Page 81 of The Soul Never Forgets

“He has his own successful practice, Mother. He makes more money than I do.”

“I’m a psychotherapist who has a PhD in psychology. My therapy sessions are booked out for months. I assure you I don’t need Cara’s money.”

She blinks several times. “As a psychotherapist, you must understand the prognosis of Caroline’s condition.”

“What I understand is that Cara is going to have a happy, fulfilled life no matter what has happened in the past… which is what you want for her as well, I’m sure. Right?”

“She’s my daughter. Of course I want Caroline to be happy and fulfilled. Are you questioning that?”

“I question the care she’s received.”

“You’ve been in my daughter’s life for all of five minutes, and you’re going to question me about the care she’s received for twenty-five years?”

“I don’t have to question you about her care. I’ve seen her medical records dating back to when she was four years old and you know what? One thing keeps popping up over and over.The mother states. The mother states. The mother states.Her previous therapists, who were numerous by the way, documented more about what you had to say than what Cara said in her therapy sessions. It was rarely observations of their own even after she came of age.”

“I’m her mother, Mr. Wescott. I was aiding her doctors and therapists in her treatment.”

“It’s Dr. Wescott. And that’s not how the records read to me.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that Cara’s well-being wasn’t your priority.”

“Then what do you believe was my priority?”

“It’s clear that you wanted to silence her. I’m just trying to decide if it’s because you viewed her as a thorn in your side or if you got off on controlling what you could get the doctors and therapists to do to her.”

“That’s a disgusting accusation to make against a mother with a sick child.”

“I’ve worked in this line of health care long enough to know that the truth is often disgusting.”

“You know what else is disgusting? A therapist who engages in a romantic relationship with his patient. I’m sure the Louisiana board of psychologists will be interested to hear about this breach.”

“They would be interested if Cara was my patient, but she’s not, so there’s nothing to report.”

“Do you care to explain how you got her medical records if she isn’t your patient?”

“Shewasmy patient for a brief time, two sessions over four days to be exact. She signed a release for her records to be transferred to me. That’s why I had them.”

“Your relationship with my daughter is unethical. Surely you know that.”

“It would be unethical if it had continued as it was, but I terminated our therapist-patient relationship and referred her to a trusted colleague. I followed protocol, and everything is documented.”

“And now she’s your fiancée?”

“And now she’s my fiancée.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I was never under the impression that you would.”

My mother turns to me. “You’re going to sit there like a bump on a log and let him do all the talking?”

That’s rich. “You’ve never been interested in hearing anything I had to say before, so I see no need in trying to talk to you now.” Plus, he’s doing such a good job.

“That’s not true, Caroline.”

“It’s very true, Mom.”

---