Cleaning Up

“Sit still, it’s almost cleaned up. With a bath you won’t need to get a dressing wet. There now into the tub with you. I want you to relax while we talk.” Cal was happy with how accepting she was of her training. That training had only started. What he didn’t like was the surfacing of what was clearly past traumas. He thought she was the quiet sort. Now, with one comment, it called everything into question.

Tara slipped into the water until only her head and shoulders showed, with the stark white gauze bandage. Her hair fell mostly behind her and over the edge of the bath.

Cal stepped into the bath with her, but sat on the edge of the bath and watched her.

“What do you not understand about this situation?”

Tara didn’t say anything right away. She mulled over her thoughts in her head before anything came out of her mouth.

Cal believed at first, she did that because she feared the situation; she was in with him. Now, however, he susp