Harm's Reach

68

Dr Leonard Lone’s office was filled with beautiful classical music as Ren walked in.

‘What is that?’ said Ren.

‘The Cider House Rules soundtrack,’ said Dr Lone.

‘Can we leave it on?’ said Ren.

‘Absolutely,’ said Lone.

Ren nodded. ‘Thanks.’ She sat down.

‘So, Ren, how are you?’

‘Well, I’ve made my boss happy. Can you believe it?’

‘Of course I can,’ said Lone.

‘It goes against everything I stand for...’

‘I happen to know you have a very good relationship with Gary Dettling.’

‘I do,’ said Ren, ‘I know. I’m lucky to have him. But it’s just weird not having him on my case...’ She paused. ‘Usually, he’s sniffing around a little more.’

‘Well, I guess he feels he has less to worry about when he sees you working steadily and not making too many... hasty... decisions.’

My favorite!

‘How are things with Ben?’ said Lone.

‘Well... in no particular order, we had a fight about lying, I told him I was bipolar, he asked me about meds and alcohol, I wished he would fuck off but didn’t say it out loud, emotions: under control, we had a fight, I said it wasn’t his business, he said it was, I have to move out of my house, he suggested he move to Denver, I said I’d think about it... and then this old woman tells me she has destroyed her entire life because she fell in love with this horrific pedophile murderer.’

Ooh.

Dr Lone leaned forward. ‘Ren—’

‘No, I know,’ said Ren. ‘I know that last bit wasn’t about Ben. I mean that was just another thing that happened. Separately.’

‘Remember we spoke before about catastrophic thinking...’ said Dr Lone.

‘Yes,’ said Ren. ‘I’m venturing that, even though I wasn’t connecting Ben and that old lady or the murdering guy, somewhere in that sentence you were getting a catastrophic thinking vibe.’

‘It’s about connecting love and bad things,’ said Lone.

‘I know,’ said Ren. ‘I don’t mean to. I might need to start listening to different songs. I listen to a lot of break-up songs.’

‘So, on the work front,’ said Dr Lone. ‘You solved the murder of that poor pregnant woman.’

Ren nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘And did you engage in any risky behavior while doing that?’ said Lone.

‘I did not,’ said Ren.

‘Good for you,’ said Lone.

Emotions: under control.

‘But one of my best friends — his wife has terminal cancer, which is heartbreaking,’ said Ren. ‘They’re an amazing couple. They’ve been married forever. They’ve got these wonderful children...’

‘Love is a wonderful thing,’ said Lone. There was a hopeful look in his eye.

Silence. Bird song. Cicadas.

‘But she has cancer,’ said Ren. ‘He’s losing her. I’m not sure how wonderful love is.’