It's Saturday morning, Fatima slept late after having trouble sleeping.
"Good morning sleepy head. I made breakfast." Zac entered the bedroom with a tray full of food. He made pancakes, cheese eggs, and fruit with orange juice.
"Good morning." Fatima yawns.
Zac places the tray on the bed, opens the blinds, and then kisses Fatima.
"Oh babe, somebody needs some mouthwash," he joked.
"Whatever."
"How are you feeling? You tossed and turned all night."
"No, I didn't sleep well. I had a lot on my mind."
Fatima thought about taking Zac's advice. He felt like they needed to lay everything on the table. All these secrets have to be aired out.
After breakfast, Fatima called her mother.
"Hey Ma. Look I think you, Dad, and I need to talk. You need to come clean with him. I mean at this point there is nothing to lose. Now that y'all are divorcing, what is the worst that can happen?"
"Idk, Fatima. I don't think that would be a good idea." Lady Pat said.
"That's why we are going to the therapist, so things won't get out of hand."
"Ok if you think it would work."
"I will call Dr. Jada to schedule an appointment to meet with her."
***
A week later Fatima, Lady Pat, and Pastor Fred agreed to meet with the therapist.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. I am glad to see you both here," Dr. Jada greeted them. "Nice to see you again Fatima."
"Good afternoon," they all responded.
"So can someone tell me what brought you all here today?"
Fatima explained the backstory that she was told about her estranged grandmother.
"Wow, that is a lot. Did you just find all this out, Fatima?"
"Yes, my dad told me last week and my mother confirmed it all," Fatima responded. She then looked at her mother and reached out to grab her hand for support. "But there is more that my dad needs to know."
Pastor Fred looks at the two of them confused. "What do you mean there is more?"
"Dad please, just listen. Mom has a confession to make."
Lady Pat turns towards her soon-to-be ex-husband. "Fred, do you remember that night when we had that argument and I left to stay the night at the Johnson's? Well, that night Celeste was not there. She was out of town for business, but Mr. Johnson said I could stay anyway. We had a few drinks and things happened."
"Are you saying that you had an affair with Mr. Johnson?" Fred was livid.
"It was only one time," Mrs. Pat stated.
"One time!" He started to yell.
"Dad, please calm down."
"So, your mother has been lying this entire time and you want me to calm down?" Pastor Fred stands up to leave.
"Mr. Fred, can you please have a seat?" Dr. Jada asked.
"I'm leaving. I'm not staying for this foolery."
"Dad, have a seat so that we can get this all over with."
Pastor Fred sits back down to continue the therapy session. Mrs. Pat finishes her story. She tells him how Celeste blackmailed her and the real reason she wanted them to get married.
"Mom. I am trying to understand everything that you said and shy you did what you did, but I still think you treated my husband horribly," said Fatima.
"I know. I would like to apologize for acting out of character. I would like to apologize to Zac, also."
"Thank you. I receive that," Fatima responded. The two hug it out.
"Fred, I want to apologize to you for cheating."
Fred just sits there silently.
Dr. Jada speaks. "Pastor Fred, what are you thinking at this moment?"
"May I be dismissed? I need a minute to process everything," he responded.
"I will be rapping up this session. I would like you all to come back next week for another session. What I want you to do is write down how you feel about everything you've heard and witnessed today. Thank you and I will see you next week."
"Thank you," said Fatima and they all get up to leave. Pastor Fred left without a word.
***
Thirty minutes Fatima arrived home. Her mom texted her to see if she could stop by to apologize to Zac.
Fatima to Mom: give me a minute to ask Zac.
She goes upstairs to find Zac in the nursery with Jurnee.
"Hey babe," she greeted him and Jurnee with a kiss.
"How did therapy go?"
"It went better than expected. I'm worried about Dad though," Fatima said. "I think Mom is going to be on her apology tour. She wants to come over now to apologize to you."
Zac shakes his head. "I'm not here for the foolery. I know she's your mom and you can forgive her and accept her back into your life all you want, but I don't. I don't have to speak to her."
"Babe, don't be like that."
"Be like what? The way she treated me, naw T."
They both head downstairs while Jurnee is sleeping.
"Are you hungry? I made dinner," Zac went into the kitchen to make their plates.
"Yes. I'm starving."
After he makes their plate, they sit and eat quietly.
"Better yet let her come over. I have some questions that I need to get off my chest."
"Zachary!!"
"Fatima!!"
Zac just looks at her seriously. Fatima grabs her phone and texts her mom to come over.
