Last night she’d had a night terror. Her screams had torn through the house and yanked me out of sleep like a gunshot. I ran barefoot, heart pounding, nearly slamming into the doorframe in my panic. She was thrashing in bed, eyes wide but not seeing, caught in some kind of nightmare loop I couldn’t pull her from. The doctors had said shewould grow out of it, but every time it happened, I felt so helpless.
All I could do was sit beside her, rub her back, and whisper until her breathing slowed. I ended up sleeping on the floor next to her bed in case it happened again. Then she’d woken up cranky this morning, rubbing her eyes and asking for her mama.
So yeah, a shit day.
Miss Kelly gave her one more prompt, gentle as ever. Ivy didn’t look up. The therapist climbed to her feet and cracked the door open.
“Hudson? You can come in now.”
I got to my feet, heart thudding, and stepped inside. We didn’t immediately go over to Ivy, who still clutched the toy in her hand. I sensed she wanted to say something significant, and my stomach cramped.
“Is everything okay?” I asked in a hushed voice so Ivy didn’t hear.
Miss Kelly crossed her arms. “She didn’t want to participate today. I get the feeling something has changed since I last saw her.”
I swallowed and shoved my hands into my front pockets. “My wife left us two weeks ago.”
She straightened but otherwise showed no reaction. “I see. I wish you had told me this at the start of our meeting. I might have conducted today’s session a bit differently.”
“Sorry about that. We’re still processing.”
“Does she see her mother at all? I don’t mean to pry, but as this may cause a setback, it’s best I know the details that pertain to her.”
“I don’t know. She just left, and she hadn’t been in contact with us since.”
A part of me was relieved Heather had left us, but thatwas the selfish part of me that somehow clung to the hope that once she didn’t exist in my life anymore, Matty wouldn’t be so mad. That Matty might forgive me.
But what about Ivy? She was hurting, and I needed to do what was best for her, like I did the day I married her mother.
“That’s unfortunate. This kind of disruption can contribute to her anxiety, which affects her speech. I’d hate to see all her progress go down the drain.”
“I’ve tried to keep everything as normal as possible for her.”
But there had been so many changes. She no longer saw her mother. She was meeting and learning new people at the ranch. As fond as she was of Ozzie, there were so many activities happening there. But what else could I do? I couldn’t quit my job to stay with her all the time. How would I take care of us?
“You’re a good father, Hudson,” she said gently. “Ensure you’re taking time to care for yourself as well. Your mental health is also important for you to give Ivy the best of yourself. Kids pick up more than we realize, and she’s particularly close to you. If you’re unhappy, she’ll know.”
I nodded, guilt heavy in my chest. “I’ll figure it out.”
Miss Kelly offered a small smile, but then her expression shifted. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about, and I know it will come as a shock, but I’ve put it off for too long. I’ll be closing my office.”
The words landed like a punch to the gut. “You’re what?” After everything she had just said, how could she so casually drop that bombshell?
“I’m moving east to be with my family,” she said. “My parents aren’t well, and I’ve been needing to go for a while now. I’ve arranged for Ivy’s file to be transferred, and I’vealready spoken with another therapist who’s happy to take her on.”
“What therapist?”
“She comes highly recommended. Dr. Allison DeWitt. She’s got a private practice about twenty minutes from here.”
I knew that name. I’d looked her up when we were first told that Ivy would need speech therapy. Her office had been everything I wanted for Ivy, except affordable.
My stomach twisted.
I couldn’t afford it now any more than I could back then. We were in worse shape than we’d been financially, thanks to Heather taking all our money.
“I’ll give you the referral and the contact for a meet and greet. I really think she’d be a good fit for Ivy. I’m so sorry she will have to go through another change, but she’s truly a brave girl. You keep up with her therapy, surround her with love, and she will learn to overcome her challenges.”
I nodded numbly, trying to hide the sick feeling in my gut.
