Page 46 of Wicked Witchmas: Elara & Tripp

“The earthquake?”

“Yes.”

“I see.” Harrison nodded thoughtfully as he watched him with considering eyes. “How often do you experience these delusions?”

“Excuse me?”Tripp stopped just shy of clearing out his ear with his finger. Surely, he’d misheard.

“This belief you’re capable of producing earthquakes by kissing a woman. How often do you?—”

The earth rumbled as he jumped to his feet. “This is ridiculous!”

“Sit down, Mr. Nightshade,” Harrison ordered. “I’m having a laugh at your expense.”

“Not funny in the least, Cobb. Nor professional.”

“True, but it was a little funny,” the doctor replied with a smirk.

“Look, are you willing to help me or not? I have about forty-eight hours to figure this out.”

“If you’re causing the earthquakes, I suggest you stop kissing Elara.” Harrison shrugged. “Problem averted.”

“Except it’s not just kissing that causes it,” Tripp retorted.

“Well, don’t do that either.”

“I’m not… we’re not… it’s not…”

Again, the doctor smirked.

“More fucking shrink humor?” Tripp asked through gritted teeth.

“Yes.”

“I’m done here.” He rose, prepared to leave or level the building.

“I don’t know why you’re afraid to commit to her, Mr. Nightshade, but I suggest you examine your feelings about her and commitment.” Harrison stood and set aside his notepad. “I’m serious on this point. You and I can discuss this at length, and if it saves Witchmere, I’m happy to devote all my time to finding the root cause. But you need to do the work, too.”

“Where do I start?”

“How about the beginning?” Dr. Cobb was all business as he gestured to the sofa. “Have a seat and tell me about the first time you met her.”

Tripp tried to recall the day, but Elara’s visage was superimposed over Elaina’s.

“Nightshade?”

“Yeah, sorry. I was thinking about Elara of today.”

“How do the women differ?”

“She’s stronger now, although less sure of herself around me. Then, she was vivacious and outgoing. About ten years younger and full of possibilities.” Tripp closed his eyes as he envisioned Elaina. “But she was also less mature. She believed women were put on this earth for men to save them.”

“Perhaps they were at that time.”

“No. From the beginning, women have been the ones with the true strength. They birth babies, keep their family fed, and provide the love a man needs, all effortlessly.” He grinned.“Women let men believe they’re in charge, but a soft-spoken word and gentle touch make us putty in their hands.”

“And you’re putty in Elara’s hands?”

Was he?

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