After baseball camp, I mean.”
I can’t smother my pleasure at his unfiltered honesty. “Baseball is very important,” I tell him seriously.
“I’m sorry we’re here a little early, but I’ve got an appointment that I can’t be late to. Normally Miles helps with Duke, but he’s taking stock today.” Then I realize she looks slightly frazzled, the top button of her shirtdress open.
Subtly I gesture to her and she lets out a gasp, rolling her eyes. “Rushed morning,” she explains. “Duke’s dad is in the military. Sometimes I need to juggle my schedule to make everything happen.” Her smile is a tired but happy one as she shakes her head.
“Do you manage a lot of properties?”
Etta’s brow furrows in confusion. “Oh! Your house. Where is my head today?” She shifts her oversized purse on her shoulder. “When Duke was younger I wanted to work but only doing something not too time consuming. There’s a few properties around town that needed management, mostly for the winter months. Now that Duke’s older, I can get back to my patients.”
It seems intrusive to ask about her work so I keep my response light. “It must be tough balancing your patients and being a mom while your husband is out of the country. You’re more than welcome to bring Duke as early as you need.” Duke has wandered away, inspecting the materials on the picnic tables.
“That would be a huge help, thank you.”
“No problem.”
I can’t help but feel comfortable around her warm personality. I want to ask her about Miles, but that would probably give my crush away. I bite that one back and try something else. “Is there something with jazz and your family?”
Etta throws back her head in a deep laugh, the first relaxed expression she’s shown since she arrived. “Most people don’t catch on so quickly. My mom loves it. Miles Davis and Etta James are obviously two of her favorites. My husband, Will, wanted to maintain the tradition and demanded we name any and all children in the same way. Duke Ellington was playing when I took the pregnancy test.”
She glances at her watch and tsks disapprovingly. “Have to run. It was wonderful to meet you, Zoe.” Etta kisses Duke and rushes out, promising to pick him up on time and not early.
I sit on the bench space next to Duke and while we wait for the rest of the campers to arrive, he tells me about his baseball camp.
Like I was instantly drawn to Miles, I feel a similar pull to Etta and Duke. She reminds me of friends from Chicago –funny, honest, loyal, and Duke’s sweetness takes me back to the person I was before my sense of normalcy was stolen.
A t home that night, I have another check-in with Dr. Greene. He doesn’t waste time with formalities when my face appears on the television screen.
“Hi,” I squeak nervously, knowing what’s coming.
“Dr. Wilson tells me you haven’t set an appointment.” He’s not happy.
“Not yet. Things at work have been so busy and –” I don’t bother finishing with the excuse.
He sighs heavily, leaning back in his leather desk chair. “We cannot continue with these video sessions, Zoe. You need someone permanent and close.”
The lecture, though delivered kindly, forms a knot of guilt in my chest. I stare straight into his eyes when I respond. “I will call the good doctor tomorrow.”
“Maybe not tomorrow,” he says gently. “Wait until Monday.”
Right. Tomorrow’s the anniversary of my parent’s death.
“Is that your professional opinion?” I don’t ask it rudely, because I genuinely want to know, after all of his insistence, why he is giving me a day off. “I understand the importance of getting a regular therapist in New Point, and I think I’ll be all right to at least set up an appointment.”
Dr. Greene nods knowingly. “You’ve put a lot of pressure on yourself to heal, as you call it, as quickly as possible. Tomorrow give yourself permission to accept your feelings as they are. Take a