"I am not taking that Emily." Paige said.

"You said you liked it. I really want you to be comfortable here." Emily protested.

"I will be comfortable in any of the rooms here, I don't need yours." Paige said laughing.

"There is another room up here with me, and then there are three more downstairs." Emily continued. "Maybe just take the one up here by me. My friends are coming to visit next week, and it's best that you be far away from them."

"Why is that?" Paige asked as her eyes widened.

"They are." She paused finding the right words. "A handful."

"Oh. I guess I can just room here then." Paige said walking into the room across from Emily's. "The view is great!"

"The rooms upstairs have the best views. Both overlook the ocean. So I am going to go downstairs and start supper, unpack and make yourself comfortable please. I really do want you to enjoy your time here." Emily said before she turned around and headed downstairs.

"Well Parker," she turned to the puppy that was sitting on the floor looking up at her with his head turned sideways, "let's unpack." She set the pup on the bed and started to remove her clothes from her luggage and put it into the drawers and closet.

"Paige, dinner is ready!" She heard Emily tell from the bottom of the stairs from her spot laying on the bed next to the puppy.

"You know Parker, your mommy is very attractive. I don't think being around her for weeks will be a problem." With that Paige picked up the dog and made her way downstairs. She placed him on the floor, him following after her closely.

"Looks like someone has a crush." Emily said.

"What?" Paige looked startled at the darker girl.

"The dog. He is following you everywhere." Emily pointed to the pup at Paige's feet. When Paige stopped walking the dog walked in to the back of her feet.

"What can I say, even the dogs know I'm a catch." Paige said, winking at Emily.

"Ok there high and mighty, sit down and eat this. Then you need to take these pills the doctor gave you for your panic attacks/anxiety." Emily said.

"Hmm, you are better than my mother." Paige said, eating the chicken and rice the girl put in front of her. "And you cook better than her too. This is really good."

"Stop it. This isn't even something I tried to make good." Emily laughed during down across from Paige. "So, part of helping you back along is to have sort of a therapy session with me once a day. I figured we could do it during dinner, that way your evenings are free. In the mornings we will do some exercising, getting you in the pool or if it is nice out, the ocean."

"Wait, therapy? I'm physically tired" Paige started before Emily cut in.

"I believe that physical healing can be helped with some mental healing. It doesn't hurt to talk things out Paige. You might feel better even. And it isn't really an option." She finished with a smile. "Total honesty."

"Ok, so can we do like deal thing? I answer your question, you answer mine? I don't really like to go on and on about myself." Paige said looking down at her food.

"If you give me total honesty, then I don't see why that would be a problem." Emily said, wishing that the girl wouldn't turn her head down. "What we're you thinking in the pool before your panic attack happens?"

"Just getting right to it?" Emily nodded at her question. "I was thinking that my times better be better than before, or my father was going to kill me. Then I jumped in and everything went away, all thoughts. I don't think of anything but the next stroke or the turn while I'm swimming."

"Your dad gets mad when your times don't improve? You said in the hospital that you don't seem the way you used to in high school and college, why do you think that is?" Emily asked.

"I don't swim for me anymore. In school I did it because it made me happy, made me feel free. To be in the water was like flying. Then he stepped in and suddenly it wasn't what it used to be for me anymore." Paige said, anger in her tone.

"An escape?" Emily asked.

"How did you know?" Paige looked at her.

"I used to swim too. I did it for years before my accident." Emily said.

"What accident?" Paige asked.

"I got in the car with my girlfriend after she had been drinking and she wrecked the car." Emily pulled the collar of her shirt down enough for Paige to see the start of a nasty looking scar. "I was thrown through the windshield. This shoulder taking to majority of the blow."

"Were you drinking?" Paige asked.

"No. I got in the car thinking that she would stop if she knew I was in danger." Emily said sadly.

"What about her?" Paige asked, fearing the answer.

"She died upon impact. I was in the hospital the three weeks. Found out two weeks after that that my shoulder was no longer any good for swimming. Tried some other sports, but everything bothered it too much. So the coach let me stick around and help with physical therapy so I wouldn't lose my scholarship. Found that I really like it, so I changed my major to it. And here I am." Emily said.

"I'm sorry about all that." Paige said, looking Emily squarely in the eye.

"Now it's your turn." Emily said, gathering the plates to do the dishes. Paige stepped up and gently pushed the girl out of the way to do them herself. "Why did you decide to let your dad train you?"

"Would you believe that I had no other options?" Paige asked. Emily shook her head. "He payed for school, as long as I gave him five years to train for the Olympics. He was hoing that I would place in the first three and continue with it."

"And?" Emily asked.

"It's been three years, and I just ended up at the bottom of his pool." Paige said, finishing the last dish. "In a sad way, I'm grateful. I used to love swimming. Now, I don't even like the smell of it. He ruined it for me." Paige said, walking away from the sink, heading to the stairs.

"Use the upstairs shower and bathroom, I'll use the downstairs one. Two water heaters, both can run at the same time. I'll see you tomorrow McCuller's." Emily called after her.

"How early?" Paige yelled back.

"Oh, you will hate me in the morning." Emily responded, watching the girl retreat upstairs. Following Paige was Parker, with difficulty making it up the first two stairs. Emily watched Paige pick the pup up and carry him into her room. This should be interesting, the girl thought.