A Father In The Making by Carolyne Aarsen Read Free Book Online Page B

cowboy hat with the feather, that you notice about these pictures?” Dr. Schuler was saying.
    Mia stifled a yawn as her eyes flicked over the pictures but she couldn’t find what Dr. Schuler wanted her to see. “Sorry. My brain isn’t working properly today.”
    â€œI’m sure it’s had enough to think about. I just thought you might see something I might have missed. But I wanted you to notice two things. The man has all his features—face, eyes, nose mouth and hair. The little boy only has eyes. No mouth.”
    â€œIndicative of his lack of speech,” Mia guessed.
    â€œI would guess the same. And you can see that in each picture it seems to me the little boy is looking at the man. Is he familiar to you in any way?”
    Mia slowly released her breath through pursed lips, thinking of Nico’s actions of this morning. “A man named Nate rescued Nico from the fire. He’s the foster brother of the man whose ranch I’m living on. He’s a horse trainer and he’s only passing through.”
    Dr. Schuler tapped his fingers on his desk, as if thinking. “You sound concerned.”
    â€œI am concerned about my son’s attachment to him,” Mia said, looking at the other pictures Dr. Schuler had brought along. All of Nate and Nico and horses. “This morning, before we came here, I found him with Nate in the barn. Nico doesn’t form attachments quickly, so yes, it concerns me. It took him months to get over Al’s defection. I can’t afford to let him get attached to someone who will be leaving within the next couple of weeks.”
    â€œI understand. However, your son seems to have formed a strong connection to him and to his horses. I am presuming the connection with Nate started with the rescue from the fire. Now we just need to figure out how we can use it to help your son. So this is something you will have to deal with.”
    All that Dr. Schuler said reinforced Mia’s own concerns about Nate, but it didn’t negate the reality of Nico’s connection to him.
    â€œSo what’s next?” she asked.
    â€œAnother visit, obviously. We’ll have to set up some type of schedule. This will take time and patience to deal with. As for the man in the pictures, is he trustworthy?”
    The man had put his own life on the line to save Nico and Josh. He and Denny seemed to have a close relationship. Any of Mia’s concerns about Nate and Nico were not because of Nate’s character. But because of his circumstances.
    â€œI believe he is,” Mia said.
    â€œWould you consider working with him and Nico. Possibly some supervised visits?”
    â€œHe lives at the same place we do. His brother owns the ranch we’re staying at.”
    â€œThen having him spend some time with you and Nico might be a possibility. He might be able to draw Nico out somehow. As well, given that Nico seems drawn to his horses, that could be another point of connection that you and this man could work with.”
    â€œWe can figure out all we want,” Mia said, “but if Nate isn’t willing to help out, then we’re no further ahead.”
    â€œIf he’s not, then we’ll have to explore other avenues. Maybe the horses that also feature prominently in each picture could be a vehicle for his recovery. But for now, this man seems to be an important point of connection.” Dr. Schuler leaned forward. “I fully understand your concerns and under any other circumstance I would feel the same. But to me Nico’s mutism is wound up with this man. If, somehow, you could work with him and Nico, as well as his horses, we might see a breakthrough.
    â€œIf we can even simply establish a connection with Nico and the horses that might be enough to mitigate any concerns that might come up when this man, Nate, leaves. How do you feel about that?”
    â€œI’m still not comfortable, but of course, I’ll do