Page 63 of Gideon's Gratitude

Serious tail wagging.

She held out her hand to be sniffed.

Within moments, he nuzzled his head under her fingers.

She obliged him with some serious scritches. “Are you allowed to play with toys?”

The dog, already excited, perked up further.

“Perfect. You and Gideon can come into my office, and we’ll see what we can find.”

I hesitated until a firm hand pressed to my back.

“You’ve got this.” Archer whispered the words so only I could hear. So close, his breath tickled. With a gentle nudge, he propelled me forward.

As I followed the counselor, Archer’s low rumble followed by Rainbow’s tinkling laughter reached my ears.

Don’t be jealous. He has every right to flirt.

And who was to say he was flirting? He often made Riley laugh, and they weren’t in a relationship. The man had an easy way withpeople—both men and women. I, frankly, was jealous of the ease with which Archer moved in the world.

“Sit wherever you like.”

Focus.

Two plush chairs sat across from a large couch that could easily seat three or four. I tilted my head.

“I do family counseling as well. Some families barely fit in here.”

I couldn’t imagine. Or maybe I could. Leo, the kids, and I would fit perfectly on that couch. I opted for the chair.

Kennedy opened a smaller chest against a far wall. She pointed to the larger one. “Kids’ toys.” She indicated Lucky could look inside.

His cocked head indicated he wasn’t sure.

“He’s still uncertain around people…” Yet even as I said the words, the dog ventured over and stuck his head in. Within moments, he pulled a bright-yellow crocodile out. He chomped, and the toy squeaked.

“Oh dear.” I moaned because Luckylovedhis squeaky toys.

“No, it’s perfect.” Kennedy petted the dog and pointed to a blanket by my feet.

Amazingly, my dog settled onto the blanket and began industriously chewing.

Every squeak grated on my nerves and yet, after a few times, the noise had a calming effect.

“Do you want to start, or would you like me to go first?”

Her words surprised me.

“I better go first. Otherwise I’ll lose my nerve, you know?”

“I do know.” She leaned back in her chair in what I thought of as an open pose. Open and willing to listen. So different from Leo’scrossed-arms-and-scowl pose.

I began. Haltingly at first. The secret relationship in high school. The disownment. The relationship that began as a promise and became a marriage as soon as gay marriage was legal in Canada. The financial struggles to put Leo through school while paying the mortgage on our tiny one-bedroom condo. Being able to sell that condo and move into a townhouse when Leo finished the academic part of his learning. The adoption of the children. The joy and the happiness.

All a distant memory. Almost like I was recounting someone else’s life.

Then the darkness. The injury, the surgery, the pain. I tried not to dwell, but I wanted her to know how hard I fought against it. Then the night I passed out. How Leo booted me and issued the ultimatum. How I capitulated. My time in Mission City, trying to sort out my crap. The dark places my mind went to. The support group I belonged to.

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