Page 130 of Petite Fleur

Any chance I have to brag about my girl, I'll take. "She's in botany, specializing in conservation. Maeve Henderson, we haven't changed her name yet. We're waiting so her diploma can have her maiden name." I lie.

Well, it isn't a total lie. Her diploma will have her maiden name, and I do plan to marry her.

"I don't think I know her..." Abby mentions.

I didn't figure she would. The two had vastly different social lives, but it does give me at least the smallest amount of peace that my girl wouldn’t have been in the social circle that could have gotten her attacked by Mark and his idiots.

"She doesn't go out much, she prefers to stay home when she's not in class." I simplify. It isn't a lie, even before I locked her in our home, she was never one to go out much.

I speak with Abby for a while longer, far longer than a typical billing session, but I don't mind eating the cost of that.

I already charge far more than anyone else in Houston. The perk of being considered the best psychiatrist in the state is that my price doesn't matter. I give breaks to those with low insurance if they come to me, but most people don't bother to schedule a consultation if they don't have the insurance to cover it.

By the end of our appointment, I'm confident that Abby is not a threat to herself. She will need very close care, possibly for years to come, but I don't believe she is in danger of hurting herself. So, I will not allow her to stay in this facility unless she wants to.

I offer her the choice of staying and continuing her care, promising to be waiting for her when she feels comfortable toleave or to go home, and we will have twice-a-week sessions to begin with.

My goal for her is to eventually drop down to monthly sessions, or even less, depending on how she is dealing with her trauma, but we’re a long way from there.

The most important part of her healing process is to make sure she feels like her decisions aren’t being taken from her like they were that night, so that is why it’s her choice whether she stays here or goes home.

I can’t say I blame her, but she decided to go home.

I wouldn’t want to stay in a mental facility either, I’ve done it before and do not recommend it.

They’re cold, the food sucks, somehow everything smells like turtle dick, group sessions are worthless, the outfits are uncomfortable, and frankly the care is subpar.

They’d rather medicate you than handle the underlying issues, but they’re the best place for full-time supervision.

Thankfully, Abby doesn’t require that.

She needs help to get past what has happened to her and even more help accepting that the danger of those men is gone, but that’s nothing I can’t handle in the office.

I do, however, give her my office number and tell her to call whenever she needs me. That number will forward to my cell phone in emergencies and I’d rather be woken up by a panic attack than have to send flowers to her funeral.

I’m sure Maeve will agree.

Chapter 51

Maeve Henderson

I guess since I’m staying here, I should get more comfortable being here, so I’ve been trying to venture out of the house more.

I’m still scared of the fence, and I’m not really sure where the perimeter is, but I can’t stay inside forever, so I’m staying close by and hoping there’s at least a warning beep before the shock.

I can’t remember if I got one last time, but my mind was busy elsewhere.

I didn’t even get the chance to notice that Leon has a really nice garden, but now that I’ve seen it, I can’t stay away.

It needs some work, but thankfully, I thrive in the garden, so I throw on a pair of comfy shorts, a ratty t-shirt, and a lazy bun before I grab a bottle of water and head outside.

I generally hate going outside, but it feels so good to get out of the house. I never realized I could miss something so much until I felt the sun shining down on my skin, and I started to sweat a little.

I miss seeing tan lines from my tank tops and feeling the breeze on my skin.

However I did not miss the bees, thankfully they seem to leave me alone when they realize I’m there to help the flowers.

I never pictured Leon as a flower garden type of guy, but they’re surprisingly doing very well, and he has a good variety of most of my favorite flowers. It’s beautiful and gives this gorgeous black and white home a much needed pop of color.

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