Begin Again novel Chapter 111

"Your bracelet," Linda said. "It's beautiful. May I see it?"

Eden didn't want to hand it over, of course, but anything to make the forty-five minutes go quickly.

"Sure," she said as she slipped it off and gave it to her.

"You're into astronomy?" Linda asked as she held it up, and the tiny star and moon glinted in the sunlight seeping through the window.

Eden looked at the clock again.

Forty-three minutes.

Don't fuck it up.

She smiled brightly at the therapist. "I guess. Aiden's obsessed with the moon."

"So this represents him?" Linda asked, tapping the moon charm dangling on the gold band. "And you are the star?"

Eden nodded, happy to keep this line of enquiry going.

"I don't see the sun, though?"

"That's his father." Eden blurted without thinking.

"Is he not in the picture?"

Eden shook her head quickly. "No, he's not."

"Maybe someday you'll get to add his charm?" Linda returned the bracelet.

"Yeah, maybe." Eden snapped it back on. "I'd like that."

"How do you feel about the mark on your face?"

The question caught her off guard, and before she'd even processed it, Eden found herself already answering.

"Ashamed," she blurted out, realising her mistake immediately.

Linda had tricked her. All the pointless questions about her bracelet were just her way to get her to let down her guard.

"Why?"

Eden fell silent.

She didn't want to talk about Lucy.

She didn't even want to acknowledge the fact that, in a way, she was a little fearful of being in her office, and she was on high alert because she was so afraid the other woman would attack her at any time.

"Because no one's ever done that to me," she admitted at last and brushed her tears away quickly. "And I'm terrified she might do it again. But I'll be okay."

Liam sat rigidly still beside her, his jaw clenched, his hands balled into fists.

She knew he hated tears and was probably irritated with her for breaking down.

"How are things at home?" Linda asked, and Eden was grateful to her for changing the subject.

"As well as they can be, I guess," she said, still wringing her hands on her lap. "My parents are going through a divorce."

Liam breathed in sharply at her announcement and stared at her, but she refused to look at him. She didn't think she'd be able to take the pity in his eyes.

"Anyway," she shrugged carelessly, trying her damnedest to pretend she was not in the least affected by everything. "They've never loved each other but had to pretend for my sake. But since I'm now old enough to handle the truth, I guess there's no need for them to keep up with the charade."

Liam surprised her when he took her hand and held it, refusing to let it go even when she tried to snatch it away.

"How do you feel about their divorce?" Linda asked and carried on scribbling on a new page.

"I don't know. But I think confused and hurt and angry are the forerunners at the moment." Eden said, smiling a little when she saw the time on the clock.

Just ten more minutes, and it will all be over.

"You have every right to be hurt. It's your family, and it's changing. You are allowed to mourn the loss that comes with those changes." Linda murmured as she jotted down something in her book.

"I'm not even close to them, so I shouldn't feel this way. But I thought they were in love and happy even though they never looked like they were. But now—" Eden's voice trailed off, and she gripped Liam's fingers harder, grateful for his comfort, however fleeting.

"Now?" Linda prodded.

"It's made me question everything and rethink some of the stuff I used to believe in."

"What kind of stuff?"

"I don't know," Eden shrugged. "Love, relationships, marriage—"

"Your services are no longer required," he said in a clipped tone, the scowl on his face deepening.

Eden stared at him in disbelief.

"Are you firing me?"

"You are Matthew's assistant; what reason do I have to fire you?" Liam asked, not meeting her gaze, not even once. "You are more than welcome to quit, though. I know you took the job only because Gibby convinced you to."

"What does that even mean?" She asked; they were now on the ground floor, and she was struggling to keep up with his pace and words.

He paused and looked at her at last. "My therapy goals have changed. Linda has figured out a way to help me and has arranged for me to work with renowned doctors. It was unfair of me to expect you to fix me. For that, I'm truly sorry."

"That's not true," Eden shook her head. "Why are you doing this? Linda would have said. She'd have told me if it's true."

He began walking again, and she tugged at his arm. "Why are you doing this? This is so sudden."

"Eden!" Liam growled, making a point of looking at her hand on his sleeve.

"I'm sorry," she dropped her hand to her side. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing is wrong," he breathed in sharply and closed his eyes. "When I hired you, I had one goal in mind. It seems that goal has changed."

And it was all he would say.

She tried and pushed and prodded, but he remained resolute in his decision.

"This is not up for discussion anymore," he announced as he pushed her inside the car and slipped in beside her.

They spent the short drive back to the office in silence, with Eden confused out of her mind.

She should have been relieved, glad that she no longer has to sit through any of it.

But she felt disappointed.

Sad.

Like she'd failed at her only job.

She'd failed him.