Live to Tell (Live to Tell #1)(75)

Her thoughts consumed with questions about Nick, Lauren goes through the motions of flipping through a magazine as she and Sadie sit waiting.

One thing at a time. First the doctor, with Sadie…

Then she’ll go home and see if she can get in touch with Nick. Even if it means calling Beth.

“Is it almost time, Mommy?” Sadie asks.

“Almost. Are you sure you don’t want to look at Highlights or play Brickbreaker on my phone or something?”

Sadie just shakes her head, green eyes haunted.

Lauren would give anything to erase that expression.

It’ll happen. That’s why you’re here. One thing at a time. Sadie comes first, no matter what might be going on with Nick.

She hears the faint sound of a door closing somewhere out in the hall, meaning the current patient has left. Patients exit the office through a second door that leads right into the stairwell. It’s all very private.

Lauren appreciates that. She doesn’t particularly want anyone to know that her four-year-old is seeing a psychiatrist. And she doesn’t particularly care who else’s kid is a patient here—even if, according to Lucy, Everyone has a shrink.

“Sadie, it’s almost our turn. Are you ready?”

“I guess.”

The door opens and a woman appears. Dr. Prentiss looks nothing like Lauren expected. Which was…what? A female version of Sigmund Freud? Maybe. Dr. Rogel has round glasses, white beard and mustache, and a distinguished air.

This woman, an attractive brunette, is about Lauren’s age and wearing the same sleeveless top and summer skirt Lauren admired on a mannequin at Ann Taylor at the mall the other day.

I love your outfit, she’s about to say—but Dr. Prentiss is entirely focused on her daughter.

“Well, hello there, my friend,” she addresses Sadie warmly. “How have you been?”

“She’s been well,” Lauren answers, when Sadie fails to—and instantly regrets it. She wonders if the psychiatrist has pegged her as a pushy parent who won’t let her child speak for herself.

Dr. Prentiss doesn’t seem fazed, though, as she says, “Hello to you, too, Mom. Are you having a nice summer?”

Hardly. But Lauren nods.

“How about you, Sadie? Are you having a nice summer, too?”

Sadie looks down at her shoes.

“I’ll tell you what—why don’t you come in and have a nice chat about it?” Dr. Prentiss asks.

Still no reply from Sadie.

“Sadie?” Lauren nudges.

Her daughter looks questioningly at her.

“It’s rude not to answer when someone asks you a question, sweetie. Dr. Prentiss wanted to know if—”

“It’s all right, Mrs. Walsh. We’ll do just fine. Why don’t you wait here for a little while so that Sadie and I can get to know each other? I’ll call you in shortly.”

“Sure. That’s fine.”

But is it?

Lauren sits back down in the guest chair as Dr. Prentiss holds open the door to the office and motions for Sadie to go inside.

Just before the door closes after them, Sadie shoots a worried look over her shoulder at Lauren.

Lauren gives her a reassuring smile and picks up her magazine again. But she doesn’t even bother turning the pages this time. And instead of allowing her thoughts to wind back to Nick, she finds herself straining to hear what’s going on in the office. It’s impossible, of course, with the white noise machine, but still…

She doesn’t know anything about Dr. Prentiss, really, other than that she’s filling in for Dr. Rogel.

Yet you just entrusted your little girl into her care, behind closed doors. What are you thinking?

Lauren shifts in her chair, staring at the closed door, and tells herself she’s just paranoid. Because she thinks something might have happened to Nick. Now she thinks something might happen to Sadie…even here.

Bad things happen everywhere.

Lauren goes over to the other door, the one leading to the corridor and stairwell. The second door to Dr. Rogel’s interior office—the one patients use to exit—is closed. She sneaks toward it and stands there, listening.

From here, away from the canned ocean waves, she can hear the murmur of voices. Dr. Prentiss is talking.

Then Lauren hears Sadie, too. Not just talking—laughing.

She can’t make out what they’re talking about, but it doesn’t matter.

It’s the first time she’s heard Sadie laugh in ages.

See? she tells herself as she slips back into the waiting room. There’s nothing to worry about. Dr. Prentiss is here to help.



“Marin? What’s going on?”

She opens her eyes to find Garvey standing over the bed. He’s wearing a suit, and the room is brighter than it should be; sun shining in from the window facing the western terrace.

“What time is it?” she asks.

“Almost four. I just got back from a meeting. What are you doing in bed?”

“Taking a nap.”

“Are you sick?”

“Maybe.” Marin sits up, rubbing her eyes. “I had a headache.”

“Caroline told me. She said you promised to take her shopping, but you cut it short to come home and lie down.”

“I did take her shopping, Garvey. All morning, and into the afternoon. I bought her everything she wanted.”