Read Online Kismet by AE Woodward - Free Book Online

has been busy, and I haven’t thought about things.
    “Gorgeous horse.”
    For the second time in as many hours, I nearly jump out of my skin. What is it with people scaring me? Do they enjoy lurking? I turn to see Stevenson leaning up against the doorway of the stable. He’s more handsome than I remember, at least for an older guy. I usually find myself wondering about him, and his family, while I pretend to be uninterested during our sessions.
    “I’m glad to see that you’re out of the house, Katie. Shall we go inside and get started?” He motions toward the house with his left hand. My high hopes come crashing down. Obviously there will be a session today. So much for that idea.
    Without any sort of acknowledgement, I turn towards the house and walk inside, the good doctor following closely behind.
    When we enter the foyer, Stevenson exchanges some pleasantries with my mother, who has just returned from town, and I become increasingly annoyed with each minute that passes by. I just want to sit down and listen to him talk so that he can leave already. I leave them to their pointless chatter and head to the home office to sit down and wait.
    I hear Stevenson say he should “get to it” before he appears in the doorway. He has a briefcase in one hand, and a cup of coffee in the other. Juggling the two as he crosses the room, he blows gently on the steam coming from the mug I know my mom just handed him. “So your mother says you’re making some progress,” he says as he sits in the chair next to mine. “Or at least, it seems that way to her.”
    Mom is always full of hope. An optimist through and through, it wouldn’t take much for her to think I was making headway with the nightmare called my life. It may sound strange, but I’ve started to hope that I’ll wake up and it will all be over. But maybe that’s a good sign? At least I’m starting to believe in something again.
    “So you’re gearing up to close out your first month of being back here.” He pulls out his yellow legal pad from his briefcase. “Things must seem familiar for you.”
    I laugh to myself. He has no idea how familiar things seem. Too familiar for my liking, but what choice do I have really. Nobody had thought me fit to be alone and I had agreed with them—I was a head case, and that was putting it lightly.
    “It’s really gorgeous out here. You must have had a fantastic childhood growing up on this farm.”
    Looking back, I did. I lived outdoors. My brother and I were always on an adventure somewhere on the acreage. Sure, we had our fair share of chores to ensure that the farm ran smoothly, but we played just as hard. I only had one bad memory growing up here, and that was becoming more of a thorn in my side than I’d planned on. The fact of the matter is that I left for a good reason.
    “So,” Stevenson continues, “the horse. You like to ride? Working with the horses?” He pauses hoping that I might contribute something to our conversation. “I bet you’re excellent at it.”
    I let out an annoyed sigh. I suddenly want to go take a nap.
    Stevenson echoes my frustration. “I know you don’t want me to be here, I can tell that much, I’m not stupid. But I’ve got to try to help you, Katie. People care. I care . I want to understand you, and help you learn to cope. This doesn’t have to be your defining moment. This isn’t a life-ender. You can grow from this, move on from the hurt. Pull yourself to a version of your former self, and be somebody you can be proud of. We all just want to help you help yourself.”
    Not wanting to acknowledge his words, the fields outside becomes very interesting and I look out of the office window. He doesn’t have a clue. He thinks he understands but he doesn’t. I don’t deserve a second chance. I don’t deserve to be able to move on. I’m getting exactly what I was supposed to. This is my kismet.
    “The quicker you give me just a little bit to work with, the quicker I will be