Page 107 of Heartless

“Do you ever call him that when talking about him?”

“Of course I do,” I said, a little annoyed.

“While you were telling me the story, you called your wife Franny and himthe baby.”

“That doesn’t mean I never use his name.”

“Who was the last person you told about Jack?”

“I…” I paused and thought about it. “My friend Tyler. We met after Franny’s death.”

“Would you mind texting your friend Tyler now to ask him if knows your son’s name?”

“I would mind actually.”

“Okay. What stops you from texting him?”

“His fiancée gave birth a few days ago. I don’t think it’s appropriate to bother him with my personal drama now.”

I stared at the therapist, feeling exposed and vulnerable under her gaze. After a moment of silence, I reluctantly pulled out my phone and typed.

Me: Hey, Ty.

Me: Have I ever told you my son’s name?

Me: I’m in a session with a grief counselor.

As we waited for a response, the therapist shifted in her seat, adjusting her glasses before speaking again. “Sometimes we use avoidance as a coping mechanism. It's important to confront our emotions instead of burying them deep inside.”

I knew she was right, but facing my guilt and grief head-on was terrifying and not as easy as she made it sound.

“I have no idea how to begin doing that.”

My phone buzzed, indicating a new message.

Tyler: Good for you, man.

Tyler: As for your question, no. You’ve never mentioned it.

I looked up at the therapist and shook my head. She smiled at me. “That’s okay. We’ll get there.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Madison

It had been three weeks since I left The Gem and I spent every single day hiding in my sister’s house. On the down side, I was losing my mind. Not having anything to do was not for me. But on the bright side, I made a new friend. Daphne followed me around the house and I had to admit that it felt good having the little one’s affection.

While I played the role of the heartbroken aunt with the existential crisis, Hannah gave birth to little baby Oliver. I only saw him once, the day they brought him back from the hospital. My mother was ecstatic and paid the new parents way too many visits, but I was glad that kept her off my back. Not that she didn’t occasionally call and interrogate me about what happened to Parker, but her heart wasn’t into it. She was distracted. Her boy had a son now.

“Come with us to the bakery,” Clem said as she tried to catch Daphne. My niece came up with a new game two days ago. She ran laps around the coffee table, using it for support, whenever someone tried to get her to do anything she didn’t want to.

And at that moment, her mother balanced two bags and one coffee to go. Driving around with Daphne strapped in the backseat was the only time she could actually drink it while it was still warm.

“I don’t feel like going out.”

I felt like staring at Parker’s last text for the rest of the day.I know why you left, it said. He sent it a few hours after he accused me of being a coward with his previous message. I left both texts unanswered.

“Please,” my sister begged. “I need help with Daphne and all of this,” she lifted the bags a little bit higher.

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