Read Online Are You Alone on Purpose? by Nancy Werlin - Free Book Online Page B

That was what she wanted. And he couldn’t explain. How could he explain that it was more complicated than that? She’d think he was a monster. He’d never get rid of her.
    Dr. Jefferies sat back. There was silence. Harry concentrated. He hadn’t really let go; there’d been only a few tears. He accepted a tissue from Dr. Jefferies, but he wouldn’t look at her. He breathed.
    For minutes he sat there. Finally he tried his voice. “I’d like to leave now,” he said. He didn’t look at Dr. Jefferies.
    â€œWe have some more time,” said Dr. Jefferies. Her voice was soft. “I’d like to talk more about your mother and what you remember.”
    â€œWell, I wouldn’t,” snapped Harry. He could feel himself getting angry. He raised his head and glared at Dr. Jefferies. She was looking at him thoughtfully. There was another silence.
    â€œOkay,” she said finally. “Another time, then.” She got up. “Look. I need to run an errand in another part of the hospital. Why don’t you stay here until you feel comfortable about leaving? I haven’t got another appointment here for an hour. Okay?”
    â€œYeah,” said Harry. It came out in a whisper. He waited for her to leave.
    â€œBy the way, Harry,” said Dr. Jefferies suddenly, pausing in the doorway.
    He looked up, in her direction but not directly at her.
    â€œI noticed, during this whole session, you did lifts regularly. Even when things got rough. That’s great.”
    Harry’s eyes focused on her for an instant. He was suddenly indignant, shocked out of his misery. It wasn’t her business . . . how had she noticed . . . the mirror...
    But it was true. His watch had beeped, he’d done the lift, every five minutes throughout the session. He hadn’t thought about it at all. It had been automatic.

ALISON
    December
    O n a Sunday two weeks after Rabbi Roth had first proposed that he tutor Adam privately in Hebrew, Alison found herself with her mother and Adam in the Chevy van, about to be dropped off with Adam at Rabbi Roth’s—and Harry’s—house. “Adam won’t be comfortable there alone, not at first,” her mother had said to Rabbi Roth. “And he’s used to being dropped off places with his sister.”
    Alison didn’t mind. She had a Tolkien book with her. More, she had to admit to a certain curiosity. She wanted to see Harry’s house.
    At first, her father had been incredulous when his wife explained that Rabbi Roth thought God wanted him to tutor Adam. “The man is insane,” he had said, flatly. “I’m not going to let a religious maniac near my son.”
    Mrs. Shandling had disagreed. “Jake, he’s just distressed. He realizes he was wrong, and this is his way of making amends.”
    They had argued for over a week. At one point they had even asked Alison’s opinion, but she had evaded them. And finally they had compromised: one or two sessions, just to see how it went. “Roth will give up fast,” Alison’s father had predicted. “He has no idea what it’s like. What if Adam has a tantrum? I’d just like to see him try to cope.” Listening, watching, Alison had thought that her father almost wanted Rabbi Roth to fail with Adam.
    Petersboro Road, where the Roths lived, was in a fifties-era development of tiny, look-alike capes built on lots scarcely big enough to hold them. It was a far cry from the street on which the Shandlings lived, with its half-acre lots, new, self-consciously varied houses, three-car garages, and pools. It made Alison uncomfortable. They had so much, thanks to her father’s Sphere. And this neighborhood was only ten minutes by car from theirs.
    They pulled up in front of number fifty-three, a gray house with nothing to distinguish it from its fellows except its color. “I’ll be back to get you in an hour,” Mrs. Shandling