THE THERAPIST

04

𝐂 𝐡 𝐚 𝐩 𝐭 𝐞 𝐫  𝟒

     I cancelled all my appointments for today. I should have been in my suburban house, tucked in bed and forcing myself to sleep, or watching another episode of Law & Order, but I ended up in a bar blocks away from my house. I finally succumbed and came down here.

     I picked a bottle of beer from the plastic pail, glancing at the stiff menu on the table. I decided against ordering anything. My stomach wasn’t ready to receive food at the moment.

     The bar wasn’t filled up, which was surprising, looking at the time. I had expected several locals, but there was only a man in an expensive suit sitting with his back to me and a couple who occupied a booth. All the better for me.

     I took a big gulp, then lowered the bottle. A melancholic song I didn’t recognize played in the background. I wasn’t such a big fan of songs. No wonder I couldn’t remember this one, but I listened. The lyrics were so sad I wanted to tell the bartender to put it off.

     Detective Spade now harbored the thought I had something to do with my clients’ deaths. Great. He was a tenacious cop, and I was certain he’d show up at my workplace tomorrow with a warrant from the court. I’d divulge what I knew. I lifted the bottle and downed the rest, picking another from the pail.

     “You look like you could use some company,” a manly voice said.

     My fingers froze halfway to the pail. I instantly recognized the voice. I knew it like the back of my hand. It belonged to a man I had shared a past with. What was he doing here? He was the last person on earth I expected to bump into today.

     Sighing, I went for the beer and sank onto the sofa. “What are you doing here, Garry?” I asked without looking up at him. He must’ve been the man with his back to me. Why hadn’t I made him out?

     “It’s nice to see you again, Avery.” He pointed to the empty sofa staring blankly at my face. “May I?”

     I shrugged and brought the beer to my lips, taking another swig. A chill ran down my spine. I shivered. I was drinking too much.

     He slid into the booth and threw an arm over the back of the sofa, then loosened his tie. “I saw you from the counter when I turned. I’m surprised to see you here.”

     I finally lifted my head and peered at him, zeroing in on his expensive suit, the Rolex on his wrist, and then his fingers. At the sight of them, my eyes widened. He still wore our wedding ring. His blond hair, which was always cut down to size, was tousled. His dull eyes penetrated mine. He looked tired like I was, but I showed it better than him. Even in this state, his handsomeness hadn’t waned.

     “You expect me to believe this is a coincidence?” I said.

     He leaned forward and grabbed a bottle, cracking the lid open with his teeth. “If you want to think otherwise, go ahead.”

     He still wore his straightforwardness. That aura which had made him a successful lawyer, and one of the best in Beverly Hills. I wasn’t expecting anything less. Moreover, I didn’t think he’d waste his precious time following me. Workaholics like him always had something to do, which was one of the reasons I was shocked to find him here just as he was surprised to see me in a cheap bar.

     “How long have you been here?” I asked, curling my fingers around the bottle.

     He sipped. “Three hours... four. I don’t remember.”