“Exactly.” Dr. Carmen sat on the edge of her seat. “Nicole, if we keep with this analogy you’ve been drowning for a long time. Well before you met Davis. However, the world of perfect you tried to create as an adult and with your own family was unrealistic. Never mind that perfection is unachievable, but each time you bounced around from foster home to foster home as a child, it deepened the wounds of abandonment. Todd’s betrayal continued to solidify your feelings of unworthiness. You processed Davis’s absence as abandonment too.”
Nicole tilted her head slightly. “I still think the investment of time is imperative for a family to thrive.”
“That’s true. But your anger at his absence seemed to stem from that hurt place of your childhood that was never resolved. And, now that you’ve been exposed for being human and vulnerable, is that why you are afraid to see him?”
“I hurt him. I can hear it in his voice. In my stupor, I have no idea if I slept with Roman.”
“All the more reason to hash out your feelings in a safe place like this.”
“What if he wants a divorce? Or worse, what if he goes to prison?”
“Either way, you will pick up the pieces and move forward, not only for your children but for your soul. So, let me ask you this question again. Are you going to call Davis to see if he can make our next session?”
The clock buzzed. Their session was over. Quickly, Nicole stood ready to get the hell out of the hot seat. She was thankful it was someone else’s turn.
“Nicole?”
“Thank you for your time today, Dr. Carmen. You have given me a lot to think about.” She turned and walked out of the room.
*****
Davis sat in his home office staring off into space. He hated this time of the day. Rayna and DJ were in bed asleep, and it was just him alone with his thoughts. There were moments he missed Nicole so bad it hurt, and then there were times, he was so angry that Davis wanted her to feel as badly as he had.
His phone rang. It was a welcomed reprieve from the loneliness. His voice was rough. “Davis.”
“Um . . . Davis? It’s me. Nicole.”
Speaking of the Devil. His heart rate accelerated. He had talked her up. “Nicole. It’s . . . uh . . . good . . . to hear from you. Is everything alright?”
He sounds like he’s talking to a stranger. Her spirits dropped a little. She chewed her bottom lip as she spoke into the phone. “I am trying to get better and stronger. H-how are you . . . and the kids?”
What was he supposed to say? He couldn’t tell her that over the past couple of months, there had been no movement on the case and that financially he was almost bankrupt. Should he tell her about what happened that night with Roman? The rage bubbled up inside of him. Davis took a few deep breaths to calm down. He didn’t know how fragile her recovery was and decided to keep everything to himself. “The kids miss you.”
Just the kids? She thought. “It’s hard being away. Please hug and kiss them for me. Tell them how much I love and miss them too.” Her throat was thick, but she pushed on with her reason for calling. Nicole raked her fingers through her hair as she sat at the desk being monitored by the Serenity personnel. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but next week . . . Dr. Carmen thinks it’s a good idea if you could make it to one of my therapy sessions.”
There was dead silence that lasted for seconds but felt as if it went on forever. Nicole’s heart was beating so fast waiting for his answer. Her stomach dropped when she heard him exhale into the phone. “If she thinks it would be helpful, I can be there.”
“Davis, I know this is hard.” Nicole pulled the phone away from her ear. She needed a moment to collect herself and wasn’t sure she could hide the tears in her voice. She cleared her throat. “Thank you for coming. My next session is Monday at 6 p.m.” Nicole’s time limit for the phone was up. “I’m getting the signal. I have to go. Please tell the kids that I love them and . . . I love you.” She held her breath—waiting for his response.
He was a mess of so many emotions. Surprisingly, the words I love you too wouldn’t pass between his lips. “I will make sure that I tell them.”
*****
Davis went to Chatham Industries for an Executive meeting. He had some time to kill before it started. His eyes were tired because he hadn’t slept much the night before. If he were honest, Davis hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since Nicole went to Serenity.
Jane burst through his office doors like she owned the place with coffee in hand. “Good morning!” She sang like she was Florence Nightingale.
He didn’t share or return her sunny disposition. “Morning.”
“I brought this for you.” She handed him the steaming cup of hot coffee. “I figured you could use it.”
“I could use something a lot stronger than this but if it’s all you have.”
Jane sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk while he stood towering over her. “You look a little more stressed than usual. I know you’re upset about the meeting, but I need you to know that everything is going to be okay.”
“If
