Page 119 of Free to Fall

“See, that’s the thing right there.” Caleb points a finger in my direction. “It isn’t just about figuring out what’s wrong for Laura, but for you and Bailey as well.”

I frown. “I can’t imagine hurting Bailey.”

Jake nods emphatically. “Could you imagine ever screaming at Laura?”

My head gets light. “No.”

“It may not be an issue now because Bailey’s still little, but Caleb knows, and you can trust me. My oldest daughter and I had enormous communication problems. Until my wife, I had no idea what they stemmed from.”

“Do you mind if I ask?”

Jake and Caleb exchange covert glances before Jake gives me a non-answer. “I haven’t ducked a single question you’ve asked, Liam, but this one I have to. I don’t want to influence your therapist’s path.” He takes another drink of coffee. “Do you have one?”

“A therapist? I suppose I could go to Alice Cleary since she also works with my daughter and I know she’s treated Laura.”

Jake leans forward, expression intent. “This is the hardest step. You know why?”

“Why?”

“Because down to your bones, every instinct is screaming at you to chase Laura down, and to do everything possible to get her to listen to you.”

“Yes.” The word escapes on an exhale.

Jake gives me a meaningful look. “The problem is, if you don’t know why you’re crawling, what good will being on your knees do?”

Something in the way he says that makes me wonder if he means his words literally. But Caleb derails my train of thought. “Have you ever read the legend of Amaryllis?”

“No.”

He jerks his chin up. “Go to my wife’s website. It’s there.”

Pulling up the Amaryllis Events and Company page on my cell, I scan the explanation of Amaryllis, Alteo, and the Oracle of Delphi. Confused, I’m about to ask Caleb what this has to do with Laura when he braces an arm on the table. “That’s why Laura left.”

“Because of a legend?”

“Because our arrows landed directly in her heart. She’s bleeding out. It’s up to us to decide if we want to take the necessary steps to stop it from being a death sentence. I’ve already made my decision.”

Caleb rises, Jake following. Intuitively understanding they’ve given me all they’re going to, I hold out my hand to Jake first. My “Thank you” is heartfelt.

His lips curve. “I take payment in the form of inspiration.”

My head cocks to the side. “I’m sorry. What?”

Caleb rolls his eyes. “You and your cousin-in-law do not need to win another CMT off my baby’s heartbreak.”

I’m confused, and it shows. Jake clasps me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. If you’re lucky, one day Laura will show you our family tree.”

God, I hope he’s a prophet as well as a high school music teacher. Leaving Caleb’s office, I find my baby holding a new doll—one that looks remarkably like Laura. She’s cradling it against her heart and telling it how much she loves and misses it.

Yeah, I need to fix what I did.

Jake’s right. If it means being on my knees, I’ll gladly crawl.

Chapter

Sixty-Six

I lie back on the couch, throwing the stress ball into the air and catching it.

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