CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO – BABY STEPS

A soft knock at her door roused her from her thoughts. Zoe peeked in, looking as tired as Joan felt. "Hey, boss. Ready to call it a day?" Joan glanced at the stack of files on her desk and sighed. "I should really finish these reports..." Zoe walked in and perched on the edge of Joan's desk. "Those reports will still be there tomorrow. Come on, let's grab a drink. We've earned it." After a moment's hesitation, Joan nodded. "You're right. Just let me grab my coat." As they locked up the center and headed to a nearby bar, Joan felt the tension of the day start to ease from her shoulders. Once settled at a quiet corner table with their drinks, Zoe raised her glass. "To surviving another day in the trenches of mental health." Joan clinked her glass against Zoe's. "And to having the best team I could ask for." They sipped their drinks in comfortable silence for a moment before Zoe spoke up. "So, that case with Emma... how are you holding up?" Joan sighed, twirling her glass betwee