Page 55 of Through the Snow Globe
“Then you should give him the benefit of the doubt and FaceTime him. Give him a chance to prove that to you.”
Addy seemed to consider this. Then she looked at Diana and narrowed her eyes. “You usually shut down any conversation about my feelings. Why are you listening to me today?”
Was Diana really so awful before? “I usually try to keep you focused on the reason I’m here, which is to help you build endurance and strength. But emotional endurance and strength are important in your recovery too. I’m sorry if I haven’t listened to you before now.”Great, now I sound like Rochelle.
Addy chipped away more polish on her nails. “What if he sees me and doesn’t want to talk to me anymore?”
“Then he’s a jerk,” Diana said flatly, making Addy’s eyes round. “And you’ll call me, and I’ll come over with ice cream.”
“You will?” Addy’s pale lips parted slightly.
“Of course. As part of your therapy.”
“Ice cream therapy. The best kind.” Addy grinned. “Okay. Maybe I’ll try to FaceTime him after school.”
“Good.”
“Diana? Thanks for talking to me like a real person. Like a friend.” She leaned in and wrapped her arms around Diana, hugging her tightly, the way Maria had earlier. “It’s kind of lonely in this room.”
Diana resisted the tears that rose in her throat. She’d been coming to this girl’s house for weeks. Addy never should have felt lonely, but apparently, she did.
Diana didn’t want to be cold or heartless. She hadn’t even realized that’s how she came off to people. Grandma Denny was the same way. They weren’t emotional people, or if they were, they just didn’t show it. They were independent and didn’t ask for help, out of necessity as much as anything else. Did Linus understand what he was getting into with her?
“I am your friend.” Diana pulled back from the hug and looked at Addy. “And I’m also your physical therapist, so we better get to work.”
* * *
When Diana arrived at Powell Rehabilitation Center later that afternoon, she walked up to Leann at the receptionist’s desk. “I’m here for an interview with Mr. Powell at two.”
Leann checked the clock. It was five minutes until the hour. “Have a seat. It’ll just be a moment.”
A couple minutes later, she led Diana into Mr. Powell’s office.
Mr. Powell stood as she entered. “Good to see you, Diana.”
“You too, Todd,” she said with a ready smile.
“Can I get you some coffee?”
“No!” Diana practically shouted. Coffee had already ruined two of their interviews. Heat flushed her cheeks and she tempered her voice before speaking again. “No, thank you. I’ve already had my two cups today. Thanks.”
“Ah, okay. Well, then, let’s get straight to business, shall we?” He proceeded to ask the same questions as before, but Diana’s answers came out differently.
“I’m not really sure why I would make a good leader. Maybe I wouldn’t. I mean, I lead my patients, and I thought I was doing a great job, but a patient is more than just body parts, right? They have emotional needs too, you know?” She looked up at Mr. Powell. “And so do I?”
His expression was stiff. “Right.”
“I think I’ve been neglecting those needs unintentionally. I thought I was being professional, but maybe not. Maybe sitting down to have a cup of tea with a patient isn’t a waste of time. Or helping them pull down boxes of Christmas decorations from their attics. I mean, if it saves them from falling and further injuring themselves, that’s therapeutic, right?”
“I guess so.” Mr. Powell looked completely bewildered. Even so, his perfect smile was pinned in place.
“I’m not as personable as someone like William, but he spends just a little too much time socializing, in my opinion. My sessions are a happy medium between personable and professional. Not to criticize William. He’s great.” She was talking fast and this interview was dovetailing just like all the others. Of course it was.
Finally, Diana stood and shook Mr. Powell’s hand, careful not to knock over his crystal picture frame.
“I’ll be in touch,” he said, although Diana wasn’t optimistic. She headed past Leann at her desk and back out to her car in the parking lot. She didn’t cry this time, even though she wanted to. She felt like she was losing her mind and this day on repeat seemed to keep getting worse.
Next on the agenda was drinks with Rochelle. Diana drove over and walked inside Sparky’s Tavern.
