Free The Unforgivable Fix by T. E. Woods Page B

hand.
    “Call me Ken, if you don’t mind.” He glanced around the office. “Nice. Where do you want us?”
    Lydia indicated the sofa. Dee fussed with the hem of her St. John skirt while Ken settled back and crossed his legs. Lydia began the conversation by giving them an overview of confidentiality, then got to the matter at hand.
    “You said on the phone your daughter was giving you a run for your money.”
    Dee looked to Ken.
    “Hey, it’s not my story.” Ken’s voice was calm, almost playful. “You’re the one who wanted to come. I’m ready to chalk it up to age and stage.”
    Dee’s lips tightened. “It’s gone way beyond that.” She brought her focus to Lydia. “Ken and I have been married four years, Dr. Corriger. My daughter is fourteen. Ken’s been a wonderful stepfather to her.” She reached over and laid a hand on her husband’s leg. “I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful or attentive husband.”
    Lydia nodded. “Stepparenting is a tough job. What’s your daughter’s name?”
    The couple glanced at each other.
    “I call her Peanut,” Ken said. “She’s a little bit.” He turned to his wife and smiled. “Just like her mother.”
    “And you, Dee? What do you call her?”
    Dee’s fingers played with her skirt once more. “It’s difficult for me to use a pet name these days.”
    Lydia set their evasion aside for the moment. “What has you so upset with her?”
    Dee again turned to her husband before speaking. “I blame myself. I was always a stay-at-home mother. I was unhappy in my first marriage and my daughter became my world. I’m afraid I’ve spoiled her.” Her eyes remained fixed on the hand twisting the hem of her skirt.
    “Now, honey.” Ken wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulder. “You can’t go blaming yourself for this.”
    Dee didn’t look sure. “When my daughter started school my days were empty. I needed to do something other than sitting around an empty house thinking about how miserable my marriage was.” She glanced up to Lydia. “So I got myself a job. Lots of mothers work, right?”
    Lydia nodded. It was as common for some parents to assume the blame for adolescent misbehavior as it was for others to blame their children for their own misdeeds.
    “That’s where I met Ken,” Dee continued. “I suppose it’s an old story, but we really did start off as friends.” She looked up toward her husband. “We fell in love. I wanted full custody of my daughter in the divorce, of course, but…well, you know how the courts are these days. My daughter soon found herself being torn between two houses.”
    Lydia noted her aggressive tone. “Torn is a tough word, Mrs. Norlin.”
    “Please call me Dee.” Her tone softened. “I suppose I am a bit resentful. I mean, shouldn’t a child be with her mother? Especially when we can provide her with so much more than—”
    Ken interrupted his wife. “It’s not about material goods. A girl needs both her mother and father. We’ve talked about this.”
    Lydia watched Dee back down.
    “Tell me what your daughter’s doing that has you so upset.”
    “My husband’s a good man, Dr. Corriger. Ask anyone who knows him. He and his family have given more than anyone knows to this community. And for my daughter to…to accuse…”
    A mental tumbler clicked as Lydia watched Dee search for words while her husband stared down at this lap.
    “What is your daughter’s name?”
    Dee raised her eyes to meet Lydia’s. “Emma. My daughter’s name is Emma Sorens.”
    Lydia closed her notebook and sat quietly as she controlled her irritation. “And your name isn’t Dee Norlin, is it?”
    Kenton Walder squeezed his wife’s shoulder. “I told you, honey. There was no reason for a cover. We’ve done nothing wrong.” He turned toward Lydia. “Norlin is my wife’s maiden name. See, we don’t know what to do next. Your associate, Dr. Edwards…we know Emma’s father brought her in for an evaluation.”
    Lydia remained