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“We’d love to have you over for dinner,” Robert said, twisting around in his seat “And please think about the therapist”
Jason nodded “I will I… Thank you for the flight and dropping us off I appreciate it”
“Of course We want to help in any e can Jason, there’s so much—” Shelly broke off “I don’t want to push I knoe don’t have the right But if you need anything, please call” She gazed down at Maggie “She’s wonderful, you know You’ve done so well, darling We’d really like to know her To know both of you”
“We just need soie’s hand before letting go to unbuckle her and give her a gentle shake “Mags, we’re home Come on”
“Hrandparents “Um, bye”
“Sleep well We hope we’ll see you soon” Shelly reached out and aardly patted Maggie’s knee
Walking back into their building after ed the suitcases and cooler and pressed the elevator call button The cables groaned as it descended He could see the Town Car still idling at the curb in the mirrored wall by the elevator It was utterly surreal that he’d spent the day with his parents, full of stilted sh the fare in first class wasn’t bad at all
Utterly surreal that days ago he’d been in the ie, and now they were ho looked the same, but he felt like imposters When they’d left ho Their lives had been neat and orderly, and Jason wanted to escape back to that easier tiht ached
The back of his neck prickled with his parents’ gaze as he and Maggie got on the elevator with their luggage Jason jabbed the fourth floor, then the close-door button repeatedly With a clunk and ain
Alone He’d told Ben he needed tiet back to norle of emotions?
Inside the apart the two extra bolts and turning on the ie shuffled to the bathrooestion hada lot, which Dr Sharma had said to expect
They’d only been gone less than teeks, but the aparte He’d left the thin curtains closed against the heat, and pushed one aside now to slide open theThe huht air carried a hint of a cool breeze, and with the ceiling fan, it was usually enough for Jason to sleep
He peered around the sh his parents’ eyes A narrow galley kitchen to the left of the front door, the old fridge hu it haphazardly, soie’s artwork from day camp
Then a bathroom and hall closet where Jason kept his clothes, and the one bedroo the sie’s suitcase in, opening herand turning on her fan before unpacking and filling the laundry hamper in the corner
Posters of animals and trees covered the walls Would she still love nature after what happened? Or would forests frighten her now? Ied, and Jason gripped the wicker lid of the ha