At that moment, and for the first time since New York, I felt a calmness wash over me.

“I can’t do that just yet, Simon, and you need to understand that.” I got up and walked towards the door. I stopped before my hand could reach the knob and looked at him as he lowered his head. “Come inside and I’ll get you a towel to dry off. You’re going to catch pneumonia.”

He turned his head and looked at me as he slowly got up from the bench and followed me inside the apartment.

“This is nice,” he said as he stood on my floor, dripping wet.

I ran to the bathroom and grabbed two towels. “Thanks. Here; dry yourself off.” I patted my face and then ran the towel through my soaking wet hair.

“Do you like working at the coffee shop?” he asked.

“Yeah. I do.”

“I’m happy to hear that.”

Suddenly, the door opened and G walked in. “Oh,” she said in surprise. “Hi, Simon.” She gave me an odd look.

“Hello, Giana. How are you?”

“I’m okay. How are you?”

“I’m okay.”

“Good to hear,” she said as she walked past him.

“I read in the papers that Donovan’s wife will stand trial.”

“Yeah. There’s no way anyone will find her innocent. That bitch is going to prison.”

“I hope she does for what she did. I’d better get going.” He handed me the towel. “Thanks, Gabrielle, for the towel. Have a good night.” He walked out the door.

After a few moments of pondering, I ran out after him. Before he reached the building door, I called his name.

“Simon, wait.”

He turned around and stared at me.

I swallowed hard. “I’m seeing a therapist. His name is Dr. Roberts and we’ve been talking about you. He thinks that it would be a good idea for you to join me in a session. That’s only if you want to, of course.”

“Of course. If it’ll help you.”

“Okay. I have an appointment tomorrow night at six o’clock. I’ll text you the address.”

“I’ll be there. Have a good night, Gabrielle.”

“You too.” He walked out the door and was gone. I stood there and let out a deep breath.

I went back up to the apartment and G was waiting at the door. “Well, what was all that about?” she asked.

“I told him that Dr. Roberts wanted him to sit in on a session and he said he would.”

“Of course he did. He’s trying to get you back. He’s going to do anything you ask.”

I put up my hand and went to the kitchen for a glass of wine. “He told me today that he’d leave me alone for good if I only did one thing.”

“What does he want?”