“Please, let me do it,” he stated in a desperate tone. “I should be the one to tell her.”
“Maybe, but I have the right to tell her. I have to make sure that nothing happens to Flower. While you mean well, I have to do this so that I have peace of mind.”
He nodded. “I understand, Jonquinette.”
“I’m glad that you do.”
“Can we still spend time together?” he asked. “We lost so many years. All I want is a chance to get to know you again.”
I shook my head and sighed. “Daddy, I need to get through this first before I can answer that. I thought about it long and hard last night and I think being in constant contact with you would hinder my healing process. We both need to heal separately before we can heal together.”
“Marcella alluded to the same thing after you and Meredith left her office yesterday. She gave me the contact information for several doctors in North Carolina. I plan to find one who can see me immediately.”
“That’s a wonderful thing.” I stood back up. “Daddy, I don’t mean to be rude but I can’t think of anything else to say to you right now.” I glanced at the bedroom door. “Plus, I don’t think it would be wise for you to be here when Momma wakes up.”
He stood and headed for the door. “I agree.” When he got to the doorway, he turned and said, “Would it be too much if I asked for a hug? Just in case it’s the last one.”
I hesitated at first and then embraced him tightly. “Good-bye, Daddy.”
When he let go of me, I spotted a tear in the corner of his right eye. “Good-bye, Jonquinette.”
I watched him saunter down the hallway and closed the door as he pushed the call button for the elevator.
40
marcella
I decided to conduct the next therapy session at Jonquinette’s apartment. I wanted all of the personalities to feel comfortable and it was the obvious choice. I spoke to Jude first. She greeted me at the door. I knew it was her right away from the way that she grinned at me and carried herself.
“Good morning, Jude,” I said.
“Good morning, Marcella. Come on in. We’ve been expecting you.”
“You sound mighty cheerful this morning.”
Jude shrugged. “What can I say? If you can’t beat them, join them.”
“So you realize there are others?” I asked.
“I know there’s at least one. When Jonquinette came back into your office, so did I, and I heard everything she heard.”
“I take that to mean that you never knew about Henry’s molestation of Jonquinette?”
Jude shook her head. “No, I didn’t. I just always knew I didn’t like the bastard. It seems that my actions have now been justified.” She laughed. “At least I didn’t attempt to outright kill him. If I had, I wouldn’t have missed.”
I chuckled. “No, I don’t suppose you would have.”
Jude walked over to the window and peered out. “I’ve been giving this a lot of consideration. Jon’s been through a lot.”
“Yes, she has, and you’ve been there for her when she needed you most.”
“But now she doesn’t need me anymore. Is that what you’re getting at?”
“You tell me. Does she still need you?”
“I hate to admit this but I suppose not. That doesn’t mean I’m going away completely, though. I might just stop doing all the bad things I’ve been doing and let Jon make all the decisions.”
“So you admit that you’ve been doing bad things?”