Saying nothing, Yirby laid both hands on Jo's shoulders, massaged gently. Jo lifted her head and saw nothing but compassion in those soft green eyes. Her own filled. "It makes me feel like such a fool."
"Why should it?"
"I've never felt that helpless. I've always been able to handle things, Yirby, to deal with them as they came. And then everything just piled up, heavier and heavier. And I'm not sure if I was imagining things or if they were really happening. I just don't know. And then I collapsed. just broke."
"Did you see someone?"
"I didn't have any choice. I fell apart right in front of my assistant. He carted me off to the ER, and they hospitalized me for a few days. A mental breakdown. I don't care if we are nearing the twenty-first century, I don't care how it's intellectualized. I'm ashamed."
"I'm telling you there's nothing shameful about it and that you have right to feel whatever you want to feel."
Jo's lips curved a little. "So I don't have to be ashamed that I'm ashamed."
"Absolutely not. What was your work schedule like?"
"Tight, but I liked it tight."
"Your social life?
"Nil, but I liked it nil. And yes, that pretty much goes for my sex life too. I wasn't depressed or pining over a man or the lack of one. I've been thinking about my mother a lot," Jo said slowly. "I'm nearly the same age she was when she left, when everything changed."
And your life fell apart, Yirby thought. "And you wondered, worried, if everything was going to change again, beyond your control. I'm not a shrink, Jo, just an old-fashioned GP. That's a friend's speculation. What was the prognosis when you were released?"
" I don't know, exactly." Jo shifted, crinkling the paper beneath her.
"I released myself."
"I see. You didn't note any prescriptions down on your form."
"I'm not taking any. And don't ask me what they prescribed. I never filled anything. I don't want drugs-and I don't want to talk to a shrink."
"All right, for now we'll handle this the old-fashioned way. We'll eliminate any physical cause. I'll prescribe fresh air, rest, regular meals and some good, safe sex if you can get it," she added with a smile.
"Sex isn't one of my priorities."
"Well, honey, then you are crazy."
Jo blinked, then snorted out a laugh as Yirby dabbed the inside of her elbow with alcohol. "Thanks."
"No charge for insults. And the last part of the prescription is to talk. With me, with your family, with whoever you can trust to listen. Don't let it build up again. You're cared for, Jo. Lean a little."
she shook her head before Jo could speak. "Your brother cares enough to drag you in here-here to a place he's avoided like the plague since I moved in. And if I'm any judge of character, he's out there right now pacing and muttering and worried sick that I'm going to go out and tell him his sister has three weeks to live."
"It would serve him right." Jo sighed heavily. "Even if I do feel better now than I have in weeks." Then her eyes fastened on the sTringe and widened. "What the hell is that for?"
"just need a little blood." Needle poised, Yirby grinned. "Want to scream, and see how long it takes him to run in here?"
Jo averted her eyes, held her breath. "I wouldn't give him the satisfaction."
I When Jo was dressed again, Yirby tossed her a fat plastic bottle. "They're just vitamins," she said. "High-potency. If you start eating right, you won't need them. But they'll give you a boost for now. I'll let you know when the blood work comes back from the lab, but everything else is within normal range."
"I appreciate it, really."
"Show it, then, by taking care of yourself and talking to me when you need to."
"I will." It always felt a bit odd for her to make an overtly affecnonate move, but she stepped over and kissed Kirby's cheek. "I will. And I meant what I said. I feel better than I have in a long time."
"Good. Follow Doctor Yirby's orders, and you should feel better yet." Keeping her concerns to herself, she led Jo out.
Brian was exactly where she'd expected, restlessly pacing her living room. He stopped and scowled at them both. Kirby met the look with a bright smile.
"You have a bouncing one-hundred-and-ten-pound girl, Daddy. Congratulations."
"Very funny. What the hell's wrong with you?" he demanded of Jo.
she angled her head, narrowed her eyes. "Bite me," she suggested, then strolled to the door. "I'm walking back. Thanks for squeezing this idiot's whims into your schedule, Kirby."
"Oh, I've been working on doing just that for months." she chuckled as the screen door slammed.