Free From the Damage 1 - Opposites Attract by Jasmine Denton, Genna

supposed to know?”
    “You’re so insensitive. What the hell is your problem?”
    “Hey, the bitch tried to shoot me. Why should I care who she was?”
    Daphne raised her hands in the air. “Okay, okay! Everybody calm down.”
    Kelly turned the scowl at Meagan. “Is that enough drama for you?”
    Her mouth dropped. “What did I do?”
    “You started the whole fight!”
    “Children! Do I have to make you sit in the corner?” Daphne raised her voice only enough to be heard.
    Kelly settled into her seat and stared at her shoes.
    “Why are you so protective of the guy?” Ryder asked.

    “Because there are things about him you don’t know.” Kelly thought of the little girl she’d seen. “He’s got a good heart.”
    “Whatever.”
    “Well, that sure was an interesting way to kick off the session.” Daphne crossed her legs and leaned forward. “But Gage isn’t here anymore, so let’s talk about something else. Ryder, do you want to talk about the shooting?”
    He shook his head.
    “I’ll go,” Carmen said.
    “Great. Carmen, what’s on your mind?”
    “I had another fight with my sister last night.”
    Daphne tilted her head. “What was the fight about?”
    She stood up and began to pace. “That’s the thing. I don’t know. I just have these mood swings that kick in out of nowhere and make me so upset. And then I just blow up at her for no reason.”
    “And nothing triggers them?”
    Carmen shrugged. “I don’t know.”
    “Your life’s been in turmoil lately,” Daphne said softly. “When you fight with your sister, who are you thinking about?”
    Carmen paused in thought, cutting her gaze to meet Daphne’s as her lips started to tremble.
    “I was just thinking that...well, maybe you act like you’re mad at your sister when you’re really angry with your mother.”
    Carmen slowly sank into her seat. “It would make sense.”
    Daphne nodded in agreement.
    “Maybe.” She stood up again, unable to sit still. “Is it always going to be like this? Am I always going to feel that…that uncontrollable rage?”
    “I don’t think so,” Daphne said gently. “With therapy, and time, it will get easier to control that anger.”

    ***
After the meeting, when Daphne got into her car, she rewound and played the tape she’d recorded.
    Gage spoke up. “They did not! They weren’t getting anywhere with her.”
    “And now they never will, will they?”
    “I swear, if I have to hear your mouth—”
    “Why are you so pissed at me? You’re the one who got your girlfriend killed, buddy, not me.”
    “She wasn’t my girlfriend, she was my wife!”
    Letting out an exhausted groan, she rested her head against the steering wheel.
    She really had her work cut out for her.
    She flipped through her files until she found Gage’s and looked up his address. It took her fifteen minutes to get there, and she prayed she wouldn’t get her head bitten off by his sharp tongue when she knocked on the door.
    He answered, balancing a baby on his hip.

    She tried not to stare in shock at the little girl as she stepped into the apartment.
    She held out the papers she’d brought as an excuse. “I handed these out after you left.”
    “Thanks.” He took them and sat down on the couch, placing the baby gently on his knee.
    “You’re welcome.” Cautiously, she sat down in the chair. “I hope you’re planning on coming back on Friday.”
    “I don’t know.” He leaned back and shook his head. “I don’t know if I can see that punk’s face and control my temper.”
    “I understand that, but to him, your wife was a perpetrator. The shooting was very traumatic for him.”
    “I lost more than he did.”
    “I know.” She smiled when the baby giggled and threw herself onto Gage’s shoulder. “She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”
    “Thank you.” He grinned. “This is Lizzie, my guardian angel.”
    “Why don’t you ever talk about her?”
    “Because she has nothing to do with anything. She’s not