Page 53 of Isabelle & Jason
“What do I do?”
Mathew snorted. “Now Iknowyou’re kidding.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed.
“Jeez, Jason. You make sure she talks to someone. Confronting one’s attacker isn’t something to brush under the rug. She needs closure.” He scrubbed his jaw and glanced away, his expression reflective. “I don’t suppose she could press charges now. It’s been, what? Five years?”
Jason nodded. “Yeah. And you’re right. The statute of limitations is up in Colorado. Even if she wanted to do something, she doesn’t have any proof besides the tox screen, and that could easily be disregarded if the guy got a good lawyer.”
Mathew frowned, his expression pained. “I’m sorry, man. It really doesn’t seem like you can do much.”
“I was afraid that’s what you were going to say,” Jason muttered bitterly. “The guy had intent. He was going to—” He cut himself off, suddenly feeling sick to his stomach.
“Maybe you could talk to his boss. Her friend’s husband? These days people don’t put up with past indiscretions. Just look at how they go after people on social media for saying something ridiculous in their teens.”
Jason mused over his brother’s suggestion, then shook his head. “I don’t think she’d go for it.”
“Why not?”
He gave his brother a pointed look. “She’s kept this wound of hers a secret for five years. What makes you think that she’s going to suddenly confide in her friend’s husband? She wants it all swept under the rug, remember? That’s the problem.”
Mathew nodded knowingly. “I guess you’re right. Doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.”
“I didn’t say it was,” Jason snapped defensively. “But she’s in a fragile state right now. Anything could tip the scales and send her into a tailspin.”
“Even more reason for her to get hel?—”
“That’s not going to happen.” Jason glowered at his brother. “I need ideas to help her. Ideas that make sense to her. Something that won’t trigger her.”
Mathew glared right back. “I work in the medical field. So does Penny. You know what we’ve studied. And you know what our suggestions will be. Right now, you’re enabling her.”
Jason stiffened. That sounded a lot like what Mark had said.
“I’m sorry to break this to you, but the way you’re treating her isn’t helping. You’re trying to put a Band-Aid on a leaky pipe. Eventually those cracks are going to get deeper and splinter wider. I might be a physician who works with the physical body, but even I can say that mentally, she needs help.”
“Don’t you think I’m doing that? I’m helping her.”
The only way to describe the look in his brother’s eyes was pity. And for some reason, it only stirred the rage that hadn’t had an outlet. Jason wanted to yell, to swing his fists into something until his knuckles bled. Isabelle was slipping through his fingers. She’d been doing so great—until Dillan was back in the picture. Now, she was deteriorating at a faster rate than he thought possible.
“I’m helping her,” Jason repeated with a rasp. “She needs me.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Mathew said quietly. “But there’s only so much you can do for her. You’re too close to the situation. You need to be her support. Keep being there for her. But eventually she’s going to need to speak to someone who can get her through the worst of it. And she’s going to need to want it.”
Right now, that was the last thing Isabelle wanted.
“When will that happen?” Jason hated the way it felt like he was on the verge of tears himself.
“I think she has to hit rock bottom first.”
Jason flinched. That sounded dangerous. Sometimes people who hit rock bottom made bad decisions. “I can’t lose her,” he whispered.
His brother didn’t speak for a long moment. Then he rose from his side of the booth. The cushion at Jason’s side shifted as Mathew took a seat beside him. He draped an arm around his shoulders. “I know, brother. But you can get through this. And I’ll be here to help you.”
20
Isabelle
Isabelle fidgeted. Her knees bounced as she sat at the kitchen table. Charlie had insisted she was coming over so they could make some cookies. She was an excellent cook like Nikki and Jason. It was ironic that Isabelle had surrounded herself with people who could fix amazing dishes, and she couldn’t do a single thing in the kitchen.
