“Then why did she say she hated him?”

“I’ve told Mom I hated her before, and I don’t really mean it,” Katie said. “I mean, at the time I do, but the next day I don’t.”

“That means you don’t really hate Megan either,” Logan said, smiling through his tears.

“No, I really hate her,” Katie said as she met Megan’s eyes and then, for the first time in as long as she could remember, they shared a smile, and then all three of them were laughing.

“Lina? Lina, wake up.” Phil’s voice broke into her slumber, and she opened her eyes. “We should go upstairs before the kids wake up.”

Lina focused on him first and then looked around the basement guest room. “Why am I here?” Her last memory was falling asleep in their bedroom.

“You came down at about two and crawled into bed.” He was stretched out beside her, propped on his elbow as he looked down at her.

“I don’t understand,” she began and then she did. She’d been looking for him. Even though he had completely devastated her, she’d been unable to sleep without him. “I’m pathetic,” she whispered, closing her eyes.

“No, you’re not.” He pushed her hair back from her face. “You love me.” He pressed his lips against her forehead. “That’s why you came to me.”

“I don’t know how not to love you.”

“That’s because it would be unnatural.” He kissed her softly on the lips. “We belong together.”

“Don’t.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her, holding her as she cried. “I know I don’t deserve you, but I swear I’m going to make this up to you.”

11

“He’s ready for you.” Katie flopped down beside Lina in Dr. Drayton’s waiting room Friday afternoon before pulling out a copy of Siddhartha by Herman Hesse from her bag.

“Your hair’s gone,” Lina said as soon as she stepped into Dr. Drayton’s office.

He swiped his hand over the top of his head, barely ruffling the short hair as he came around his desk. “My girlfriend assured me she could trim it.” He smiled. “It didn’t go as planned, so a professional salvaged what he could.”

Lina wasn’t sure why, but the mention of a girlfriend surprised her. “It looks good. It was just a bit of a shock.” Without his hair as a distraction, the attractiveness of his face was more pronounced.

“I prefer it longer, but there wasn’t much I could do.” He stopped before her, and she caught the faint smell of lavender from his aftershave. “Shall we?” He tossed his hand towards the seating area.

“I want to thank you again for Sunday,” she said after they were seated. “It was one of the worst days of my life. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“I’m glad I could help.” His eyes traveled over her face. “Are you sleeping at all?”