Page 65 of Nyx

"Only a couple of times so far today," I answer honestly as I look at my watch. "But it's not even eight yet."

She chuckles through her sadness.

"I just want all of this to be over."

"I know," I tell her without making promises about any timeline.

"Daisy hates me."

"Daisy hates this situation and needs someone to blame," I clarify. "All we can do is keep working with her and help you guys build up the trust that was lost between the two of you."

"That seems impossible," she mutters.

"It's going to take some time, but I think you guys can work through it. Stay strong, do your best to spend time with both of them, and you'll see progress."

She gives me a weak smile, and I know there must be a thousand whispers of doubt going through her mind.

"Kids are resilient," I assure her. "How are you doing?"

"I've had better days," she answers. "But I've had a lot worse days, too."

"Well," I say as I stand. "Get up and have breakfast with the kids before they go to class and show them that this is just a tiny bump in the road. Answer questions honestly when they ask, and do your best not to make excuses for him. Your focus is on you, your kids, and your relationship with them. Repairing what he has broken between him and them is not your responsibility."

"Got it," she says, standing and pulling in a long, deep breath.

"Would you like me to call their therapists for an emergency meeting for them later this afternoon?"

"Oh, I think that's a great idea," she says. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome. Enjoy your breakfast."

By the time I make it back to the office, Denise is gone, giving me the chance to take a moment to breathe. I call the therapists, schedule those meetings, and make the guys out front aware that they've been added to the visitor list for the day.

Once breakfast is over, Kayla appears at the office door.

She doesn't have questions or concerns, but seems content to just sit in the chair across from me and type things into her phone.

I input my case notes for what happened this morning, leaving as much personal emotion out as possible. I also type up the meeting with the family, how they're reacting, and the request for the car, ending my notes with the second meeting with Dana and scheduling the therapists for the kids.

By the time I'm done, Kayla is still sitting across from me.

"I'm going to have a pop-up meeting this afternoon. I think you should join us," I tell her with a smile.

"Do you think those meetings actually work?" she asks with a hint of doubt in her voice.

"I think hearing other people's stories and thoughts helps," I answer. "I think if someone is really open to healing and making life changes, that others' experiences and processes can be very monumental when having to face some of those challenges ourselves. It gives a little foundation rather than feeling like we're alone or that we're the first one to go through something like that."

"Is it just going to be a meeting bashing that drunk dude who acted like an ass on the front lawn?" she asks.

I tilt my head a little, wondering how she can so casually dismiss something that I'm sure, if it were her abuser out there this morning, would have her feeling much differently.

"We try to focus our groups on healthy change for the women living here and how they handle things and their thought processes. Our abusers have gotten enough of our attention. We do our best not to focus on them when it can be avoided."

"How long did your man hurt you?" she asks.

"Too long," I answer without thinking, but it doesn't really give any personal information away. "But even once is too much."

"He only hurt you once?"