Page 28 of Unveiled

Rush stood, scooped her into his arms, and walked straight through the house to the living room. He sat on the couch and held her in his lap, letting her cry and rage and deny and whimper. He didn’t say a word. Rush understood her hopelessness. She was married to a man who could discredit anything she said. Have it written off as an episode and his daddy would be there to clean up the mess.

Finally, he had to ask a few questions so he and Mark could shut this shit down. “Babes, look at me.” He gently lifted her chin. “I have a few questions and I need total honesty. No judgement, I just need the facts.” She nodded.

“Have you ever seen a Doctor Coopman?”

“Yeah, Dale took me to see him after my parents were killed for something to help me sleep. I was a wreck. Why?”

“Is that the only time?”

“I’ve seen him a few times for follow-ups, but I quit taking the pills because I didn’t like how it felt. You’re freaking me out. Why?”

“No therapy?”

“No, he’s just a GP, Rush, why?”

“Because he not a general practitioner, he’s a psychiatrist.”

Rush hated the betrayal in her eyes. Even with all the shit she knew about them, she was still shocked by this new development.

“Shush, it’s okay. I got you.” Her tears started again, and she was shaking. The need to protect and help her was overwhelming, but he needed another answer.

“Babes, tell me the truth, I won’t be mad, but are you married? It will help us to know exactly what we’re dealing with and who has the legal right to make decisions.”

When his words settled in, Tatum couldn’t scramble off his lap fast enough. “I already told you I wasn’t. That I ran from the wedding. I didn’t even make it to the church.” Her tears were gutting him, but not more than the hurt in her hazel eyes. This time directed at him. But he couldn’t let that sway him. He needed facts, for his own piece of mind, but also to help her.

“It’s just really important that we get this right. We need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt what we’re dealing with.”

Tatum wasn’t angry, she was furious. She folded her arms and he knew she was readying to blast into him. He wouldn’t be swayed.

“Wow, I mean, just wow. I told you the truth, but you won’t believe me. You knew my situation going in, well, about that anyway. With the exception of my name and holding some stuff back until I could trust you, I didn’t lie. Obviously trusting you was a big mistake on my part. I’ve been honest. You’re standing there using my need for help against me and for what. . .oh shit, I get it. You created an issue so I’d push you away. Just like you did with Cheri. Congratulations, you win. I’m officially out and it wasn’t you, it’s me who’s leaving. Just the way you like it, right? Nice and tidy. So, consider this me blowing your boss, you asshole. I’m done. I’ll get my things and call Mark to come get me. You’re officially off the hook in every way that counts.”

Tatum turned toward her bedroom, but she wasn’t the only angry one. “Remind me again, Sweetheart, who is using what against whom? Because where I stand, you seem to be doing a—” Rush’s words were cut off by the ringing of his phone.

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