Reassurance
Cade
Holding her in my arms felt like I was a teenager again, the flutter of butterflies in my stomach taking me by surprise. In that moment, I knew I’d do everything in my power to help her heal from the pain she carried.
“Avi, you’re safe. No one can hurt you here.”
She hiccups between sobs, her voice trembling. “He was chasing me. He told me to run.”
“Who told you that?” I ask, my curiosity rising.
“Mr. Widlow… well, not him, exactly, but he called me his ‘perfect little girl.’ Only Mr. Widlow ever called me that.”
I try to reassure her, keeping my tone steady. After receiving the note to call Detective Meyers about Brandon Widlow, I made the call. “I’m sure it wasn’t Mr. Widlow, Aviana,” I say, my voice firm. “I know it wasn’t him. He doesn’t even know where you are.”
She looks up at me, doubt clouding her gaze. “How do you know? He was dressed all in black.”
I gently try to ease her fears. “Did you see his face?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Avi,” I interrupt softly, tilting her chin so she meets my eyes. “Look at me. I know someone who looked into Widlow for me. He can’t hurt you.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, for one, you’re here. He’s thousands of miles away. And he’s already been locked up for what he did to other little girls. Believe me, he’s going to want to stay out of prison.”
“What do you mean, out of prison? ”
Her storm-gray eyes hold so much sorrow that it nearly breaks me to look at them. The weight of her pain presses between us, heavy and silent. For a moment, the pull is undeniable—an instinct to close the space between us, to press my lips against hers, to offer comfort in the only way I know how.
But I can’t.
As her therapist, I can’t cross that line. Not now. When this retreat is over, I’ll find a way to make her mine. I force myself to push the thought aside before it takes root, before the temptation becomes too strong.
Clearing my throat, I shift the conversation. “Would you like to stay here a bit longer? I don’t have a session right now. You’re welcome to stay.”
She hesitates for a moment, then answers, “I was headed to my cabin to change for yoga class. Would you mind walking me there?”
“Sure thing,” I reply, perhaps a little too eagerly.
The moment the words leave my mouth, I notice the subtle shift in her expression—the way her cheeks flush, the way she looks away. Heat rises in her face, and for the first time in a long while, I see something other than pain flicker in her eyes.
But there’s no time to dwell on it.
***
As we reach the trail leading to her cabin, I notice Aviana fidgeting, her hands twisting together nervously. She seems uncertain. Her eyes keep darting around, as though she feels like she’s being watched.
“Avi, you’re going to be okay,” I reassure her. “I won’t let anything or anyone hurt you. I’m right here with you, alright?”
Before she can respond, Scarlet strolls up to us, her voice dripping with a flirty tone. “Good evening, Cade.”
I wish she wouldn’t call me that, “Scarlet. How’s it going?”
“Doing great, now that I’ve seen you.”
“Scarlet, is there something I can help you with?” I ask, sensing her intent .
“Well, it looks like you’re a little preoccupied with Aviana. I can wait until another time,” she says, winking at me as she starts to walk away. But before she goes, I hear her mumble something to Aviana. They exchange a few quiet words, and from the look on Aviana’s face, it’s clear that whatever was said upset her.
I wonder what Scarlet said. I’ve made a promise to Aviana that no one will hurt her, and that includes her roommates. After recalling some details from her file, including photos from her social worker, I realize that Scarlet bears a striking resemblance to Lily Widlow. I can only imagine how difficult that must be for Aviana—waking up next to someone who looks so much like someone tied to her past. No wonder the nightmares have been haunting her since she arrived. I am going to talk to Scarlet about switching rooms with someone else or maybe moving her to another cabin to benefit Aviana.