Warm Hearts by Barbara Delinsky Read Free Book Online

you want to do?”
    â€œAbout these sessions?”
    She nodded.
    He dropped his hand to the armrest. “If Sheila and I don’t work something out, we might as well call it quits.”
    â€œIs that what you want?”
    â€œDeep down, no. But I can’t stand the way we are together. We share an apartment. That’s about it. Once in a while we share meals. But fun? Laughter? I want a wife who’s a friend. Right about now, I don’t like Sheila very much.”
    â€œRight about now, you’re angry and hurt.”
    â€œYou’re right. So what do I do?”
    â€œCalm down. Wait for Sheila to do the same. Then talk. Quietly and sensibly. Tell her what you just told me. See what she says.”
    Caroline could see the argument forming on Paul’s lips. He paused, clamped his lips together and finally nodded. When he stood to leave, she accompanied him to the door.
    â€œIf either of you wants to talk during the week, you have my number. Try to get her back here, Paul. Even if you decide to terminate, a final session would be wise. We’ve left too many things up in the air. If I can sum up a little, share my thoughts with you both, you’ll be in a better position to decide what to do from there.”
    He nodded, thanked her, then left. Returning to her desk, Caroline sat quietly for a bit. As always happened at times like these, she reviewed the session, wondering what she might have done differently. Unfortunately, as always happened at times like these, her next client arrived before she’d reached any conclusions.
    By the time that client, plus two others, had come and gone, it was six o’clock. Pushing aside mental exhaustion, she joined her partners for their regular Thursday-night meeting. At its conclusion, she returned to her office to find her sister-in-law, Diane, slouched in a chair.
    â€œI need to talk.”
    â€œOh, Di,” Caroline whispered.
    â€œHe’s impossible. I know he’s your brother, but I’m your friend. I have no idea how to handle him.”
    â€œAnd I do?”
    â€œIf anybody does, it’s you. You know where he’s coming from, and besides, this is your specialty.”
    Caroline thought of the session with the Valentes and felt a heavy weight inside. She thought of the follow-up phone call she still had to put through to her father’s doctors, and the one to her mother. She thought of the folders piled on the corner of her desk, waiting for the addition of notes from the day.
    â€œLet’s go for drinks,” Diane suggested. “You look as discouraged as I feel.”
    At least she’d noticed, Caroline mused. There were times when she wondered whether anyone thought of her feelings. But Diane was a friend, a good friend. They went back a long way and she felt deeply for Diane’s present turmoil.
    â€œOkay,” she said as she began to load the folders into a briefcase to take home. “A drink. Just one. I can’t begin to tell you all I still have to do tonight.”
    *   *   *
    It was after nine when she finally reached the loft. She didn’t begrudge the time she’d spent with Diane, because it had been productive. Over glasses of wine, they’d discussed Diane’s resentment of Carl, who was having a tough time at work and had chosen to blame it on his marriage. Over chef’s salads, they’d discussed the effect of the separation on Amy, who was four years old and devoted to both her parents. Over raspberry sherbet, they’d discussed the tug-of-war that the divorce settlement was becoming. And over lingering cups of coffee, they’d discussed the fact that, when all was said and done, Diane still loved her husband.
    Caroline had every intention of telling that to Carl, but not tonight. Not tonight. There was too much else to do. She was bone tired and mentally saturated.
    And hot. The loft was as bad as it had been the night before.