days.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Dr. Agostino smiled at her. “Your sleep pattern has been disrupted for quite some time and it has slowly worn your body down. I asked if there were any changes in your life around the time the nightmare started, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be traumatic. Any kind of change…anything that might be preying on your mind, even on a subconscious level.”
She thought about it for a moment before slowly nodding her head. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with this but it
does
coincide with when the nightmare began. I’m an architect and…”
“Of course,” he beamed at her. “I thought I recognized the name. So you’re R.J. Delacourte. I’ve seen some of the houses you’ve designed. They’re simply breathtaking, truly magnificent work.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said with pride, “I love what I do and it’s always nice to know someone appreciates my designs.”
“I most assuredly do, but you were saying…?”
“A year ago I was approached by Antonio Covelli and asked to restructure an old Victorian manson that had been in his family for generations. It’s been sorely neglected and I don’t think anyone has lived in it for at least fifty years. At any rate, I accepted the job but since I’m usually booked a good year in advance, I’m not actually scheduled to begin working on it for another month or so.”
“Are you concerned you won’t be successful in restructuring this house?”
“Not at all,” Rachel shrugged. “As a matter of fact, I’m very anxious to begin working on it. It’s a beautiful house, and as I’ve mentioned it’s been horribly neglected, so I’m dying to get in there and start drawing up the preliminary plans.”
Dr. Agostino nodded thoughtfully. “Is that why you chose to come here, because of Nic Covelli’s association with the house?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “No, I…I hadn’t made the connection. You see, my sister set up the appointment and I guess I didn’t even consider the possibility that Dr. Covelli might be related to Antonio.”
“Antonio is his grandfather.”
Rachel grimaced. “I hate to even ask but…Dr. Covelli wouldn’t tell Antonio I’m his patient, would he? Assuming I come back, that is.”
“You have nothing to worry about, Miss Delacourte. I assure you that everyone at Lucisano Research understands the importance of patient confidentiality.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I know I’m probably just being overly sensitive but I’ve never told anyone about the nightmares or how…physically and mentally draining they are. I wouldn’t want Antonio to think I’m not capable of maintaining my focus on this job.”
“Is that why you’re here, you’ve lost your focus?”
“Not on the job.” Rachel gave him a feeble smile as a slow blush worked its way up her neck. “It’s my personal life that’s taken a serious nose dive.”
“It’s not unusual to lose your sex drive when you aren’t getting the proper sleep your body needs.”
“My…uh…sex drive isn’t the problem. It’s who I’m having sex
with
that’s a bit disturbing.”
“Oh?” Dr. Agostino said, obviously perplexed.
“You see, after I die I sort of have a dream within my dream, and that’s when I go to him.”
“Go to him?”
“My lover,” Rachel explained. “I go to my dream lover.”
***
Nic glanced up from the notes Luis had taken during his consultation with Rachel Delacourte. “She actually said this?”
“Every word.”
He eyed Luis suspiciously. “You’re sure this isn’t another one of Michael’s pranks? It sounds like the kind of joke he’d play; paying this woman to come here and make up dreams about her erotic sexual encounters.”
“You think I didn’t check it
“Perfectly understandable,” Dr. Agostino smiled at her. “Your sleep pattern has been disrupted for quite some time and it has slowly worn your body down. I asked if there were any changes in your life around the time the nightmare started, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be traumatic. Any kind of change…anything that might be preying on your mind, even on a subconscious level.”
She thought about it for a moment before slowly nodding her head. “I’m sure it has nothing to do with this but it
does
coincide with when the nightmare began. I’m an architect and…”
“Of course,” he beamed at her. “I thought I recognized the name. So you’re R.J. Delacourte. I’ve seen some of the houses you’ve designed. They’re simply breathtaking, truly magnificent work.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said with pride, “I love what I do and it’s always nice to know someone appreciates my designs.”
“I most assuredly do, but you were saying…?”
“A year ago I was approached by Antonio Covelli and asked to restructure an old Victorian manson that had been in his family for generations. It’s been sorely neglected and I don’t think anyone has lived in it for at least fifty years. At any rate, I accepted the job but since I’m usually booked a good year in advance, I’m not actually scheduled to begin working on it for another month or so.”
“Are you concerned you won’t be successful in restructuring this house?”
“Not at all,” Rachel shrugged. “As a matter of fact, I’m very anxious to begin working on it. It’s a beautiful house, and as I’ve mentioned it’s been horribly neglected, so I’m dying to get in there and start drawing up the preliminary plans.”
Dr. Agostino nodded thoughtfully. “Is that why you chose to come here, because of Nic Covelli’s association with the house?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “No, I…I hadn’t made the connection. You see, my sister set up the appointment and I guess I didn’t even consider the possibility that Dr. Covelli might be related to Antonio.”
“Antonio is his grandfather.”
Rachel grimaced. “I hate to even ask but…Dr. Covelli wouldn’t tell Antonio I’m his patient, would he? Assuming I come back, that is.”
“You have nothing to worry about, Miss Delacourte. I assure you that everyone at Lucisano Research understands the importance of patient confidentiality.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I know I’m probably just being overly sensitive but I’ve never told anyone about the nightmares or how…physically and mentally draining they are. I wouldn’t want Antonio to think I’m not capable of maintaining my focus on this job.”
“Is that why you’re here, you’ve lost your focus?”
“Not on the job.” Rachel gave him a feeble smile as a slow blush worked its way up her neck. “It’s my personal life that’s taken a serious nose dive.”
“It’s not unusual to lose your sex drive when you aren’t getting the proper sleep your body needs.”
“My…uh…sex drive isn’t the problem. It’s who I’m having sex
with
that’s a bit disturbing.”
“Oh?” Dr. Agostino said, obviously perplexed.
“You see, after I die I sort of have a dream within my dream, and that’s when I go to him.”
“Go to him?”
“My lover,” Rachel explained. “I go to my dream lover.”
***
Nic glanced up from the notes Luis had taken during his consultation with Rachel Delacourte. “She actually said this?”
“Every word.”
He eyed Luis suspiciously. “You’re sure this isn’t another one of Michael’s pranks? It sounds like the kind of joke he’d play; paying this woman to come here and make up dreams about her erotic sexual encounters.”
“You think I didn’t check it
Similar Books
God's Kingdom
Howard Frank Mosher
Knights Magi (Book 4)
Terry Mancour
True
Gwendolyn Grace
Grounded
R. K. Lilley
Playing at Forever
Michelle Brewer
Dragon Dance
John Christopher
All Hallows' Moon
S.M. Reine
Demon Hunting In a Dive Bar
Lexi George
Fearless (Broken Love Book 5)
B.B. Reid
The Wicked Within
Kelly Keaton