Page 268 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Nate rubbed at his jaw, never feeling quite as helpless as he did right now. He’d rocked Callie on the bathroom floor until her last tear had fallen and she’d rested against his chest, limp and staring. “Just a few hours ago, she was telling me how much she wished she could remember something about her mother. Any little detail.” He shook his head, huffing out a humorless laugh. “I can guarantee you this wasn’t what she meant.”

Matthew nodded. “My heart goes out to her—to both of you. This isn’t easy on you either.”

Nate wasn’t worried about himself—just Callie and making everything okay for her again. “What should I do?”

“We’re going to get her some help—counseling. You’re not alone in this.”

Callie’s deep, wracking sobs echoed in Nate’s head—the way she’d stared at him with ghostly pale cheeks and horror-filled eyes. “That’s it? Just set her up with a shrink?”

“That’s what she needs. Tonight was very upsetting for both of you. Of course it was, but I want to reassure you that Callie’s mind has done an excellent job of protecting her all of these years. By some miracle she’s remarkably well adjusted—a lovely person with very few emotional scars.”

He clenched his jaw. “She has scars. Plenty of them.”

“I didn’t say she’s gotten away unscathed. I don’t see how she could, but, Nathan, there are people with cases of dissociative amnesia who hardly function. Callie’s a strong, extraordinary woman.”

Nate lifted her hand, pressing a long kiss to her fingers. “She was a mess. You saw her.”

Matthew nodded again. “For Callie it was as if her mother died tonight. She’s going to need an opportunity to grieve and come to terms with her reality, but if we can get her the help she needs right now, I have few doubts she’ll suffer any long-term setbacks.”

Nate nodded, letting his shoulders relax a little. There was no one he trusted more to help Callie. “We’re going to do whatever you say—whatever’s going to make this all right for her.”

“I’m sure it doesn’t feel like it, but this is actually a healthy, healing step toward closure. Tonight Callie felt safe enough to remember.”

“Will she keep remembering? She saw Samantha dead, but she couldn’t recall much else. I didn’t want to push.” And the few details she had shared with him he planned to keep to himself for now—until he had time to think about everything she’d said.

Matthew shrugged as he shook his head. “It’s hard to say. Sometimes memories come in a flood, but that’s not always the case. Her mind may need the opportunity to process what she’s actualized.”

Nate sighed, hating the idea of Callie being at the mercy of her subconscious—the possibility of her waking up terrified and distraught after another horrible dream.

“Callie has a wonderful support system—you and your sisters, her adoptive family—and you know I’ll do whatever I can to help,” Matthew continued. “I’ll reach out to Lisa Merrit—get her involved. Callie’s going to do well.”

And this was exactly why he’d called Matthew. As much as he wanted to be Callie’s rock, they weren’t going to be able to handle this alone. “I appreciate it.”

“You have a lot on your plate, Nathan.”

He shrugged. “I’m all right.”

“I’m not just talking about Callie. The last week has been rough. How are you doing with all of this—Bob?”

He sighed, bringing Callie’s hand to his cheek. “When I can wrap my head around it, I’m just really damn sad.”

Matthew nodded. “You need to find some time to take care of yourself. The last thing Callie or this town needs is a sheriff who’s down for the count.”

Nate stifled a yawn, his exhaustion creeping its way back now that the crisis had passed. “I’m working on it.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Nate shook his head. “You came tonight. You did the autopsy on Monday.”

Matthew nodded. “And you don’t agree with my findings.”

Nate exhaled a long breath. “Honestly, no, I don’t.”

“I wish I could have come to different conclusions, but the presumptive gunshot residue results on Bob’s hands were positive. The angle of his wound was conducive to him holding the weapon and firing himself.”

Nate nodded. “And I know the bullets I collected at the scene are going to be a match to Bob’s pistol, but I can’t see him hurting Lucky. Not the way he did.”

“I understand where you’re coming from, Nathan. I truly do, but let’s keep in mind that people in crisis do unimaginable things.”