“Oh my God, you’re not making this easy.”
“Good things never come easy, Melanie.”
“Just sit down,” I said. “Since you’re determined to be here, let’s at least talk about something.”
“Okay. Last time you asked me to think about what I was truly responsible for.”
Had I? Normally I reviewed the patient’s file prior to a session, but because I didn’t have any intention of having a session with Jonah, I hadn’t. “That’s right. So let’s start there.”
“I am responsible for the beef ranch.”
“And?”
“That’s it.”
“All right. So you’re responsible for the beef ranch. Technically, that’s all you’re responsible for.”
“Yes.”
“Now, what do you feel responsible for?”
He sighed. “Everything. I feel responsible for ev
erything, Melanie.”
Chapter Seven
Jonah
Her beautiful emerald eyes focused intently on me. Melanie Carmichael was an old soul. Until now, I had never believed in any of that crap. But those eyes… They had seen things. Things I couldn’t even begin to imagine.
“You know what I mean, don’t you, Melanie?”
She chewed on her bottom lip.
She knew.
“Yes, I do know what you mean. For people in your situation, it’s very common.”
I shook my head. “No, that’s not what I mean. I mean you know. You, personally, know.”
She said nothing, just looked down at her hands folded in her lap.
“You gnaw on that lower lip of yours any more, and you’re liable to draw blood.”
“We’re not here to talk about me.”
“Why not? This is just a friend talking to a friend, remember? This isn’t therapy. Those are your rules. Not mine.”
She looked at me, her green eyes glaring. “What makes you think I’m your friend?”
“Isn’t that what you said? It would be like a friend talking to a friend? I think you’re the one who said we were friends, Mel.”
“No one calls me Mel.”
“It’s a spunky name.” I smiled. “I feel like you need a little spunk in your life.”
“You don’t know me well enough to know what I need.”