Under the Influence

Transparency

Shawnie's POV

"What?" I say happily. "What's this?"

"Don't get too excited. I also texted Mr. Graham, and he's on his way back up."

I instantly get mad. "What's the point of this?"

"Okay....." she takes a seat next to me. "First off, let me apologize for basically ambushing you. I knew the repercussions from inviting him, but I did it anyway. In a somewhat unprofessional way, I am really trying to get you to understand your feelings for both of them and that a lot of what you're going through now has to do with your childhood and the issues you've dealt with. Some of your mental issues cloud your judgment, which I've already told you, but with your situation, it's really hard for you to make a decision, and I see that. So I'm only trying to do what's right for you and help you see some clarity on the situation. I know I'm your therapist, but we've gotten very close outside of therapy, too, and I do feel like I somewhat take on a motherly role. All I want to do is help you with that. Honestly, that's what I'm trying to do, so I'm sorry if you thought I ambushed and made you feel uncomfortable. I swear I only had good intentions."

"No, I get it. And it actually makes me understand my feelings a little bit more. As I said earlier, I have feelings for Aubrey. I have a little love for him, but I am so deeply in love with Chris, and although we have our issues, he's the only one I want to work this out with. I might've jumped the gun a little bit when I said I was trying to get over Aubrey. I'm over him, but sometimes I feel a certain way about some of the time we spent together. Obviously, I kind of miss that, but honestly, I only wanna be with Chris, and not because we have a baby on the way, but because I love him with all of me." I look at the TV and see Chris just sitting there. He clearly couldn't hear any of the conversation between Dr. Washington and me.

"I know you love him. I really do. And I am rooting for you two." She says, "I have no doubt in my mind that you two aren't going to get through this."

"Me too," I say

"So let me break this down for you. Mr. Brown has agreed to have this final meeting with you and Mr. Graham. Once again, I took it upon myself to make this happen. You know, I've been asking you for the longest time to do this, and I have gotten nowhere. I have been in contact with Chris's therapists, and we feel that this is something that needs to happen, but it needs to happen in a different setting. I feel with Mr. Brown being here remotely, that is safer for everyone, and we can get a little bit more accomplished... of course, with my guidance on this."

I look at the TV, and she does something with the remote, and I hear audio. Chris was mumbling something to Dr. Foxx.

"Go ahead, he can hear you now." She says

"Baby, you agreed to this?" I ask

"Yeah, baby." He says, smiling, "You look beautiful, baby."

"Thank you. You don't know how much I needed to hear that." I say. "I'm only doing this because you agreed."

"Cool, let's get it!" He says being upbeat. He seems to be in a really good mood today.

Then Aubrey walks back into the room. He sees Chris on the TV and quietly walks over to the sofa and sits on the opposite side of me.

I take a deep breath and let it out, "Here we go again." I say out loud.

"How this is going to go is whoever wants to talk first can speak first, but the other two need to stay quiet unless someone asks someone else a question, then you're free to answer that."

"Can I say something?" Chris says

"Yes, good ahead." Dr. Washington says

"I got to say something to Shawnie, but I need Drake to like leave for like five minutes."