Page 14 of Stay Away from Him

“Getting along?” Melissa asked, a little irritated at the knowing way Amelia was speaking. “We just met yesterday.”

“I know,” Amelia says. “It’s just—he seems to like you. And you obviously like him.”

“Obviously, huh?” Melissa expected Amelia to shrink at this, to back off—but she didn’t. Only went on looking at Melissa, long and unblinking.

“Yes,” Amelia said. “Obviously. By the look on your face just now. When he kissed you. And how fluttery you got when he surprised you at the pickup counter.”

Melissa glanced away, tucking strands of hair behind her ears with sharp, angry movements. Whether Amelia liked her or not, Melissa was starting to think she might not likeAmeliavery much.

“I’m sorry,” Amelia said. “I’m not trying to embarrass you. I’m sure nobody else noticed. Thomas especially. I’m adept at reading people, is all. It’s my job, in a way.”

Melissa tried to recall if Amelia had shared her job the night before. Another detail lost in the flurry of the dinner party.

“I should remember this. What do you do again?”

Amelia reached into a handbag sitting next to her on the bench, then came out with a business card. She handed it across the table.

“Dr. Amelia Harkness,” Melissa read aloud. “Psychiatrist.” She looked back up. “That’s right, I remember now.Classic displacement.You made Thomas laugh last night by psychoanalyzing the whole table.”

Amelia gave a small nod, and something clicked into place in Melissa’s mind, the woman coming clear to her for the first time.She could picture Amelia sitting across from a client much like she was sitting across from Melissa right now, hearing them pour out their problems, listening calmly, not giving anything away, gently prodding with questions. Suddenly she seemed a little less mean, a little less aloof, and a little more—what? Dispassionate? Impartial?

“I probably need someone like you,” Melissa said.

“Why’s that?”

“Lawrence didn’t tell you why I moved into his basement? That wasn’t part of last night’s gossip about me?”

Amelia shook her head. “Nobody said anything to me.”

“Divorce,” Melissa said. “A bad one.”

Amelia’s eyebrows raised a little, but she didn’t betray much of a reaction, and she didn’t press for additional details.Dispassionate, Melissa thought.Impartial.

“And you think you might need someone to talk to about that?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe. Probably. I don’t even know what I need right now.”

“That’s normal,” Amelia says. “I could give you some names, if you wanted.”

Melissa cocked her head. “Not you?”

“It’s best to see someone you don’t know. We’ve only just met, but…”

A memory from the night before floated into Melissa’s head.That’s why I stopped seeing you. Thomas had said it to Amelia at dinner, and Melissa hadn’t known what he meant at the time.

“You don’t treat people you know?”

Amelia nodded. “It can get a little hazy sometimes. But yes, ethically, it’s best not to. That’s called a dual relationship.”

“So, you and Thomas—you didn’t treat him? Last night, something he said, it made me think… Is that what he meant?”

Something odd passed across Amelia’s face. She pressed her lips together, broke her gaze with Melissa.

“Thomas and I—it’s complicated. We’ve known each other forever. And I’ve nevertreatedhim, exactly. Never charged him for my services, never took him on as an official patient. But he did come to me for help. When…” She broke off, and her eyes drifted up to Melissa again. “I don’t know what you know.”

“Everything,” Melissa said. “Lawrence told me everything. Last night, after everyone left.”

“Then you must understand. Thomas was—he was close to falling apart. His wife was missing. The girls were beside themselves. And he was being accused of killing Rose. I wasn’t totally comfortable with it, seeing him like that. Professionally, it brought up…issues. But he didn’t trust anyone else. And I could see he was hurting. I don’t know. I’m not proud of it. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone.”

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