Arms of an Angel by Linda Boulanger Read Free Book Online

back as Charlie opened the doors told her
she was right.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Just inside the door of Louie’s Pub and
Grille, Garrett waited, pleasure evident on his face as Claire
crossed the threshold.
    “ Do you ever not look like a
million bucks?” he asked as he kissed her cheek.
    “ Only when I look like a
trillion,” she teased. As always happened, heads turned as they
were escorted to their table.
    “ I presume you can’t tell me
about your day, so I won’t even ask. How about whatever it is you
do to fill your hours when you’re not at your office?” she asked as
they waited for pre-meal salads.
    “ Well, I spend a lot of time
reading and going over cases...”
    “ No. I mean in your off
time. When you’re not working,” she interrupted as she squeezed
lemon over her freshly delivered salad.
    “ No dressing?” He scrunched
his face ignoring her question.
    “ Not as healthy,” she told
him, “but feel free. I won’t lecture if you slather your rabbit
food in mouth watering goodness. Gee. It does sound better that
way. Okay, you’ve convinced me.” She reached for the bottle of
dressing and poured it on. “What?”
    He was shaking his head. “You know people who
manage to be easily persuaded or talk themselves into things are
good candidates for my services,” he teased.
    “ Very funny. I’m trying to
be more receptive to new and different. I took a chance in meeting
you again, didn’t I?” she teased. “And you never answered my
question.”
    “ That is what I do. What? It
can be enjoyable,” he protested when she rolled her eyes. “What
should I be doing? Frequenting clubs and seducing beautiful women –
a different one for every night of the week? Not sure that would be
good for my practice.”
    “ Point given,” she conceded.
“So you just read all your notes…”
    “ Not exactly. I look over
them or think about sessions. I try to come at them from all
different angles. I have to admit it’s quite a rush seeing the
light of change or realization come across someone. That’s when I
know I’ve truly helped them and they can continue on with normal
life.”
    “ What is normal, Garrett?
Isn’t that a hegemonic reality? One man’s normal may be total chaos
and lunacy to another.”
    “ You’re right, of course,
and that’s partly why I look for alternate ways of helping people
find the bridge. I enjoy it.”
    “ So I suppose you always
wanted to be a psychologist?” she asked.
    “ Actually, I wasn’t quite
sure what I wanted to be. I knew I liked helping people and getting
inside to see if I could figure out what made them tick. My parents
were great about helping me explore alternatives and understanding
where my passions lay then grasping hold of those passions to
fulfillment.”
    Claire couldn’t help but feel his excitement.
She also felt a twinge of envy that he had been so nurtured by his
parents. She wondered what it would have been like had her dad
embraced her love of art and helped her pursue it. Her mom, of
course, loved everything she did and helped as much as she could -
so long as it didn’t ruffle Daddy’s feathers.
    “ Of course, I also wanted to
be a gymnast,” he told her.
    “ You’re joking!” She eyed
him. Surely he couldn’t be serious. “Garrett, I think you lie as
well as I do!”
    He laughed. “Actually, I did take gymnastics
as a young boy and loved it, but… well… my height kind of got in
the way as I aged. I enjoyed horseback riding too. That old stables
on the far side of the river front. Dad and I used to go there
nearly every Saturday. He always loved horses.”
    “ Is that why they moved to
the country” It seemed reasonable.
    Garrett shook his head no. “That was his
dream, but…”
    “ Dr. O’Bryan!” The excited
female voice cut him off.
    “ Victoria. How nice to see
you. You look well. How are things going?” He stood and clasped
hands with the young woman around Claire’s age. She leaned in
forcing him to kiss