Page 1 of After All

Chapter 1

Amelie

“I’m not putting my mouth… there! That’s just?—”

“Please refrain from using negative language about your partner’s desires, Lori.”

My patient’s head turns so fast she nearly falls from the edge of the cushion to the floor.

“You know what, Dr. Evans, I’m done here,” Lori says, standing and grabbing her bag before stomping out of the room.

“I’m sorry,” her partner, Isabel says.

“You don’t owe me an apology for someone else’s behavior,” I remind her gently, but firmly.

She leans forward, her hands spearing into her curls, gripping them tightly as she lets out a deep, guttural moan. “How did we make it this long, Dr. Evans? I mean, we’ve been together since junior year of college, and I’ll be forty-two next month. That’s half my life… hell, it’s more than half my life.”

Isabel stands and paces the small room, shaking her head and muttering to herself. I can only make out a handful of words, one here or there, but when I hear her mumble the word, “idiot”, I stop her.

“Isabel, that’s not healthy or productive self-talk.”

“Oh, it’s not me I’m calling an idiot. It’s her.”

I try and fail to stifle the snicker. “I’m so sorry. That’s very unprofessional of me. You took me by surprise. I’ve never heard you use that type of language about her. Only yourself. Please, forgive me.”

She smiles. “No apology necessary. I just don’t understand how one simple request can be met with so much adamant refusal without ever trying it. I just want one honest attempt, and if she doesn’t like it, then I can live without it. It’s not a deal-breaker if she tries it and hates it.”

I pause, letting her sit with her words for a moment as she leans an elbow against the wall and chews on her thumbnail.

“The real question is whether her being unmovable is a deal-breaker. If she can’t bring herself to compromise and meet you somewhere close to the middle. You’ve given a lot in this relationship, and I know it’s a sticking point for you. Consistently. It comes up time and time again, and I don’t want you to resent Lori any more than you already do.”

“Yeah. I hear you, Doc.”

“Two weeks? A month? When do you want to come back for the next session?”

Lori shrugs, and I hate to see her so defeated. “I don’t know. Can I call and schedule once I figure out what’s going on in my brain?”

“Of course, Lori. Call anytime. Suzette will be happy to schedule you whenever I have an opening.”

“Thanks,” Lori says, starting to reach her hand towards mine to shake it, but remembering at the last minute, and walking out the door.

Five minutes later, I type the session notes into my database and click save just before a knock sounds on my door. “Amelie?”

“Come in,” I call to Suzette, my office manager.

“Hey, Lori just called. Said she might need a referral.”

“For?” I ask, confused.

“A therapist.” Suzette pauses, her eyes widening. “For just her.”

“Oh…” I say, frowning at the implications of that. Lori knows I only provide therapy for couples attending together.

“Yeah,” Suzette says sadly.

“I’ll look up a few names and get you a list tomorrow.”

Suzette holds up one finger to tell me to wait, trots to the front door and flips the lock, and hustles back down the hall. Flopping into the sofa, she throws her feet up on the pouf in front of her.

---