Free Evil Never Dies (The Lizzy Gardner Series Book 6) by T.R. Ragan

slid his kayak into the smooth water, carefully took his place inside, and began to paddle for home.

CHAPTER TEN
    Lizzy’s longtime therapist, Linda Gates, placed a cup of hot green tea on the side table next to the couch where Lizzy was sitting. Then she picked up her notebook and sat down in her leather chair. “I have an unusual request.”
    “What is it?”
    “There’s a woman I’ve been seeing for a while now. She lost her husband and their three small children to a drunk driver.”
    Lizzy had no idea where Linda might be going with this. Not once in all their years together had she uttered one word about another client. But Lizzy sat quietly and waited to see what she had to say.
    “You might have read about it in the paper. Her husband wanted to give her a break, so he decided to take the kids to his parents’ house fifteen minutes away. They never made it.”
    More waiting.
    “She read about what happened to Jared, and she thought you might benefit from having someone to talk to. Someone who has dealt with a tragic loss of a loved one.”
    “Isn’t that what I pay you for?”
    “I agree with her. I think it might be helpful for you to talk to someone who has dealt with a traumatic and unexpected loss.”
    “I think it’s a stupid idea.”
    “Why?”
    “People all over the world are dealing with shit worse than mine or hers. She’ll never be the same, and neither will I. We all just have to keep on moving, get through another day and then another until it’s all one big blur again.” Lizzy lifted a shoulder. “We all heal in our own way and in our own time. You know that.”
    “I’ll tell her you’re not ready to talk to anyone.”
    “Tell her whatever you want, Linda. Tell her I’m sorry for her loss. While you’re at it, you might think about telling her the truth.”
    “And that is?”
    “That it might not get any better. That the days get longer and the nights get darker. Her best days could well be over.”
    “We don’t know if that’s true.”
    “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
    “I’m worried about you, Lizzy.”
    Lizzy uncrossed her legs, then crossed them again. She picked nonexistent lint off the couch.
    “You seem angry.”
    “No. Really?”
    “Who are you angry with?”
    “Everyone.”
    “You’re angry with me?” Linda asked without reproach.
    “Yes, even you. I’ve known you for what, eighteen years, and I don’t know anything about you, but you know everything about me. That’s fucked up. And, let’s see, I’m angry with my mother. She didn’t come to my wedding, which was probably a good move, since she could have been shot and killed had she made the effort. But she didn’t come. She’s alive and well. So, would it kill her to call me every once in a while? And then there’s my sister.” Lizzy waved a hand through the air. “I’m not even going to bother going there—the list is too long. But you know who I’m really pissed off at?”
    “Who?”
    “Myself. I hate me . I hate every choice I’ve ever made. I hate being around people. I hate seeing my reflection staring back at me, always judging. I hate the way food feels on my tongue and the way I never taste anything. I hate the ugly gray skies every time I look up. The six o’clock news makes me sick to my stomach. I hate the drizzly rain out there today. I mean, if you’re going to rain, you might as well pour. Give us some real water, not this half-ass shit. I hate my life. Most of all, I hate being so fucking angry.” Lizzy clamped her mouth shut. She was finished.
    A long, drawn-out moment passed before Linda said, “You have every reason to be angry.”
    “Well, thanks,” Lizzy said as she started to stand up. “Are we done?”
    “Not quite.” Linda straightened. “I’ve been married and divorced twice, and I never had children.” Linda put her notebook aside. “Not because I didn’t want them, but because I was born with a fixed number of eggs and the health of