘You did look lovely Friday night,’ he said.

Laurie knew he shouldn’t be saying things like that and didn’t know how to answer. ‘We only go out on special occasions,’ she said, although it felt like someone else was speaking and not her.

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