Page 46 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“Yes, Aunt Gina.”

Hallie is nervous. It feels like she’s about to spring out of her skin. It may have only been forty-eight hours since she was here last, but it feels like a lifetime ago. She takes a deep cleansing breath, trying to lower her heart rate. The front door swings open before her finger connects with the doorbell. A smiling Traci greets her.

“Dr. Jackson. Thanks for seeing me.”

“Oh no you don’t. I’m a psychologist, not a psychiatrist so technically, I’m not a doctor. I’m just Traci. It’s great to see you again, Hallie. You look about a thousand times better than the last time I saw you. Please, come on in.” She swings the door wide, ushering her newest client in.

Hallie stomps her snow-covered boots on the mat and takes off her proper winter coat, gloves and scarf to hand to a waiting Traci. “I see someone’s gone shopping. I like your new winter gear.”

“Thanks. Yeah, I’m glad the storm cleared enough on Sunday that Uncle Adam and Aunt Gina could take me on a marathon shopping spree yesterday in Denver to pick up a lot of the things I needed.”

“That’s really great of them. Were you able to get your stuff out of the car before they towed it away? I heard it’s totaled, but I was hoping you’d be able to save some of your belongings.”

They’d been walking and talking, arriving in the kitchen where the smell of coffee welcomes her. Hallie notices a steaming cup already waiting for her at the island. She takes a sip to try to calm her nerves before answering the question hanging in the air.

“Well, I left in a hurry, so I didn’t really have that much stuff with me. We were on the road and I only had clothes with me on the tour bus. Uncle Adam is trying to find someone to go to my apartment in California to pack up the rest of my belongings there and send them.”

“Wow, I hadn’t realized you had so little with you. It’s nice of them to buy you what you need. At least you can take your time now with moving.”

Hallie chuckles. “Well, if it were up to Uncle Adam, they’d be packing up my apartment today.” When she sees the confused look on Traci’s face, she answers her unasked question. “He’s afraid I’m going to change my mind and decide to go back to Eddie. I think he’s trying to hurry and get me all moved before I can back out.”

Traci’s smile seems genuine. “I’m sure they’re just worried about you. They love you, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, they think I’m still that eighteen-year-old girl they last saw. If someone finds me dead, have it investigated as ‘death by smothering.’”

That draws a chuckle out of the therapist. “How are your injuries? Are you in any pain?”

Hallie’s been here for several minutes and is growing more and more anxious. “Um… aren’t we supposed to go into your office? I mean, have me lay down on the couch and shit?”

Traci’s grin is contagious. “Well, we can do that if you’d like to, but truthfully, I meet with most of my patients here in the kitchen over a cup of coffee. It just seems easier to talk freely this way.”

“But… I mean, what if…?” Hallie doesn’t know what she’s trying to say and then she blushes pink. “What if Troy comes in and hears us talking? Isn’t there doctor-patient privilege or something?”

Traci stutters in surprise. “Of course… how would… Hallie, I thought you knew. Troy doesn’t live with me. He was just visiting for the weekend to help me celebrate my birthday.”

The figurative kick to the gut is unexpected. Hallie has already spent more time than she’d like thinking about Troy Jackson and the unusual circumstances that had brought them together. Now she hates to acknowledge her disappointment in not seeing him today. “Oh, it’s just as well… I mean… it’s good… he can’t overhear…”

“Until a few weeks ago Troy lived near Washington D.C., but he recently transferred back to the Denver base.”

“Base?”

“Troy is an officer in the Air Force. To be honest, I don’t know all that much about what he does, but I do know he had to get top security clearance before his last assignment. Several members of the FBI interviewed me when they were validating his status. He can’t talk about what he’s working on. Sometimes I like to tease him that he’s like James Bond.”

As exciting as his career might sound, the unexpected news that he doesn’t even live in Eagle’s Pass brings conflicting emotions.

I should be happy. He scares me, in more ways than one.

“Hallie?”

Lost in thought, Hallie finally hears Traci. “Yes?”

“Are you okay? You look upset.” Traci’s concern is written on her face.

“I’m fine.” Hallie works on changing the subject away from Traci’s handsome older brother. “So how does this work?”

Traci sips her coffee. She looks like she’s trying hard to appear casual. Hallie detects the sliver of uncertainty in the therapist’s behavior. “There’s no formula. We just talk about whatever’s on your mind. If you get stuck, I ask some questions, but for now, why don’t you just start by talking about how things are going over at your aunt’s house?”

Hallie sighs. This topic should be an easy one for her. It’s not. “Aunt Gina and Uncle Adam have been great. I know they are happy to have me here and have done so much to make me feel welcome and not just like a burden.”

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