Page 15 of Stitch
She nodded. “I’m not going to say I understand, because there’s no way I could, but I want to help. Talk to me, Stitch.”
I drained half of the water, and stared at the glass as I leaned back.
“I’m not good at talking about personal shit, you know. It’s a guy thing.” She was nodding, but didn’t speak, so I continued.
“I think mostly I’m really angry, and… I… a lot of it is, uh. Fuck it. I’m scared, I’m fucking terrified. I know I’m dying, and that should be it, right? Like if you know your days are numbered, then fucking live them while you have them, but… I don’t know, it’s like…” I trailed off, surprised I’d even said that much.
Lissa cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, Stitch. I can’t imagine what this is like, but can I ask… have you had some kind of update from the hospital that you’re keeping to yourself? Reacher led me to believe you’re waiting to hear some results, but you’re talking like you’ve already had bad news.”
Cammy
Normally these sessions wouldbe an hour tops, and more often than not, they were cut short, either by angry clients storming out amid their attempts to talk through their issues, or on rare occasions, because of threat to the therapist. I really hoped that wasn’t the case here.
As promised, Reacher had shown up, and was sitting at the desk beside me,like he wanted to be as close as possible. To my offer of coffee, he’d closed his eyes, sighing briefly, before he asked for water instead. Maybe he needed coffee addiction therapy, was that even a thing?
“You think she’s okay in there?”
Reacher glanced at the door again, like he wasn’t watching it ninety percent of the time already. He really didn’t look worried.
“Stitch isn’t violent, and he’d never hurt a woman.”
Hmmm… “So you’re here because…?”
He was rubbing at his eyebrow, at the piercings there, and he saw me notice.
“I know, I know. Apparently it’s a coping mechanism, or some shit. Lissa spotted that too fast too.” He was grinning as he spoke. I think he’d actually grown quite fond of her, and I could easily understand why. She was the kind of person who attracted others. Her kindness, and her sweet nature, made her easy to love, and sadly just as easy to break down, as our bitchy ex-boss had done time and time again.
“You were saying Stitch isn’t a psycho?”
Reacher’s response was laughter.
“I definitely never mentioned that word. Is that even a word you’re allowed to use in a place like this?”
“Okay, I’m not sure if that’s called deflecting or avoidance, but you’re doing it, buddy.”
He laughed again. “I like you. You remind me of my… my wife, Ally.” I caught it though, that pause that said he’d changed what he was about to say.
“Not your old lady? I thought that was the term?”
How to make a guy look like you kicked him in the nads in four simple words.
“I’m sorry…”
He watched the door, but I think it was to try and mask his hurt.
“My club voted against her.”
Ouch. I didn’t even know that could happen.
“But they voted in favour of Lissa.”
He nodded. “Hard not to really, she’s Lissa.”
“But your wife?”
He glanced at me. “She’s fucking perfection, but a few of my brothers took offence to her past. I’m working on it though. Marrying her was a dumb act ofdefiance on my part. If one of them had done it, I’d have called him on it, but I was desperate not to lose her.”
I checked the time again. It was almost two hours he’d been in there. Was it a good sign?
