“I know it’s hard to find someone you can trust and who works for you, but you can’t give up that easily.”
“I can ‘give up’ as much as I please,” he hissed. “You know nothing about this. You don’t. Don’t try to act like you’re providing me with some revelation.”
Kat was so startled by his vehemence that she couldn’t speak. This wasn’t the Gavin she thought she knew: he’d been gruff, and unsociable, but never outright cruel. She struggled against either crying or slapping his face.
“If this is how you react to people trying to help you, no wonder you don’t want to work with any professionals.”
“I also don’t take well to anyone telling me my daughter may be mentally ill.” Gavin glanced at Emma, his face softening a fraction. “I’ve seen mental illness up close, Kat,” he said in a voice that broke her heart all over again. “I’ve seen it, and by God, I will not let it happen to my daughter.”
Kat wanted to tell him that it wasn’t that simple: he couldn’t protect his daughter from something like this. But she also wasn’t a parent, and Emma wasn’t her daughter. So she just nodded, her throat tight, and was thankful that the nurse returned right then with Emma’s backpack.
“I’ve let the front desk know that Emma’s leaving early, and Mrs. Gentry knows as well.” She handed the bag to Gavin. “Feel better soon, Emma.”
Emma stood up and Gavin followed her out. He didn’t say anything to the nurse or Kat as they left. Now he’d probably never speak to her again. She couldn’t regret what she’d done, though. If Gavin needed time to accept to what was happening with Emma, that was his problem, not hers. She just hoped his stubbornness didn’t make things worse in the end.
“That poor child,” the nurse murmured. “I’ve never met one like her. But it’s not a surprise, given who her mother is.”
Kat stilled. She shouldn’t pry, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Her mother?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t know, would you? Teagan, her mother, she was famous around this town when those two were younger. She was the pretty cheerleader, and he was the awkward bookworm. When they got together, everybody was surprised.” The nurse chuckled. “I guess opposites attract, right? Then they moved to the East Coast, and we barely heard anything about them, until suddenly they’re splitting up and apparently Teagan is in treatment.”
The nurse began organizing things on the counter, as if she didn’t even see Kat standing there anymore. “And now this whole thing with their daughter.” The nurse clucked her tongue. “Well, I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as they say.”
Kat’s stomach twisted. “I guess not,” she replied before returning to her classroom. Silas was just getting the kids lined up to return to Mrs. Gentry’s room, and he told her he’d take them so she could have a moment alone.
“Same thing as last time?”
Kat looked up as Silas entered the computer lab. Glancing at the clock overhead, she had about five minutes before she would go get the next class for the afternoon. She sighed, her chin in her hand.
“Yeah, just like when I found her in the closet. That poor girl.” She suddenly felt utterly exhausted and rather wished she could take a nap under her desk for the next period.
“What are they doing for her? She can’t keep coming to school and having these episodes.” Silas frowned. “Did her dad say anything?”
She definitely didn’t want to get into that particular subject, so she just shrugged. “Who knows? I just hope they can get her feeling better.”
Silas was silent for a moment as he watched her. Then, in a quiet voice, he said, “You don’t have to take this on too, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that I know you often feel like you have to take care of people. But I don’t think this is something you can fix. Not this time.”
She stared at him. She felt exposed, like Silas had scooped out her innards and now she was left with a gaping hole. “I’m just trying to help.”
He came around the desk, looking like he was about to reach out and touch her hand before thinking better of it. “Can I say something? As a friend?”
“Haven’t you already said something?”
He laughed a little. “True. But I think we’ve gotten to know each other enough to be honest. I saw how you put your life on hold for your grandmother. You told me how you took care of your mother. I just wonder if sometimes you feel like you aren’t complete unless you’re caring for someone else.”
Kat brushed an imaginary piece of dust from the desk. “What else was I supposed to do? Leave my family to rot? That hardly seems fair.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.” This time, Silas did touch her hand. “Just that you’re so used to being a caretaker that if you’re not doing that, you’re adrift. And I just wonder if you’re in over your head with this situation.”
Her head hurt. Her heart hurt. She understood what Silas was saying, but at the same time, she wanted to tell him to keep his opinions to himself. Why did Silas feel the need to warn her away from Gavin, like she had no idea what she was getting into? Like he’d ruin her life given half a chance?
“I disagree with what you’re saying, but thanks. I’ll try not to do anything.” She knew she was being flippant, but she didn’t care. “I need to go get my class now.”
He didn’t argue, just stood aside so she could go to the door. She still felt his gaze on her back, like he wanted to say something else. The cynical part of her wondered if this was just Silas’s attempt to get her to date him instead of Gavin, and then she felt instantly
