Chapter 24
AS PROMISED, AT 9:01 the next morning, Amy contacted Anna Walker.
“Amy. I’d ask how you are,” the counselor said in greeting, “but you’re calling me a minute after I opened, so I can guess.”
“Things have been a bit rough lately. Can I make an appointment?”
“I’m free for the next hour. Can you come now?”
Startled, she glanced at the lobby where three patients waited. How did she leave the desk unattended in the middle of the morning without everyone suspecting something was up?
“I’m at work.”
“That’s perfect. I moved into an office down the street from the clinic.”
“I’ll have to ask if they can spare me.”
“I’ll hang on while you do,” she said, not giving up easily.
Adria could read her like a book, so she spoke to Juna who understood when she said something had come up. With no further excuses, and a promise to her mates to keep, the next thing she knew, Anna was closing her office door as she waved her toward a seat.
Amy eyed the couch warily .
“You can sit in a chair, if you’d rather,” Anna said with a friendly, understanding smile. “I have a couch because, in my business, people seem to expect it.”
She opted for a comfy overstuffed chair.
Amy spent the first half of the session filling her in on all the changes in her life and touching on her memory—which was coming back in fits and starts—and disclosed her persistent nightmares, a new issue since her last visit.
Anna went over relaxation techniques, which had always helped her get to sleep, and soothed her upon waking, but didn’t help with the nightmares themselves. Amy knew she was easing her back into therapy and reestablishing a rapport this first session. She’d been through the drill before.
Not that she didn’t like the counselor, but she had little faith in psychotherapy. But by the end of the hour, she felt comfortable with Anna, and for her warriors’ sakes, as much as her own, she left feeling relieved and with an appointment for another session the following week.
Those feelings changed when she returned to the clinic, which was in chaos because Jarlan, the chief physic, had arrived.
He was in conversation with Adria and Ellar in the back hallway. Filled with a deep sense of betrayal, she couldn’t help but blurt out, “You called him? How could you when you promised you wouldn’t?”
They looked at one another and shook their heads. “It wasn’t our doing,” Adria assured her.
“They are correct,” Jarlan confirmed. “I like to visit our satellite clinics unannounced from time to time. Since I’m here, suppose you tell me what you are trying to keep me from finding out, and why? ”
A rush of heat suffused her cheeks. “I, uh... It was supposed to be confidential until the princep spoke with the council to smooth our path forward.”
“Jarlan is on the council,” Adria informed her.
“You’re referring to your triad. Max Kerr explained your situation days ago.” The chief physic chuckled. “After over a year of surprises, the elders didn’t so much as blink.”
“You mean I worried and lost sleep over this for nothing?”
“It seems so. But that isn’t what’s behind the amnesia and insomnia, is it?”The man was sharp and accurately read the wounded look Amy sent Adria. “Your case was presented during grand rounds, Amy. It is customary, and, I assure you, confidential, among your medical team, which I lead.”
“I understand all of that, but it’s embarrassing since I work here.”
“Why be embarrassed about something you cannot control? Would you be ashamed if your heart was out of rhythm or you had an affliction of the lungs?” He answered for her, “No. You wouldn’t. So do not be ashamed if it is your mind’s health that needs attention.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very good,” he said with a warm smile. “You mentioned losing sleep. Tell me about that.”
Adria opened the door to the conference room and waved them in. “Perhaps we should discuss that more in here.”
Embarrassed by her outburst over wrong assumptions, she now faced an impromptu appointment with three physics, including the boss of them all. Still, she took a seat, eager to get it over with so she could retreat to the security of her office up front.
“About your sleeplessness,” Jarlan prompted once they were seated behind the closed door.
“The dreams went away for a while but returned about a week ago with a vengeance. I’m not sure why, but I resumed my sessions with Anna Walker. I have just come from there, in fact.”
Adria, who’d been encouraging it for weeks, leaned in and said, “I’m glad to hear that, Amy. Anna is excellent at her job and has helped many of our patients.”
“I have heard good things too,” Jarlan stated. “And your memory loss?”
“Some of the blank spots are filling in. I disclosed everything to Anna, who has some ideas on how to help.”
“Excellent. One session is a start.” Jarlan smiled at her. “I’d like to keep abreast of your progress. We can follow up again after say, six weeks?”
Thrilled that it was so easy, Amy nodded. “If that’s all, I’d like to get back to my desk. The lobby was filling up.”
“Any further questions?” he asked the others gathered. Amy could tell Adria was bursting with them, but she stayed silent, shooting her a meaningful look that promised they’d follow up in private, later.
The chief physic wasn’t yet done with the others. Amy heard him say as she made her escape, “While I’m here, we need to discuss the testing anomalies. Fated mates being deemed incompatible is unacceptable. Clearly, there is a serious issue that needs to be resolved immediately.”
She smiled to herself, thinking it was fortunate Tarus wasn’t here. He’d have something to say about the flawed testing, complete with a selection of colorful adjectives he’d picked up during his time among humans.