Page 57 of Changing Tides

“I do, yeah.” I stop to take a sip of water and glance at my watch. Maybe if I am a few minutes late, I won’t run into Liam since his appointments have consistently been before mine.

“Well…” she drawls slowly. “He is opening his own practice in September! At home…in Scranton. He’s looking for a few other therapists to work out of there with him. I told him you’d be perfect!” She is practically screeching in excitement. “And it’s not until September so you can take your time moving home, finding a place, but then you can just slip right back into your old life.”

I am so speechless I have to stop walking. “Wow. You told him about me?” Sometimes Claire gets ideas in her head and tries to run with them before she’s thought all of it through.

“Of course I did! He said he would forward me over the info but would want to meet with you sometime in July or August. That works out nicely for you since you’re summering!” Claire is giggling, she is so elated.

I don’t know what to say. On the one hand, I appreciate her thinking of me. She is trying to show me that I have other options besides this place. Maybe Cape May really isn’t the right place for me.

“That’s great,” I say, trying to sound optimistic. “Forward me the info. I promise to consider it.” I mean that, especially given the events that have transpired with Liam. I may need a change…again. “I’m at my appointment now so I’ve got to go. But I appreciate you thinking of me, and tell Derek to drive carefully.”

“I will,” Claire says exuberantly. Then her voice turns softer. “Please, Sophie. Really consider it. I miss you so much.”

I let out an exasperated breath. “I will. I promise.”

I hang up and glance around at my surroundings, making sure Liam isn’t anywhere to be seen. Feeling secure, I open the door to Dr. Stevens’ office and almost get knocked over as Liam is coming out.

“Oh,” is all I can manage to get out of my mouth.

“Sophie,” he says hoarsely. There it is again, that way he says my name, like there are no other names in the world. “I was hoping to run into you.”

I feel myself go cold. “Oh really, why is that, Liam?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest. I have sunglasses on or else he would see the frustration in my eyes.

“Yes, really,” he says. He takes a step closer and reaches for my hand, but I am quicker. I put it in my back pocket. “Because…” His expression turns pained as he drops his hand. “Soph, listen. Can we find time to sit and talk? I want to explain everything to you.”

I sigh. “Liam. Your moods change with the tides. I don’t know what there is to talk about at this point.” I frown, looking down at my feet.

Liam gets a pleading look on his face. “There’s so much to talk about, Sophie. Please say you’ll hear me out.”

I almost cave but then I remember talking to Claire last night about boundaries and I decide to respect my own. “Liam, we’re friends who have kissed a couple of times. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?” I know I’m being stubborn but this time, I need to keep my guard up. I don’t give him time to reply. “I’m going to be late.”

Liam steps aside for me to enter, his shoulders slumped, and his lips pressed together. He can’t hide his crestfallen expression.

Dr. Stevens is waiting for me in the waiting area when I walk in. He smiles warmly, like he didn’t just see me for dinner last night. “How are you, Sophie?” He says as we walk back to his office.

“I’m okay. To be honest, I’m feeling a little bit lost.” I plop down on his couch and feel my skin prick at the thought of Liam sitting here just ten minutes prior.

“Lost? How so?” He sits near me today, in an armchair. “Is it about Liam?”

“Oh…Liam told you about us?” I am caught off guard by this.I guess in a town as small as this, not even Doc can stay quiet.

“He might have mentioned you. But if that’s not what you want to talk about today, we can move on.” He sips a cup of water.

“I mean…Liam is certainly part of it. I am trying to find my place here. I know I should be working and figuring out if I want to open a practice—that’s always been a dream of mine. But I don’t know what I’m doing here. If it is falling in love with Liam, then that makes deciding to stay here easier. But Liam is full of mixed signals, and he doesn’t think he deserves to be happy, so I don’t know where that leaves me. I’m sure he has PTSD from the accident but—” I’m rambling, and Dr. Stevens cuts me off.

“You know about the accident?” he asks, surprised.

“I do…but I don’t think Liam knows that I know.” I wince. “I sort of Googled him.”

Dr. Stevens cracks a smile. “Well, I think that’s reasonable. Most people Google their new love interests.” His eyes crinkle with a grin.

“The thing is, this morning Claire told me about someone she knows opening a practice back home in Scranton. He will be looking for other therapists to work out of his office. I could move there and do that, but I guess I was sort of looking for a reason to stay here. Then again, staying here and seeing Liam every day may not be good for me either.” I sigh. “Everything is so messed up.”

Dr. Stevens is quiet for a few moments, seemingly lost in thought. I am biting my cuticles and mulling over possibly moving again when he speaks. “Sophie, how would you feel about working out of my practice, with me?”

“Like…you’re offering me a job?” I ask in disbelief.

“Sort of. I have an extra office back there that I was planning to redo, and it could be yours, if you want it.” He says this so sincerely I almost cry.

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