Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 2

"Good morning, dear," Dr. Gail Baldwin said with a smile as Gina Cates entered her office with the morning mail.

Several weeks ago, Gina had first come to Gail as a patient. Her ordeal under the city had left her emotionally spent and physically drained. The transition from being a prisoner to being free had been difficult, but the outcome had been worth the pain she had to face in her sessions with Gail. And in the end, she and Gail had formed a strong friendship which led to their present situation as employer and employee. When Gail's assistant left to pursue other opportunities, she offered Gina the position which Gina happily accepted.

"Good morning, Dr. Baldwin," Gina said, handing Gail the stack of psychology magazines and medical journals.

"Gail," Gail said.

"Sorry, I forgot," Gina said with a small smile. She lingered for a moment and then turned to leave.

"Gina, wait. Is something wrong?"

Gina shook her head. "Not really. I'm just... Nothing, Gail. Nothing's wrong."

"You come right back here and sit down," Gail said when Gina made to leave the room. When Gina sat down on one of the guest chairs, Gail said, "Okay. Out with it. Is it Tommy?"

From Gina's sigh, Gail knew she had hit the nail on the head. Tommy was one of her patients, too. His experience had left him even more emotionally haggard than Gina and coupled with the fact that his mother lay in a coma, his progress had been slower. He spent most of his time at his mother's bedside and often missed his appointments with her.

"I spoke to him like you suggested, but... He's so pigheaded!" Gina said, exasperated.

"What did he say?" Gail asked, knowing that Gina was more forthcoming when she was prompted.

"No. That's all he ever says. 'No, Gina, I can't. No, Gina, it's not the right time.' He makes me so angry," she finished with a sigh.

"He doesn't mean to," Gail said softly.

"I know, Gail. Believe me, I know. But I don't think it's good for him to spend all his time at Simone's bedside. He needs to get out. School is starting soon, and he hasn't made any kind of preparation for it. Mrs. Hardy and Lizzie have both tried to talk to him about it, but he refuses to listen."

Gail leaned forward and smiled at Gina. "All any of you can do is try. Ultimately, the decision is his," she said gently, not wanting her words to sound harsh.

"I know, but Tommy is so smart. He has so much potential," Gina said with a sigh. "He says that the reason he won't register is because of Simone, but I don't believe him."

"Why not?" Gail asked, interested. In many ways, Tommy was still an enigma to her. The few sessions with him had sometimes left her with more questions than answers. Whatever insight Gina had would prove useful should Tommy decide to make their scheduled appointment that afternoon.

"I think he's afraid to be around people," she said, pausing to look at Gail and then past Gail to the day that was beginning outside the window. "He doesn't trust easily. He thinks the other kids will laugh at him and he's too pigheaded to admit it so instead he hides at Simone's bedside."

"Do you think that's fair?" Gail asked, watching as a frown creased Gina's brow as her eyes flew to Gail's.

"Fair?"

"Yes. Are you being fair to Tommy? He loves his mother and of course, he'd be hesitant about leaving her bedside."

"Maybe I'm not, but I just don't think it's good for him to spend so much time locked away in a hospital room. Gosh, Gail, he's spent most of his life locked away somewhere. Now, that he has the opportunity to be free...to live...he ignores it," she said, her voice rising with each word.