Freya appreciated that.
Tessa arrived early.
Of course.
Her hands shook.
Freya noticed.
Did not rescue.
Dr. Pierce began:
“What does Freya need from today?”
Tessa answered first.
“I don't know.”
Good.
Freya said:
“I need her not to explain for the first twenty minutes.”
Tessa nodded.
“Okay.”
“I know why.”
Freya continued.
“I know about Mom.”
“I know about Dad.”
“I know about Seattle.”
“I know you thought I would leave.”
“I do not need motive yet.”
Dr. Pierce looked toward Tessa.
“Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
Freya looked at her sister.
“Tell me exactly what you did.”
Tessa swallowed.
Then did.
At 1:43 a.m., Freya fell asleep.
At approximately two, Tessa unplugged Freya’s phone from the charger because relatives were messaging continuously.
She responded to Aunt Celia.
Freya’s boss.
A neighbor.
Then Evan’s message appeared.
I’m going home. I am not asking you to decide Seattle tonight. I’m sorry I pushed. I love you. Call me when you can.
Tessa stared at it.
She was angry.
At Evan.
At Freya.
At herself.
At their father’s body in a hospital bed.
At their mother for dying.
At the fact that eight years later she was again holding a family phone while someone else slept.
She opened the conversation.
Read backward.
Weeks of Seattle discussion.
Apartments.
Flights.
Job interviews.
Plans.
Then she typed.
Don’t call tomorrow. Don’t come back to the hospital. I can’t do this with you anymore. I can’t choose you over my family. Please don’t contact me again.
Freya closed her eyes.
Hearing the words spoken was worse.
Tessa continued.
“I sent it.”
“He replied.”
“I saw the first reply.”
“I deleted both.”
“Then I blocked him.”
“I put your phone back.”
“When did you decide to tell me?”
Tessa’s eyes filled.
“Immediately.”
“When?”
“I mean I told myself I would.”
“That was not the question.”
Tessa looked down.
“I did not decide on a time.”
“So never.”
“At first, no.”
Freya stared.
“What happened when I woke up?”
“You asked if Evan called.”
Freya’s breathing changed.
She remembered.
Tessa had said:
No.
Freya closed her eyes.
“That was the first lie.”
“Yes.”
“What did you feel?”
“Relieved.”
The answer was brutal.
Good.
Tessa cried.
“I was relieved.”
“Because?”
“Because I thought the problem was gone.”
Freya stared at her sister.
“I was the problem.”
“No.”
“Seattle?”
“Yes.”
“Evan?”
“Yes.”
“My choice?”
Tessa looked down.
“Yes.”
Freya turned toward the therapist.
“I need a minute.”
No one spoke.
After a while Freya continued.
“Did you ever contact him yourself?”
“No.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No.”
“Kevin?”
Tessa’s face changed.
Kevin.
Her ex-husband.