The Edge of Recall by Kristen Heitzmann

requested privacy.” Smith’s tone indicated end of subject.
    “I bet I could guess.”
    The muscle in Smith’s jaw quivered. “You could, but we wouldn’t say. So what fun is that? Bair, can you pass the gravy?”
    Tessa hadn’t taken any, but now she wasn’t sure she could swallow her meat without it. At least she knew she wasn’t missing anything eating alone in her room.
    “It’s like a park or something with that maze.”
    Smith turned a stony face on Katy. Bair looked mortified.
    Tessa forced the meat down her esophagus. “How long have you worked at Ellie’s, Katy?”
    “Too long.” She jammed her fork into a chunk of beef. “I’ve done everything in this stupid county too long.”
    “Why don’t you go somewhere else?” Tessa noted Smith’s relief at her successful detour.
    “How? Where? Opportunities aren’t exactly growing in these woods.”
    Katy looked fierce, as though Tessa were personally responsible for her plight, then turned to Bair as though he could be her salvation. Tessa hoped that wasn’t the whole story. “Have you gone to college?”
    “No.” Katy preferred the previous subject and plied Bair once more. “Are you building a theme park, outlet mall? Something to get me out of Grandma’s teahouse?”
    Bair cleared his throat. “We can’t . . . say.”
    She pouted. “I won’t tell.”
    Smith’s face got stonier. Tessa knew that look. This time, she didn’t come to his rescue. He’d roped them all into this—let him figure it out. To his credit, he didn’t look to her for an escape. He’d avoided looking her way at all. The hurt grew.
    She wished she were alone in her room to process the whole thing. Maybe call Dr. Brenner. It mattered that Smith had changed the equation. She hadn’t foreseen this variable. Dr. Brenner would say he’d warned her.
    “All right, Tess?”
    She jumped. When had Smith turned to her? “Actually, I don’t feel good.” She pushed back from the table and stood up. “I need to go.” Bair could deal with Katy. He wasn’t helpless. She took her jacket and her keys and all but flew out the door.
    “Tessa, wait.” Smith followed.
    She didn’t want to wait, didn’t want to argue, didn’t want to cry.
    He caught up at the car. “Please.”
    “I need to go, Smith.” She suddenly found it hard to breathe. No. She would not let the panic into her consciousness. She backed against the car.
    “What is it? What happened?” Furrows dug into his brow.
    “Nothing.”
    He braced her between his outstretched arms. “If it’s about before, I’m sorry.”
    “Sorry doesn’t change anything.” Her terror rose. The woods were closing in. She had to run, but she couldn’t move. Dr. Brenner had feared an overlap. Here it was.
    “Tess.” Smith gripped her left elbow.
    “Let me go.”
    “I can’t do that.”
    She would not melt down in front of him. Her stomach churned. She bit her lip against the rising panic.
    “I’ll take you, if you need to go. I don’t want you driving alone.”
    She couldn’t speak.
    “Is it asthma?”
    She shook her head.
    He took the keys from her hand. “We’ll take your car. Bair can get Katy back and pick me up at the inn.”
    She’d stopped listening, her own panicked breath the loudest thing she heard.
    He moved her around to the passenger side. This was wrong. She couldn’t get in with him. She’d have no control. But she slid mutely into the seat, keeping the terror from her eyes. Never show fear. Monsters feed on fear.
    “You’re not afraid, are you?”
    Her chest quaked, but she shook her head no.
    “You won’t say a word. Not one word.”
    Her head moved side to side. She would not be afraid. She would not talk.
    She jolted. Where had that come from? The monsters in her dreams didn’t talk. They only chased. She shut her eyes and barely kept from crying out when the engine started.
    She gripped the seat. Smith reached across and strapped her in. She fought another scream. He’d either