Page 23 of Shielding Aubree

Aubree was up and, on her feet, before she could think twice.

One foot in front of the other she made it to the open doorway and reached for her walker.

"Aubree, wait."

She turned around and tried to ignore the way the world around her shifted, off balance.

Thank God the walker was there for her to hold onto.

"Aubree? Can you look at me?"

She lifted her chin and met Henley's gaze.

"If you could wait a minute or two I can have someone come and walk you to wherever you want to go." She gestured back into the room. "I have another client coming in or I'd walk you."

Aubree started to shake her head, but her hold on the walker was shaky.

Literally.

And the ache in her chest was only becoming more painful. She could feel her heart behind her sternum pounding again and again and again-

"I'll... I'll sit over there." Her head tilted in the direction of the chairs by the window. "I'll be there."

"Okay."

Aubree saw Henley reach out to her, but didn't touch.

It was a gift, Aubree decided. If Henley had touched her, no matter how gently, she knew she was likely to break down in tears.

She was barely holding onto her calm as it was. "Th-thanks, Henley."

"Okay, sweetie. Pick a seat and someone will be right here."

Ruben threw openthe door to Henley's offices and forced himself to slow his steps so he could slow his heart rate too.

From the message that he'd heard, he knew that Aubree was struggling emotionally.

And he'd been in a similar position before so he knew what could make things better and what was likely to make things worse.

Calm.

Slow steps.

A soft voice.

Deliberate movements.

It was all the things that others had done for him when he was at his worst.

He didn't think that Aubree was at that point, but he knew how to help.

And help, he would.

When he reached the door to the outer office, he stepped into the doorway and took in the room in a single glance.

Aubree was sitting in a chair by the window.

Her walker standing guard between her and the door.

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