Free Ethans Fal by Dee Palmer Page A

have of value in my staff locker–or just my locker, now that I’m no longer employed. Thankfully, he is happy to keep doing that until I can move back into Joan’s.
    The beach is deserted and the alcove of rocks, where I pitch up, keeps me sheltered and hidden. The tide never comes in this far, so the sand is dry and as long as it doesn’t rain, I can rest enough to function the next day. I don’t get into my sleeping bag right away, saving the warmth it affords for a little later, when it’s really needed. I tuck my legs under my chin and sip the hot chocolate Buddy had made for me. The waves are a constant comforting sound; a gentle wash and break, break and wash. The sky is bright with a large new moon and with light pollution, the stars are breathtaking. A bitter laugh escapes me when I recall a happier time. Kings of the past…
    Two Years Ago
    Joan asked me some weeks after I had woken about Cal. We have made tentative roads into a relationship; she is open with me, honest and a little unorthodox. It’s hard, but I think I could learn to trust her.
    “You want to know the details or just the Cliff notes version?” We are sitting on a blanket in the middle of the bowling green lawn of the facility, out of ear shot and away from prying eyes.
    “I think it’s important to get a clear understanding of your relationship. I like to have a thorough understanding of every aspect of a situation before I make a decision.” She looks at me with an impassive expression, but her lips start to curl with a suppressed smile.
    “Oh, my God! You want to know the details don’t you!” I laugh, and she bites her lip but her intention is crystal clear. “You’re not like a normal doctor, are you?” I shake my head, but I mean it as a compliment.
    “I hope not–not when it comes to you at least, but we have unsuccessfully tried several traditional methods, Ada. So I am left skirting the very edges of professionalism. But if it gets you to open up to me and well enough to leave this place sooner, then I will happily blur the lines. In all seriousness you don’t have to tell me anything you are not comfortable with, but it might help me understand why you did what you did. Cal was considerably older than you, and it’s hard to not see him as a predator.” I bark out a laugh.
    “Joan, if anyone was the predator it was me.” We haven’t talked about ‘what I did’ because my vehement description of Cal’s betrayal still sounds like the classic denial of a crazy person. I didn’t steal a child, end of. But I need Joan completely on my side, and from what I do know, Joan has been fed a whole heap of lies.
    “Cal was staying with Heloise’s boyfriend for the summer. His family was living in London, but originally came from Eastern Europe. He was very sketchy on his background and didn’t really like to answer any questions, which was fine with me because I didn’t want to answer any questions about mine either.” I lie flat on the soft summer blanket, and close my eyes. It is easier to picture the events in my mind like this and Joan settles down beside me, quiet in her encouragement for me to tell my story. “We spent all summer together. Every moment he wasn’t working, he was with me, or we were all hanging out together at Helli’s summer house on the family lake. Yes, my friends ‘owned’ lakes; some even owned whole counties. But not Cal he was so different, exotic. He had this dark intensity that unnerved and excited in equal measure. He had smooth caramel coloured skin and dark eyes. When he looked at me, it was like he couldn’t see anyone else but me. It was very seductive; very erotic.
    “We would often talk through the night. Sitting in his car if it was cold, or on warmer nights, we would lay outside snuggled in a blanket staring up at the night sky. He would jerk around, feeding me a cheesy line from the Lion King, when I asked his thoughts on the stars. ’Kings of the past’, he would do the