Page 114 of Absolution

She finally looks at me then. Her eyes are red, tired, but clear.

Dr. Nina leans forward a little. “Jackie, what do you want from Kyle right now? Not forever. Just… in this moment.”

Jackie’s quiet for a long time. Then, softly: “Honesty. No performances. No trying to look like the better man. Just the truth. Always.”

“I can do that,” I say immediately. “I want to do that.”

She nods once, like she’s storing that away. Not accepting it, not rejecting it. Just holding it.

“And Kyle,” Dr. Nina says, “what doyouwant from Jackie in this moment?”

I glance at her. “I want her to know that I’m still here. Not to force anything. Just… if she ever needs anything, even if it’s just space, I’ll respect that. But I’m here.”

Jackie lets out a slow breath. Her posture softens a little.

“I don’t know what we are now,” she admits.

“That’s okay,” Dr. Nina says. “We don’t have to name it yet.”

There’s a long pause, and then Jackie says, barely above a whisper, “I’m tired.”

“I know,” I say.

“I think I’ll come again next week,” she says, to Dr. Nina. “If that’s okay.”

Dr. Nina nods. “That’s more than okay.”

Jackie looks at me one last time. Her eyes still shimmer with pain, but there’s something else there too, maybe curiosity, or a tiny shred of something that hasn’t fully died.

“Take care of yourself, Kyle,” she says quietly.

“You too,” I reply.

And as she walks out, she still doesn’t look back.

But shedoesn’tslam the door.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jackie

“So, how’s it going?” Kate asks, tearing off a piece of her scone like it personally wronged her.

“Jeez, hungry much?” I tease.

She winks. “Doc finally gave us the green light to bang away andboy, did we.”

“Oh my God,” I groan, laughing. “You are a randy teenager.”

“Yes, I am,” she says proudly. “My mother has finally stopped trying to insert herself into my life, the kids are healthy, and my husband has never been better.In bed.”

I burst out laughing, almost choking on my tea. She laughs too, then settles, tone softening.

“So… how was it? With Kyle.”

I hesitate, fingers tightening slightly around my mug. “Today… we went to Duke’s grave together.”

Her face softens.

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