Read Online All the World by Rachel L. Vaughan - Free Book Online
Authors: Rachel L. Vaughan
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Then there’s the whole theatre mess. Mr. Garland’s lab better be worth the distress it caused. I’ve been asked to station policemen around the construction site while the men are working so they aren’t attacked. Can you believe it? All of this is because of a theatre.”
Dr. Lindegaard rested his elbows on his desk and pressed his fingers together like steeples. “People can be rather dramatic during times of grief. I expect the hard feelings will fade away shortly, especially after the new theatre is built.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Is there anything else you would like to discuss? It sounds like you are having trust issues with your wife. Is your relationship something you want to talk about?”
The mayor shook his head. “No, best leave Scarlet out of the conversation. May I take your card? I’ll call if I need another appointment.”
Dr. Lindegaard handed him his business card and shook his hand firmly. “I’d be happy to see you anytime. I, of course, will keep everything confidential. Your wife will not hear any of this from me or Ms. Stanley.”
Lexie smiled and nodded. Confidentiality laws had been beaten into her mind the day she started working at Lindegaard Counseling and Therapy.
The rest of Lexie’s morning was spent transferring her notes on Mayor MacDougal’s session to the computer. Every so often, Lexie would glance up as one of her coworkers ventured into the room to use the copier or fax machine.
“You would think that after hundreds of years people would realize that arranged marriages are so ridiculous,” one therapist said after using the copier. “I told this man to consider his daughter’s feelings, but you’d have thought I asked him to commit murder! This isn’t the 1500s!”
Lexie could not recall a more stressful day at work. She had notes from three more sessions to transfer before she could take her lunch break. Psychiatrists were constantly writing up prescriptions, and therapists were handing out self-help books faster than Lexie could blink.
“I will go to the woods where I will find the unkindest beast kinder than mankind!” a man bellowed.
Lexie jumped up, ran to the door, and peered out to see who had shouted. A man, dressed in all white, was being escorted down the hall by a doctor from the nearby hospital and an employee from Lindegaard Counseling and Therapy. Lexie could see damp patches on his clothing from sweat. The employee, who looked like he was taking steroids, was holding the patient’s shoulders tightly while the doctor was guiding him like a child.
“I once had enough money to make a whore foreswear her trade!” he cried as he was led into the elevator.
“He lost all his money,” a therapist said as he stood by Lexie. “His name is Timothy Root. When he threatened to hide in the forest and eat roots I decided it was time to call the hospital. Can you imagine living off carrots and radishes? Hopefully, he won’t develop more serious suicidal tendencies. I’ll visit him in a few hours.”
The morning had been filled with so much negative activity that Lexie could not sit in the staff lounge with her coworkers. She went outside, locked herself in her car, and started her lunch. Lexie smiled slightly when she noticed several of her coworkers doing the same thing. They all looked foolish, but Lexie just couldn’t stay inside. The attitudes of the therapists, Flora’s sulking, and the weary weather wore her down.
“Is this day going to improve?” Lexie stared out of the window. The clump of birch trees near the building looked
Dr. Lindegaard rested his elbows on his desk and pressed his fingers together like steeples. “People can be rather dramatic during times of grief. I expect the hard feelings will fade away shortly, especially after the new theatre is built.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Is there anything else you would like to discuss? It sounds like you are having trust issues with your wife. Is your relationship something you want to talk about?”
The mayor shook his head. “No, best leave Scarlet out of the conversation. May I take your card? I’ll call if I need another appointment.”
Dr. Lindegaard handed him his business card and shook his hand firmly. “I’d be happy to see you anytime. I, of course, will keep everything confidential. Your wife will not hear any of this from me or Ms. Stanley.”
Lexie smiled and nodded. Confidentiality laws had been beaten into her mind the day she started working at Lindegaard Counseling and Therapy.
The rest of Lexie’s morning was spent transferring her notes on Mayor MacDougal’s session to the computer. Every so often, Lexie would glance up as one of her coworkers ventured into the room to use the copier or fax machine.
“You would think that after hundreds of years people would realize that arranged marriages are so ridiculous,” one therapist said after using the copier. “I told this man to consider his daughter’s feelings, but you’d have thought I asked him to commit murder! This isn’t the 1500s!”
Lexie could not recall a more stressful day at work. She had notes from three more sessions to transfer before she could take her lunch break. Psychiatrists were constantly writing up prescriptions, and therapists were handing out self-help books faster than Lexie could blink.
“I will go to the woods where I will find the unkindest beast kinder than mankind!” a man bellowed.
Lexie jumped up, ran to the door, and peered out to see who had shouted. A man, dressed in all white, was being escorted down the hall by a doctor from the nearby hospital and an employee from Lindegaard Counseling and Therapy. Lexie could see damp patches on his clothing from sweat. The employee, who looked like he was taking steroids, was holding the patient’s shoulders tightly while the doctor was guiding him like a child.
“I once had enough money to make a whore foreswear her trade!” he cried as he was led into the elevator.
“He lost all his money,” a therapist said as he stood by Lexie. “His name is Timothy Root. When he threatened to hide in the forest and eat roots I decided it was time to call the hospital. Can you imagine living off carrots and radishes? Hopefully, he won’t develop more serious suicidal tendencies. I’ll visit him in a few hours.”
The morning had been filled with so much negative activity that Lexie could not sit in the staff lounge with her coworkers. She went outside, locked herself in her car, and started her lunch. Lexie smiled slightly when she noticed several of her coworkers doing the same thing. They all looked foolish, but Lexie just couldn’t stay inside. The attitudes of the therapists, Flora’s sulking, and the weary weather wore her down.
“Is this day going to improve?” Lexie stared out of the window. The clump of birch trees near the building looked
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