Page 6 of Blessings in Disguise

He used to think those thoughts were from God. Now he knew his unconscious mind gave him messages. “Tell you what. Why don’t we go to Dr. Kendrick’s office and ask her if I can counsel you?”

“She’s cool. She’d let you.”

“Let’s see what she says.”

“I don’t wanna make her feel bad.”

Aw. That said a lot about this kid. “I think she’ll want what’s best for you.”

“Will you go talk to her without me?”

“No. But I’ll do the talking with you.”

He scrubbed his face with his hands. “Okay.”

Together they got up and started toward the mental health building. As they walked, Caleb took surreptitious glances at Harlan. He seemed lighter than when Caleb found him. That made him forget his own issues for at least a little while.

* * *

As she waited for Caleb, Gemma took a call from Ryan. “Hey, there,” she said to the man she was seeing these days. He was a doctor, but kind of a bad boy, too.

“Hey, babe. Having a good day?”

“Sure.” They kept things light and didn’t share their feelings. “You?”

“I got a funny story about one of my patients. I’ll tell you when I see you.”

She wished he wouldn’t. She didn’t like it when people made fun of their clients.

“When will that be?” he asked.

“Let me check my calendar and get back to you.”

“Be careful. My dance card might fill up.”

“It better not.” When they first got intimately involved, she insisted he’d be exclusive with her. Mostly because whoever he slept with, she was physically affected by. And she made the same promise to him.

“Jealous?”

Time to be flirty. “Maybe. I’ll be back in touch.”

“Do that.”

They disconnected and she checked the time. Caleb Shepherd was late. She was anxious about seeing him, which was a new feeling for her. But she liked him. And she couldn’t let herinappropriate behavior stand. Sheknewhe didn’t want to talk about his situation and she pushed anyway.

A knock on the open door. “Oh,” she said and stood to greet him and his companion. Her gaze focused on the boy. She could tell just by looking at him that he was not in a good place. “Hello, Harlan. Is there something I can do for you?”

The boy shook his head. Caleb answered for him. “Harlan is having trouble with leaving here. With going home.”

“Do you want to talk to me about it?” she asked softly.

The boy stared down at his feet.

Caleb spoke again. “I was early coming to see you so I took a walk. I found Harlan on a bench crying.”

The boy’s face reddened.

“I’m sorry, Harlan. Shall we talk now?”

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