Free From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone by Lorhainne Eckhart Page B

turned like a man defeated and walked like the living dead to the table and sat in his chair. He stuck out his heavy work boots, coated with mud. Emily spied the trail he’d tracked from the back door through the kitchen.
    Emily scooped coffee into the basket, poured water in the coffee maker and turned it on. What could she say to ease his turmoil? When enough coffee filled the pot, Emily poured out two cups, adding milk and sugar to his. He never looked up when she placed his mug in front of him. Emily pulled out a chair beside him. She sat and scooted closer to the table. She gazed into her coffee, searching for some miracle answer but one wouldn’t appear.
    Brad didn’t move, nor did he reach for his coffee. He leaned forward , resting his arms on the table. His lips trembled. A glossy sheen covered the tiny red lines that appeared like sandpaper in his eyes. Had he slept? She’d say not. Was he drunk? More likely, a poor attempt to anesthetize. His dark brown eyes reached out to her with something that appeared lost and helpless.
    “Does Trevor have autism?”
    Emily lean over and covered the hand he’d balled into a fist. “I’m so sorry; I didn’t know how to tell you. But from what I read, he shows all the symptoms.”
    “Is it my fault, something I did?”
    “Oh, God no, Brad. They don’t know what causes it. But the numbers are skyrocketing; from what I read, every one in a hundred-fifty children will be diagnosed, and it’s higher in boys. Out of every five children diagnosed with autism, four are boys. That’s an epidemic, not something you did.”
    “So … now what?”
    “You need to get him diagnosed. And you need to start an early intervention therapy right away. I’ve been emailing a local parents group I found on the internet. They sent loads of information for you, so you know where to start.”
    “I don’t understand what you do.” Brad was alone, and he was looking to her.
    “One of the parents, a mother from a mom’s support group I’ve connected with by email, hired a consultant who is trained specifically in neurological disorders, and has a BCBA and psychology degree for children and adults with autism. The consultant is local, just outside Olympia and she has a proven track record. I don’t know all the details of what exactly she does, just the basics. But it’s a start.”
    He watched her close, sobering as he listened.
    “She works with the schools putting together a home and school program. She sets goals, creates programs for academics, socialization, peer interaction, language and behavior. She establishes strategies and changes what doesn’t work. These kids work hard but, from what I’ve read, these kids make real progress with the right therapy.”
    “A mom’s group, huh? Well how about that? Women who actually care about their kids.”
    This time when he looked at her, something inside of him pulled away. You know , the feeling you get when someone needs distance. He downed the rest of his coffee that had long since gone cold, and scraped back his chair. “I need to go take care of the stock and feed the horses. See you at breakfast.” Then he was walking out the back door, snatching his barn coat off the hook on the way, as he strode into the darkness and cold morning while the rooster crowed.
    Emily stayed where she was, wondering about his wife, the woman who left, the hurt she caused and the little boy she abandoned. Brad concealed it well, but this morning she saw the damage, like tread marks on his soul.

Chapter Fourteen
    Emily loved to spend time in the kitchen, baking and creating meals. Brad needed his animals and the outdoors. The kitchen brought balance to her thoughts and emotions and gave her clarity and peace of mind. She was also a damn good cook. And that wasn’t ego. She loved putting together a good meal for her loved ones to enjoy, and for the first time since she could remember, she truly felt needed.
    When Mary Haske dropped by this