Page 37 of Silos and Sabotage

“No dragging,” he promised.

She gave a dramatic moan. “I’m starting to feel like my heathen days are numbered.”

“I like the sound of that.” He grinned at her. “On that note, enjoy your next therapist appointment.”

“Oh?” She pretended confusion. “I figured after your little front seat pep talk we could just check that box and head back to the sanctuary.”

“Very funny.” He got out and opened her door for her. “No matter what your mom says today, just keep reminding yourself that she’s the same woman who gave you a kidney.” He walked her up to the sidewalk. “It’ll help you get through the appointment. I promise.”

“Thank you.” Even though they were standing in a public place, she leaned closer to give him a hug. “I don’t say it enough.”

“No complaints here.” He hugged her back. “You treat me better than anyone else ever has.”

“Gage,” she sighed, hugging him tighter.

“Yeah, baby. I feel it, too.” It was with the greatest reluctance that he let her go. “But it’s time to get moving.” He gave her a gentle nudge. “I don’t want to make you late.”

Ella felt like she was dancing through the front door of the psychiatrist’s office. Nurse Triss did her thing, then led her down the hallway to the conference room.

Dr. Jones and her mother were already seated there. He stood and hurried her way. “You must be Ella.” He shook her hand jovially. “I’m sorry for missing our first appointment, but sometimes sharing isn’t caring. Certainly not where the flu bug is concerned.” He looked like he was in his mid to late forties, definitely younger than her mom.

“I appreciate your stinginess with your germs, sir.”

They shared a chuckle.

“Good morning, Dr. Radcliffe,” Ella intoned politely as they joined her mother at the conference table. She watched a shadow of disappointment cross her mother’s fine-boned features.

“Please have a seat.” Her mother gestured at the chair right next to her.

The only reason Ella accepted her mother’s offer was because she was seated on the side of the conference table where the windows were. As she sank into the chair, she remembered Gage’s words.

You gave me a kidney.She forced a smile to her lips.

Dr. Jones took a seat across from them. “I’m excited about meeting with you and Dr. Radcliffe, whom you may or may not remember is your biological mother.”

“I remember.” After her conversation with Gage outside the building, Ella was suddenly no longer in the mood to play games. “I remember everything that’s happened since the day I arrived in Heart Lake — from the semi-truck driver, Jim, who drove me the rest of the way to The Hitching Post to Billy Bob Bolander, who horse tranq-ed my water glass and nearly killed me.”

Her mother nearly fell out of her chair. “Ella!” She started to reach for her, then pulled back. “I’ve waited five long years for this day.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Jim is one of our drivers at Radcliffe Industries. I’ll be sure to thank him personally. Billy Bob, on the other hand…” She shook her head. “The sheriff assured me just this morning that there’s a warrant out for his arrest.”

“Oh?” This was the first Ella was hearing about it.

Her mother’s lips tightened. “They found his truck and a half-used bottle of the same horse tranq on the floorboard.”

“So, he’s going back to jail.” Ella was both relieved to hear it and apprehensive about what sort of blowback might come from the rest of the Bolanders.

“As soon as they find him,” her mother concurred. “But enough of him. I want to talk about you and your memories that are working again!” She beamed a damp smile at her.

“I still don’t remember a lot of things about the last five years.” Ella didn’t want to mislead them about her progress. “My memories of that time are coming back like tiny broken pieces of stained glass. I spend the whole day piecing together a tiny corner of the window, but sometimes it falls apart again while I’m sleeping.”

“That must be very frustrating for you.” Dr. Jones slid a box of tissues across the table toward her mother.

Ella scowled indignantly at him. “You want to know what’s really frustrating? Remembering that I spent the last five years being held like a prisoner in my mother’s vacation home on the beach. There were guards and everything.”Sorry, Gage.Her anger gurgled back to the surface like a geyser. Some things were simply meant to erupt.

“Bodyguards,” her mother retorted. “I hired them for your safety.”

“There were dozens of them,” Ella grumbled.

“Not quite that many.” Her mother chuckled through her tears. “Though it may have felt that way. No matter how luxurious the cage, it’s still a cage.”

---