“You’re Prudence Star?” the woman said.
“Yes, but most of the people I know call me Prue. And you are?” she asked. In her fight to not come she hadn’t given note to the woman’s name. James organised her appointment as she’d thrown the woman’s card in the trash.
Why are you babbling?
Her nerves were getting the better of her.
“Priscilla Charles. Please, take a seat.”
Prue moved to the sofa that sat opposite a single chair. She sat in the centre then rubbed her sweaty palms over her thighs.
“It’s a pleasure to have you here, Prue.” Priscilla placed a pair of glasses on, then looked over a file resting in her lap. “James was kind enough to tell me some information, and I’ve got some information on your case in front of me. Would you enlighten me?”
Prudence looked at the older woman and felt a lump in her throat. “You know James?”
“Yes, we go way back as we used to be in the same school together. A lifetime ago.”
Jealousy spiked through Prudence. She didn’t like the thought of this woman knowing her man intimately or not.
James has never talked about her. Stop overreacting.
“Please, Prue, we’re not here to talk about him. We’re here to talk about you. Would you enlighten me about yourself and what has brought you to me?”
Prue took a deep breath before speaking. “I thought you were supposed to help me?” Prue asked, running her fingers through her hair.
“I will help you. First I need all the facts in order to know where to start.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’ve been advised to talk to someone, and I don’t know what to say.” She was being difficult, but Prue couldn’t stop.
Priscilla removed her glasses then stared at her. The serious empathy on the woman’s face shocked her. “You’re not alone in feeling confused. I’ve had many patients who are confused and want nothing to do with me. I don’t think of myself as a therapist. I advise my patients to see me as a friend whom they can talk to without fear.”
“You want us to treat you as a friend, but you call us patients.” Prue chuckled.
“How would you like me to refer to you?”
Prue sat back on the sofa and stared at the women. Her blonde hair was bound on top of her head, and her blue eyes assessed with each second that passed.
How did she want this time to go?
What did she want Priscilla to think of her?
Why are you doing this?
“Just call me Prue,” she said.
“All right, Prue. Let’s get started.”
Letting out a huge breath, Prue answered all of the woman’s questions. She spoke of her childhood and the incident that led to her kidnapping. They brushed over the details of James and what he had to contribute to her life. Prue wasn’t ready to talk about him. James played a huge part in her life, and she hoped he’d continue to do so.
After an hour passed the bell rang, ending their session. Prue jumped hating the interruption.
“I’m afraid that’s our time for today. I look forward to seeing you again next week.”
Priscilla closed her notebook then stood to shake Prue’s hand.
“Could we make these sessions longer?” Prue asked, offering the other woman her hand.
“If you wish. I’ll make arrangements and send you the details.”
Prue walked out. She leaned against the building pressing a hand around her throat. When her heart rate slowed down she smiled. She had thought going to see a therapist would hinder their relationship, but instead, Prue felt liberated somehow.
Priscilla Charles was a confidante who was bound to do as she was asked.
****
The next appointment Prue sat in the waiting room. She removed her coat, folded her arms, and waited. A week had passed, and this time she’d be getting a two hour appointment. She’d also been told the cost of the therapy was being paid for by James.
Unease filled her at having James pay for her care, but she couldn’t afford it, and the talk last week helped her a lot. Also, James had taken her to the movies and out to dinner during the week. He seemed happy with her seeking help. She felt something missing between them, like an invisible barrier was stopping her from accepting James.
She loved him, and every time she saw him he made her pu**y cream and her heart melt for the pleasure of him. Being in his company thrilled her to the core.
Holding back from him hurt like hell. She wanted nothing more than to go back to how things were between them. However, they were different.
Even though James denied it, he was different as well.
Priscilla stood before her. “Are you coming in?” she asked.
Prue jumped. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear my name being called.” Her cheeks flaming she walked into the room and took the same seat as last time.
She waited for the woman to be ready.
Once Priscilla started talking, Prue found herself relaxing more. During the meeting they discussed her family and then her sister and how her sister had been involved with James. With each word spoken Prue found herself filing away certain points in her mind. Speaking clearly about her life with a stranger allowed her to see past the faults she thought were there but were, in fact, only issues she’d made up in her mind.
Many of the problems she’d created inside her head were nonsense, for instance, thinking her parents disliked her when in fact past events had proven they wanted the best for her. When the appointment was over most of her family had been discussed.
For the next three appointments Prue talked about her family and her decision. The time for talking about her kidnapping came after four appointments. During this time she’d spent a great deal of time analysing her time with Henry and even understanding what was wrong with James. There was a loose connection inside her, but she didn’t know how to make it work or bypass the problem.
“You’re making excellent progress, Prue. I want to talk about what happened when Daren Robinson took you from Ravage,” Priscilla said.
She’d been expecting the question. Her nerves were gone, and she could look at what happened with an open mind. If Prue was being truthful, being taken and almost sold into sexual slavery felt like it had happened to someone else.
“He was Leo at the time. When he took me and I woke on the boat, I was scared. During the kidnapping, I didn’t have time to think of anything. I’d woken up from a sleep. James had left to do something at Possession—that’s the club owned by his friend.”