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“I don’t mean to be so hopeless…”

“I know So get help” She softened then, pushing over the rapidly cooling Aht in advance of my arrival “Will you promise me, Lara?”

I ht not have been a pro at the clipping, h It sounded so goody-goody and s and noticed that ht That’s it I punched in the nue on their answerphone, but to my consternated surprise, somebody answered the call Why were they still in the office at seven?

I coughed a little, over their words of introduction, and remembered what Shona had said Ask for Dexter Dexter was the alleged miracle worker who’d rescued Shona’s friend fro lunacy

“Yes, I ondering if I could book so at your special offer in the paper…do you know if Dexter is available?”

“Dexter? Oh, he’s very busy just now—”

“That’s okay Forget it” I said the words in a grateful rush, feeling that I’d been let off the hook, or stepped back from the precipice “I’ll…leave it for now”

“No, no, just a second He has a cancellation He could see you tomorrow afternoon Of course, daytimes don’t suit everyone…”

I could have just said I orking…but the lie wouldn’t come Not that it was a lie—I work fro…but it wassoap operas on iPlayer

“No, no, tomorrow afternoon is fine”

Am I mad? Tomorrow afternoon is not fine at all! I have three deadlines to meet before Friday

“Great Our coaches usually like to meet with you in your home, so if you want to call a friend or family member to be with you for your first appointment—”

“Wait! You said…in my home?”

“That’s right It’s et a picture of your needs and challenges if they see you in your ho”

I looked around atat the seams

with the to back out of the house screa tidy by tomorrow afternoon

“I’m not sure…I don’t think…could we not meet at your office?”