Page 42 of Nightclub Surprise
Progress was being made there, and I prayed our little family would just keep onprogressing.
Later, after getting myself and Calum dressed, I found August in the breakfast nook. Steam swirled over his coffee cup, and he jerked his head over at the carafe. “Grab a cup and join me.” He looked at Calum. “There’s juice in the other one for you,buddy.”
I poured us something to drink then we took seats at the small round table with August. He put his cell down, looking at our son. I knew leaving him for fourteen entire days wasn’t sitting well withhim.
Placing my hand on top of August’s, I said, “I’ll explain things to him, don’tworry.”
“’Splain, what?” Calum asked before he gulped down some applejuice.
“I want to tell him,” August said before he directed his attention to his son. “Calum, I’ve gotta go away for a littlewhile.”
“Why?” Calum asked with furrowedbrows.
“You remember me telling you about why I had that weird screaming episode that day in the car, right?” August moved his hand through Calum’s darkhair.
“Yes, sir,” Calum said, then took anotherdrink.
“Well, I think it’s time I finally fixed that problem. Your momma found this place that we think can help me. But I’ve gotta go and stay there for two weeks. Do you think you can be a big help to me and keep your momma company while I’mgone?”
Calum looked a little worried. “You’re comin’ back, right?” His lower lip began to tremble. “’Cause I’m gonna missyou.”
“I’m gonna miss you too, buddy. But I need my little man to step up and keep his momma happy while I’m gone.” August got up and went to pick Calumup.
Calum rested his head on his father’s broad shoulder as he cried. “I’ll try,Dad.”
“Daddy has to get some help to get better.” August patted him on the back, and I had to bite my lip to hold back the tears that welled in myeyes.
August looked at me. “Leila will be here soon to pick him up and take him for the day. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to send him to school today. And I’d like you to come with me to the facility. I kind of need you with me, to hold myhand.”
Nodding, I picked up a napkin to dry my tears before they fell. “’Kay.”
We sat there in silence as we all picked at the breakfast Tara had made for us. Not one of us was hungryanymore.
After Leila came and picked up Calum, Max drove us to the facility, which I prayed would be able to help the man I loved. “So, here we are,” he said as he got out and took my hand, helping me out,too.
Being a nurse, I was used to medical facilities. This one was something else, though. Everything was state of the art. The building was large, but it didn’t have that morose hospital feel to it. Positive energy flowed invisibly through theair.
Gripping August’s arm, I whispered, “I like the atmosphere here,babe.”
“It does seem upbeat, doesn’t it?” he asked, as we went to the reception desk. “August Harlow. I spoke with someone earlier about seekingtreatment.”
“Of course,” the young woman said with a smile. She pointed to a frosted glass door. “Dr. Sheldon is waiting for you right through those doors. He’ll go over the treatment plan, and once you agree with it, you’ll sign papers, and we’ll get you started on your road to success, Mr.Harlow.”
With a nod, we headed the way she’d pointed and found soft music playing when we came into the doctor’s office. The man we met there had a soft voice and the kind of demeanor that put one at ease rightaway.
I had to admit; he seemed so genuine. Much more so than any other doctor I’d ever dealt with. Confidence filled me as he told us how they went about doing things. “While we have had much success with our treatments here, it’s important that you understand that therapy is something you will have to be in for the rest of your life, August. You should get used to thatfact.”
August didn’t seem to be pleased by that and asked, “Isn’t your mission to cureme?”
“There is no cure for what ails you. Can you imagine being the victim of a shooting, or a child who’s been horribly abused?” the doctor askedhim.
August shrugged. “I guessso.”
“Well, would you expect them ever to be cured of their memories?” The way the doctor smiled made my heart sore. He was the real deal—like an angel sent here to helpothers.
August could only shake his head. “No, I guess you can’t cure memories. So, how the hell can you helpme?”
“While we can’t wipe your memory bank clean, we can help you handle those memories a lot better. People who’ve had an overload of terrible things happen to them have it much harder than your average person. Hence, why so many military personnel in particular end up with PTSD.” The doctor took out a bottle of pills. “This is what MDMA lookslike.”
