Toni
I sat on the couch next to Janet. Even though we made up and aren't getting a divorce, we still need to talk about things. I feel like there's something that Janet is hiding from me. Not like cheating or anything but some feelings and I never want her to hide from me. "I don't want to do this." She slouched on the couch.
"Janet, this is necessary. There's so much we need to talk about."
"We did talk."
"That's only the surface. I feel like there's more and because we haven't had the best communication skills lately, we need some extra help."
"What makes you think we don't have good communication skills?"
"Umm, we almost got a divorce because of assumptions." She groaned. "Fine." She pouted. Oh my god. I forgot about this part of her. This is why our children are the way they are. They pout and whine just like her.
"Hello." Dr. Agnew walked in. "Hey, Janet. Hey, Toni."
"Hi." I said. Janet just pouted.
"I take it Janet doesn't want to do this."
"She's stubborn, Dr. Agnew." She laughed.
"Don't I know it and by the way, it's Franklin now."
"Oh, you remarried?"
"Yes."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you." She opened her notebook. "So what seems to be the issue?"
"Well, Janet and I were near divorce because of miscommunication. I thought she wanted one and she thought I wanted one."
"That's a twisted little knot."
"It is. See I feel like most of our problems, on both sides, started after her brother died."
"Oh yeah, Michael. I was so sorry to hear that."
"Yeah. I just feel like our whole marriage took a hit because of how took the death and how I dealt with her emotions connected to it."
"That's very open and honest Toni."
"Then can she stay, because I don't want to be here." said Janet.
"Why don't you want to be here, Janet?" Janet sat up.
"Because I've dealt with my stuff already. I've taken the steps and I've done the work. I'm good."
"That's the same thing I said about my son's death. It's because we're both trained psychologists and just like medical doctors, we are the worst type of people to go to therapy. We know all the tricks and the engaging trigger statements. However, we're also the people that need it the most." Janet smacked her lips.
"I don't need therapy."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't." Dr. Agnew, I mean Franklin and Janet looked at each other for a minute. Dr. Franklin looked at me with a smile.
"Toni, can you step outside for a quick second for me? I'll call you right back in."
"Oh...okay, sure." I got up and went into the hall. I figured whatever she wanted to say to Janet was private so I walked to the vending machine. Looking it over, I found a bag of chips and Janet some Cheeto puffs.
"Toni." I heard Dr. Franklin called me and I looked at her. "You can come back now."
"Cool." I walked back with the snacks and saw Janet sitting up on the couch. She was fidgeting with her fingers.
