Dry as Rain Read Free Page B

I voiced my suspicion. Learning that Hershing still lived with his mommy at least gave me a feeling of satisfaction. So much for being a lady-killer. “How do I go about collecting my wife?”
    He set his hands on top of the overturned pad. “Collecting?”
    â€œShe doesn’t belong here.”
    â€œI’m sure you also want what’s best for Kyra.”
    The sound of her name on this man’s lips sent pricks of jealousy through me. Was it my imagination or had his voice lowered an octave when he’d said it? “Of course I want what’s best for her and that doesn’t include her staying here. She’s not crazy.”
    He cleared his throat. “I’m sure your stepfather has told you by now Kyra isn’t herself at the moment. She’s here because the paramedics thought she might be suicidal.”
    Suicidal? Kyra? I shook my head. “He didn’t mention that, but I have a hard time believing that’s true. She’s the most levelheaded person I know.”
    The doctor scribbled something else on his pad, then turned it over on the table. “One thing I’ve learned in my many years here is that everyone has a breaking point, Eric.”
    I could agree with that. After all, I’d certainly found mine. “What made them think she was suicidal?”
    â€œShe said more than once that she wanted to die.”
    I felt my Adam’s apple rise and fall as I swallowed. She couldn’t have known about last night, could she? No, I reassured myself. No one but Danielle and I had known. I hadn’t even known it was going to happen myself until yesterday. Maybe it was her own guilt that finally caught up to her. “Everyone says stuff like that from time to time.”
    Wrinkles formed in Hershing’s brow. “Maybe so, but not right after they’ve driven their car into a signpost.”
    Drawing in a breath, I tried to really digest for the first time that my wife could have been seriously injured or even died. What would our last words to each other have been? Something horrible, I was sure. “My stepfather said she wasn’t hurt. Is that true?”
    â€œI wouldn’t go that far. She’s hurting, just not physically.”
    A familiar pain passed through me but I refused to entertain it. She wants a divorce, I reminded myself. She doesn’t care about you. Why should you care for her? But of course, I did. “What do I need to do to get her out of here?”
    â€œThis is one of those things that aren’t within your control. It’s really up to Kyra.”
    I glanced out the window at the trail of fog making its way across the distant mountain range, right into my head. “Are you trying to say she doesn’t want to come home?”
    The doctor crossed his arms. “Where is home, Eric?”
    And so the psychobabble begins, I thought. “Rolling Springs.”
    His eyebrows shot up. “Nice area. Pricey. Do you mind me asking what you do for a living?”
    â€œI sell luxury cars. Well, I manage a team that sells them.”
    â€œI didn’t realize there was that much money in car sales. Long hours?”
    My muscles tensed. Obviously Kyra had been griping to the good doctor about my schedule. Before I’d gotten the promotion, she complained about scraping by. Like I said, never satisfied. “Ten- to twelve-hour days, six days a week.”
    â€œThat sounds like a tough schedule.”
    â€œI’ve tried to give Kyra the best.”
    â€œI see. She likes the finer things, then?”
    What was this guy getting at? Probably some sort of mind game to prove we were both nuts. “Don’t we all?”
    â€œI’d say that’s true. Of course, everyone’s definition of what those things are can be quite different. Would you say your wife is high maintenance?”
    The question sent blood rushing to my head. What business was it of his? Next he’d be