“The therapist said we could always consider hypnosis. He does it sometimes with kids for other issues ... but I don’t know.”
Tess nodded slowly. “Could be worth a try.”
“Or it could make things worse.”
“Maybe,” Tess said, and sat back with her tea. “At least it explains why Jack ran off at the waterfront.”
Audra paused while resealing the jam jar. She had forgotten it was actually Jack’s idea to attend the festival.
Was it possible his search for Sean hadn’t been a coincidence? That Jack somehow sensed the soldier would be there?
A loud engine sound shook the walls. Jack and Grace were watching a cartoon in Audra’s bedroom. Days ago, the TV in the living room had fallen into a coma, as if a plague were spreading among the appliances.
“Jack, will you turn that down?” Audra called out.
Grace yelled back, “We’re looking for the remote! Oh—there it is! We found it!”
The volume dropped to a human decibel level.
“Wow,” Tess said. “Back in our day, we actually had to stand up and walk three whole feet to adjust the television.”
Audra typically would have laughed, but her bundled thoughts smothered the sound. At the core of those thoughts was pure, unspeakable worry.
She finished packing the sandwiches and grapes before realizing that Tess had gone silent, a rare occurrence unless an issue was troubling her. Maybe she had an opinion she was afraid to voice. Maybe, upon review, Russ had predicted an unfavorable outcome.
“Tess, please tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing.” She smiled. “My mind just veered off.”
“No, really. I want to know.”
Tess fiddled with the handle of her mug and said, “Honestly? I was thinking of Tiger Woods.”
Audra blinked. “You were ... thinking about golf?”
“I just remembered a story about him. Apparently when he was a baby, his parents used to turn on the Golf Channel and he’d instantly stop crying. He could watch the sport for hours. So, it got me wondering if Tiger’s fascination was left over from a past life. Like those kid prodigies who were on Oprah. Their feet couldn’t even reach the piano pedals, but there they were, playing insanely advanced pieces from Bach and Beethoven.”
Oprah. The defining show of Audra’s life.
While she appreciated the input, few judges would be that broad-minded. “On the other hand, maybe their parents made them practice every waking minute since the day they were born.” She wiped the counter with a paper towel as Tess mulled the argument.
“Yeah. Probably. All I’m saying is, now that I think about it, I can see lots of evidence from kids who might have held on to things from a past life.”
Evidence implied proof. Proof suggested fact.
This wasn’t fact, only debatable interpretation.
“As I told your husband, I’m not saying I actually believe in any of this. What I care about is getting to the bottom of what’s causing Jack’s issues.”
Tess offered a smile. “Sure. I understand.” She went to add something, but then sipped her drink instead.
Audra wadded the paper into a ball, again unsettled. “What is it?”
Tess sighed as though to downplay the point. “I just wish you had told me earlier. I could have helped out if I’d known, with Hector and your job ...”
“What do you mean?” Audra said. “You’ve been great. Tess, you’re the one who set me up with the interview in Boston.” Examples even relating to the case sprang to mind. “You also hooked me up with Russ. And when I told you about Jack’s drawings and nightmares, you were a huge help.”
“If you say so.”
There was more than regret adding an edge to Tess’s voice; it was a question of trust. She didn’t think Audra trusted her enough to confide in her. But that wasn’t the case.
“Okay, fine. You really want to know why I waited?”
“Yes,” Tess said. “I do.”
“Because you’re a superwoman.”
Tess gazed back at her, surprised.
“Somehow you find a way to manage the clinic and your clients, run your kids to lessons and games, plus volunteer for every school activity that exists—and all without breaking a sweat. I have no doubt, at your husband’s work events you’d even be voted The Perfect Hostess. So please understand, that’s the reason I wasn’t super eager to tell you how much I’m screwing up when I only have a fraction of that list.”
There. Audra had finally said it.
Yet it was a decision she wished she could reverse as a slow grin overtook Tess’s face. This wasn’t the kind of support Audra was hoping for.