“In that case,” the doctor starts, “I’ll get Tessa’s release papers ready for her to sign while you make arrangements. Some of the other women will need to stay a few more days, but one other is ready to be released today as well. We can arrange transportation for both of them to the center.”
“Great, thank you,” I tell him. “Let me just speak to Tessa for a second to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
“Sure,” he agrees. “I’ll be right back,” I tell Roman, and he gives me a nod that I know means he won’t go anywhere while I’m inside.
“Hey,” I say to Tessa when I go inside her room and shut the door behind me. “Did the exam go okay?”
“Yeah,” she replies from where she’s sitting up in the bed, still under a mountain of blankets. The psychiatrist is right. She’s not ready to face the real world just yet.
“And did they talk to you about the recovery center?”
“They did. I think it’s probably a good idea, you know? I’m not ready to go home, but I want to leave here.”
“So you’re okay with it?”
“Yeah, except it costs a small fortune.”
“Roman’s offered to cover the expense for you and the other women.”
“He did? Why?” she asks in surprise.
“I think he feels guilty and just wants to help.”
“That’s nice of him,” Tessa replies. “He seems like a nice guy.”
“Roman and Verek both stayed all night, right outside the door.”
“Really?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“I wish I had known that,” she replies. “Maybe I would’ve slept more than ten minutes at a time.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. This facility Dr. Kirkpatrick told me about is constantly locked. Visitors have to get buzzed into a room, and they can’t get through any other doors unless they’re on someone’s list and have had a background check.”
“That sounds…very thorough,” I tell her.
“Yeah. I think I might feel safer there.”
“Okay, so we’ll go make all of the arrangements. Verek will be outside if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Charlotte. Oh, and, Charlotte…make sure Verek is on the list of approved visitors.”
Chapter Eleven
Charlotte
* * *
The trip to the psychiatric facility is only an hour, but it feels like an eternity. Roman and I are on his bike following the ambulance that the doctor insisted should transport Tessa and one of the other victims. It’s not like I could protest since I had to hitch a ride with Roman and I don’t know if the small, rural town even has Uber yet.
At least Roman and I get to go back with Tessa this time to help her fill out paperwork and pay. Then they give the three of us a tour around the entire facility before we come to a stop at what will be Tessa’s room for the next month.
“It’s…cozy,” I say, even though it looks like a small dorm room, one with just a bed, dresser and nightstand. There’s not even a radio or television.
“We’ll give Tessa everything she needs to heal, without any of life’s usual distractions,” the doctor escorting us explains. “And while I hate to be the bearer of bad news, visiting hours will be ending in ten minutes.”
“Oh, I’m staying,” I declare.
“I’m so sorry, Charlotte, but only patients are allowed to stay overnight. Everyone else must abide by the visiting hours,” the doctor tells me.
“Tessa?” I ask, looking to her because I’m not sure how she feels about being left alone in a new place after what she’s been through.
“I’ll be fine,” she says when she goes and sits down on the bed. “The doors are always locked out front, right?” she asks the doctor.
“That’s right. We have to buzz visitors into the waiting area that is always locked as well. Only once we are shown photo identification and match them up to the visitor list are they allowed inside the group room with an employee escort.”
“See? I’ll be fine,” Tessa assures me, even though I’m not one hundred percent sure I believe her.
“I want to visit her every day,” I tell the doctor, who gives me a nod.
“As long as you can be flexible with Tessa’s scheduled activities and appointments necessary for her treatment, then we can accommodate you for daily visits.”
“Good,” I say with a sigh of relief. “Do you need anything before I go?”
“No, I think I have everything I need. Thank you for deciding to stay in town, Charlotte. Knowing I’ll get to see you each day will give me something to look forward to.”
“Absolutely,” I tell her, my eyes burning with tears that I try to hold back. If anyone should be upset and crying, it should be Tessa. She’s holding it together and being so unbelievably strong despite what has happened to her.
“Roman, you may have to drag her out of here,” Tessa teases.
“I’m going!” I say with a smile. “Call me later? She can call me, right?” I ask the doctor.
“Only on our landline phones. Cell phones are not allowed, to protect the privacy of our patients.”
“Not to mention the fact that people can be tracked by phones,” Roman adds, the first thing he’s said in a while. It’s not exactly reassuring, which is why I narrow my eyes at him in warning. “I just meant that it’s safer in here not to have cell phones on.”
“He’s right,” the doctor says. “You won’t find a more secure facility than ours.”
“Except maybe a prison,” Roman jokes.
“Tessa knows that she is free to leave at any time,” the doc replies, sounding a bit indignant.
“I know, and I want to stay at least for a while,” Tessa agrees.
“In that case then, we’ll get going,” I agree. “See you tomorrow, and we’ll talk later tonight,” I tell Tessa when I give her a hug goodbye.
“We will, so don’t worry about me,” she says when we break apart. “Roman, you can take her away now.”
“It will be my pleasure,” he answers with a grin before I give his shoulder a gentle shove.
With one last wave at Tessa, I finally lead the way to the exit, hoping that this place will be everything Tessa needs it to be.
Roman
* * *
“So, what are you going to do since you can only see Tessa during visiting hours?” I ask Charlotte on the walk back to my bike when we leave the center.
“I-I guess I’ll get a hotel room,” she replies, her eyes blinking rapidly. She’s about to cry because she’s worried about her best friend and doesn’t want to leave her. Hell, I barely know Tessa and even I feel protective of her. But I’ve done my own research and only heard great things about this place. Thanks to the constant guard patrol and surveillance, Tessa will be as safe here as she would be sleeping in the Savage Kings’ clubhouse.