Nonstop (Open Skies #3) - Becca Jameson Page 0,36

reached across and unfastened it, she looked startled, as if she hadn’t realized they’d arrived.

“Ready?” he asked gently, reaching out with one hand.

She set her fingers on his palm and nodded.

There was no one in the waiting room, and that fact eased him a bit because he figured it would calm her too. Whoever usually worked behind the receptionist’s desk wasn’t there today. It was Saturday. It was probable that Dr. Rawlins worked alone for a few hours on Saturdays.

The door to her inner office was open slightly, and she came out as soon as she heard them.

This was the first time Bracken was meeting her. She was about his age, maybe a few years older. She had a dark bob, dark lashes, and a warm smile. She reached out a hand. “You must be Bracken.”

He shook her hand. “Yes. Thank you for fitting Bex in with such short notice, Dr. Rawlins.”

“No problem at all. I’m glad I could do it. And please, call me Jane.” She turned her gaze to Bex, who was breathing erratically beside Bracken. She looked like she’d rather run from the room.

Dr. Rawlins spoke again. “Would you like Bracken to join us? It’s totally up to you. He can wait out here, or we can send him away to get coffee, or he’s welcome to join us. Your call.”

“I’d like him to join us, please. I need to say some things, and I only want to say them once.”

“All right then. Come on in.” Dr. Rawlins turned and held the door open wide, stepping aside so the two of them could enter. “Sit wherever you’d like,” she said as she shut the door.

Bracken was surprised when Bex slid her hand into his and led him to the couch. She sat in the corner, pulling him down alongside her. Apparently, she wanted him close. He was beyond okay with that.

Bex released him though, pulled her legs up, and set her chin on her knees, her hands wrapped around her shins. She rocked forward and backward slightly. Her gaze was fixed on the floor, though he doubted she was seeing anything in particular.

Dr. Rawlins glanced at Bracken in concern as she sat across from them in an armchair. “Did something happen?”

Bracken shifted his gaze to Bex. He needed to let her do the speaking. He was here for moral support. He had no intention of directing or hijacking her session.

“Did you have another nightmare last night? You said you usually do on Fridays after we meet,” Dr. Rawlins encouraged.

“Yes.” Bex’s voice was weak, and she sighed. “And then again this morning, while I was awake.”

Dr. Rawlins furrowed her brow in confusion.

“It was like I was dreaming, but I was awake.”

Dr. Rawlins shifted her gaze to Bracken. “Did you witness this?”

“Yes. It was exactly like she said. One moment we were talking, and the next moment she wasn’t there. Like in a trance. She couldn’t hear me, and she wasn’t breathing. It scares me when she does that.”

“When she doesn’t breathe?”

“Yes.”

Dr. Rawlins nodded and turned back toward Bex. “Did something trigger you?”

Bex nodded. “Just that Bracken was encouraging me to call you and open up more.”

“I see. And that made you panic?”

“Yes. I guess.” Bex slid one hand to her throat as she often did when she had one of these nightmares.

Bracken hoped she wasn’t going to have another episode again right now, but then again, maybe that would be for the best. Let Dr. Rawlins see it firsthand.

Long moments of silence ticked by. Dr. Rawlins sat very still watching Bex, letting her take her time.

Finally, Bex spoke in a soft voice. “My problems have nothing to do with what happened on the plane.”

“I assumed as much, Bex. I could sense it.” Dr. Rawlins was very kind and patient. Bracken liked her. She was a good choice. “Sometimes an event can trigger something from the past. The two may seem unrelated, but they have some similar characteristics. I’ve had patients remember things they’d long since forgotten after a traumatic experience.”

“I’ve never forgotten,” Bex responded without hesitating.

“Okay. Would you like to tell me about it?”

Bracken felt so helpless. He needed to be here for Bex. Strong. Keep it together. What he wanted to do was pull her into his lap and hold her. He wished she didn’t have to do this. Face this fucking demon. But he had to keep himself at arm’s length, let her run this show.

More time passed while Bex rocked back and forth, eyeing that