Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (books to get back into reading TXT) 📕

away from everyone, especially Conny, and video chat me so we can watch it together via cell phone?”

“No, no. It’s the Cowboys. One does not stay on the phone or otherwise while the Cowboys are on,” I said matter-of-factly. “Besides, a few of my brother’s friends still come over to my parents’ house and watch the game with my Dad. It’s going to be fun.”

He was quiet for just a minute. I could sense he was thinking about what I just said. Did I hurt his feelings? “Which brother? Shouldn’t those boys be away in college?”

Oh, that was it… he was jealous. Hmm, I wondered if I could push his buttons, especially after his incomprehensible admission to end his life. “It’s both of my brother’s friends and it’s just a few, and yes, they are all in college but they go to the university my mother teaches at. Don’t worry, babe, they’re just a couple of good-ole-boys, immature and all that, but they’re so much fun to be around, I can’t wait to see them and catch up.”

“Baby, you’re going to pick a football game with your brother’s friends over me? Are you kidding me?”

I stayed quiet, smirking, letting him squirm just for a bit.

“I can hear you smirking, Isabel,” he said, sounding irate.

“Okay, how about I call you during half time?” I declared, grinning broadly.

“Isabel Grace!” he scolded.

I started to giggle. “Okay, okay, okay, I was just joking! Of course, I’ll video chat you. Jeez! You’re way too easy, babe.”

“Isabel Grace,” he breathed, “you are definitely a handful. If you were next to me right now, I’d show you who was boss.”

“Yes, well, think twice next time you want to do something stupid like not live, and just remember I can dish it out just as good as you can.”

He let out a loud sigh. “That will never happen again, I promise. I love you, baby.” He was quiet again. “So, your brother’s friends aren’t going to your parents’?”

I laughed out loud, “Yes, they are but I will be in my bedroom alone with you.”

I could sense he was grinning. “Call me when you land, baby. I’m going to call my mother now and I’ll update you on that when you call.”

“Sounds like a plan!”

“Love you,” he answered in his throaty, bedroom voice. We hung up and I noticed everyone had left me alone.

It was now six-ten. I hurried out to get ready for the mass of kids that were due this evening. Patti and Vanessa were finished laying out all the snacks and drinks and it looked like Vanessa has gone home for the day. A few kids and their parents started trickling in. I waved and told them to help themselves to the food while we waited for everyone. I saw Conny and Pam were back from wherever they disappeared to. Ben was in my office with Samson and my family and Adam were close to the therapy room I was just in, still on the laptop. More kids started to arrive. I headed to Pam’s office first.

I knocked before entering her office. “Excuse me, Pam, are you going to be joining us this evening? Also, just wanted to let you know that I’m letting Agent Davis sit in on the therapy. He has a background in medicine and although he’s not a psychologist, he is an MD and has been working on this case with me.”

“Thank you, Isabel, yes that’s fine,” she answered. “I think I will sit in this time. From what Conny has been telling me, this is certainly bigger than I ever suspected. And I just saw how many kids you have coming this evening. I think that’s a record for us,” she exclaimed. “Usually, we have to beg or fight with the parents to bring their kids in. Not to mention the teens that think they don’t need help.”

“Fantastic, Pam! It’s been ages since you’ve sat in on group therapy. We could really use input from someone as seasoned as you.” I smiled, delighted she’d be with us. Having Pam present would be such a benefit for the kids. She was extremely good at connecting with kids, especially teens, and the parents always loved her. I had a feeling it was going to be a great therapy session with her there.

I made my way to my office, waving and smiling at the kids and parents that were mingling and chatting around the snacks as I passed them. Patti was chatting with a mother. The mother seemed very animated in her conversation with Patti. I hoped we didn’t need to put out fires tonight with mothers who felt the judicial system was re-victimizing their children. By all accounts, I agreed with those mothers, especially when it was a young patient and we’d managed to help the child recover from the abuse. In many cases, it took us several years to help the kids recover. They were doing better in school and socially, the young child was learning how to put all the horror behind them, how to deal with life and how to trust people. Then, all of a sudden, they’d get a call or a subpoena from the DA’s office letting them know they would have to relive the abuse in detail, in front of the perpetrator, the abuser, the pedophile, and they would have to relive it in the court house. They would have to relive it not only in a courtroom but in a courtroom full of jurors, a judge, a bailiff, and several other strangers. If it were my child, I would feel just as those mothers did… but then again, we didn’t want the perp getting away with what they’d done. We needed and wanted retribution and restitution. It seemed as though these poor victims just couldn’t get a break.

I got to my office and put