Dr. Mitchell greeted Sydney at the door of Better Day Women’s Shelter with a tight hug. “I was worried you weren’t going to make it.” “No problem, Dr. Mitchell,” Sydney said as she stepped into the common area of the shelter and took off her lightweight D&G studded leather jacket. “I apologize for being late. There was an accident on Piedmont, and traffic was at a standstill for at least twenty-five minutes.” “Oh, I hope no one was hurt,” Dr. Mitchell mused as she closed the door. “Well, from what I could see, no one was being taken away in the ambulance that arrived at the scene,” Sydney said as she hung up her jacket in the closet. She turned and looked at the slender middle-aged psychologist who served as both on-site therapist and den mother to the shelter residents. “So, where did they decide to hold the meeting—in the rec room or the conference center?” “I do believe everyone is gathered in the rec room,” Dr. Mitchell answered. “After discussing it with Shirley, we both felt that it was important that the setting be informal enough for all the women to feel comfortable sharing.”
