Is this destiny?

~ Switzerland, Interlaken ~

In the hallway of the hotel…

Charlie is waiting for Emma in the hallway.

He didn't want to enter into Mrs. Ronin's suite this early in the morning (or is it late at night?) because his future mother-in-law might be in her nightgown. At the same time, he will not allow Emma to walk through the hallways of the hotel by herself considering that there might be drunk people lingering after the party. 

Charlie saw Emma standing in front of the closed door of Mrs. Ronin's suite without moving and he was surprised that she was not inside for more than few minutes. He wondered if he slept off while waiting.

"That was fast…", Charlie said and yawned. When they left the party, Charlie wanted to sleep in their room, but Emma was tossing and turning in the bed and neither of them slept so far. "Did you talk to her?"

"Yeah.", Emma said absentmindedly.

"What did she say?", Charlie was curious.

"Nothing…Actually, I didn't say anything.", Emma admitted.

"Really? You went in there at this hour and didn't say why? Wasn't your mom curious? Or did you just go in said hi and went out? Or did…"

"Jarred is there.", Emma said over Charlie.

Charlie paused. He was not sure he heard her right because he was talking as well. "What?"

Emma lifted her gaze and looked at Charlie. "Your Uncle. Jarred is there." 

Charlie's eyes widened when he understood the implication, but he had to check. "You saw him? In your mom's room? At this hour?"

Emma nodded. "He is down to his underwear, and my mom is wrapped in a bathrobe…"

Charlie stifled a laugh. "I thought that my Uncle is smooth, but this… is unexpectedly fast. They met at the Cliffside Villa on Friday. It's Tuesday. Well, technically, it's after midnight so it's a Wednesday but that does not change the fact that it's less than a week since they met…"

"Do you need to remind me?", Emma hissed at Charlie.

Charlie bit his lips to suppress the laughter which threatens to burst out of him. Emma's reaction is hilarious. 

When he felt that it's safe, Charlie asked Emma: "How about we go to our room and catch up on sleep?"

Emma sighed. "Do you really think that I can sleep after what I saw in there?"

"Don't tell me that the sight of my Uncle's body is keeping you awake?", Charlie pulled Emma closer to him and started walking down the hall. "I know how I can make you sleep."

"How?"

Charlie leaned closer said in a low voice: "I am thirsty…"

Emma blushed while nervously glancing around the hallway, to make sure no one is there to hear her shameless fiancé. 

Charlie laughed.

…

On the beach…

JoAnna strolled on the beach toward Ron who is sitting on a rock and staring blankly at the lake. It was lively during the party, but now that everyone dispersed and the staff cleaned up, it's unusually quiet.

"You can't sleep?"

Ron was startled by JoAnna's question. 

"Uhm… no…", he responded awkwardly. "You?"

"The same.", JoAnna said. 

In truth, she was awake because her growing belly is making her uncomfortable and she got out of the bed to use the restroom. On the way back, she stepped on the balcony to admire the first rays of light above the mountain peaks and then she spotted Ron on the beach and decided to come and check on him. 

Now that Sarah will be out for a month, Sarah asked her sisters to keep an eye on her kids, so… here is JoAnna, keeping an eye on Ron.

"Does it happen often?", JoAnna implied to Ron's lack of sleep.

He sighed. "Sometimes."

"Did you notice something specific that triggers it?", JoAnna persisted.

Ron looked at JoAnna and she can see that he is hesitant to speak.

"It's OK. I am a doctor.", she encouraged him.

"You are aware why I left home… ", Ron said reluctantly and waited for JoAnna to confirm or deny his statement.

"Because of your stepmother.", JoAnna responded.

Ron nodded before continuing: "Whenever I am with Zula and things reach a certain point… I see her. My stepmother. And I freak out. I tell myself that it's all in my head and that she is not here and that it's not real, but I turn into a thirteen year old who shuts down and wants to be anyone other than Ronald. I thought that in time it will go away or at least get better, but it's not."

"You are traumatized.", JoAnna stated a fact.

"Is there a way for me to get over it?"

"You can take therapy."

Ron sighed at JoAnna's words. He heard about therapy earlier, but he brushed it off while saying that it's not serious and he will get over it. However, he is not getting over it, and he needs a different approach.

"How does that work?", Ron asked.

"A certified professional will listen to what is causing you uneasiness and guide you through mentally facing your challenges. Gradually you will learn to live with it."

"Gradually? How long does that take?"

JoAnna shrugged indicating that she is not sure. "It depends on you and how you react to the given approach. It can be months or years. Mind is difficult to heal."

Ron shook his head in displeasure. "Months? Years? Is there a faster way?"

"There is, but it's not really… medical."

Ron's ears perked up. If there is something that can make his nightmares go away, he is willing to listen. "What is it?"

JoAnna thought for a second before responding: "When you encounter something which triggers the episode, you shut down because you see yourself as a victim, because that is what you are. A victim. In order to change this, you need to create different memories. The ones where you are in charge."

Ron frowned at JoAnna's words and rejected the idea. "I am not a monster. I will not hurt others just so that I get over my problems."

JoAnna shook her head indicating that he didn't get it. "That is not what I said. Hurting others will not remove the source of your trauma. I meant that you should hurt the one who hurt you."

"My stepmother?"

An evil grin appeared on JoAnna's face. "An eye for an eye and add some interest to it. Let's try it now. Close your eyes…"

Ron looked at JoAnna suspiciously, but he obeyed.

JoAnna saw that Ron closed his eyes and continued with her instructions: "Think of what she did to you and be the judge, the jury and the executioner. Make her feel the torment of what you went through. Imagine that she is at your mercy and you are able to hurt her without anyone holding you back… She screams, and no one hears her… She feels the pain and the humiliation, and she is helpless… and you are in charge." JoAnna observed slight changes in Ron's expression for some time before asking: "How does it feel?"

Ron looked at JoAnna in disbelief but there was a certain spark in his eyes which was not there before.

JoAnna nodded in approval with a smug expression on her face. "I see that just this much lifted your spirits. Imagine the relief you will feel when you get to do it for real."

"Is it OK for you to advise me such a thing?"

JoAnna bobbed her head and smiled mischievously. "I told you that it's not medical. Think about what you want to do, but don't do anything without Sarah's and Aiden's knowledge. The two of them know about your story."

"What if they don't agree with what I want to do?"

"Either way, you owe them a heads up. In case something goes wrong, what do you think, who will clean up your mess?"

Ron nodded in agreement.

"Good. Now go to sleep.", JoAnna urged him.

"Thanks!"

JoAnna watched Ron leap from the rock he was sitting on and jog back into the hotel.

She glanced up to the balcony on the fourth floor and waved at Jeff who is standing there. JoAnna zoomed in and based on Jeff's smile she can tell that Jeff listened to her conversation with Ron. 

She touched her ear stud and said softly: "I'm coming…"

"Right on time. We can watch the sunrise together…", Jeff's voice rang in her ear.

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