Page 82 of The Leaves In Autumn
The café isn’t half as crowded as when I met Nobel and Van here. Tall, blonde Allison is no where to be seen. That works for me. Not that she has any idea I was considering asking her out. Thank God. It lets me come back for the burgers, under the radar. Teddy scopes the menu.
“How’d you find this place?”
This is the way in.
“My therapist is down the street.”
He looks up.
“Therapist? You’re seeing a therapist?”
“Yeah. I needed a little help figuring things out. Think your old man’s batshit crazy?”
“No. Of course I don’t. I’m glad you’re doing it.”
That surprises me.
“You are?”
“I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. You’ve been unhappy for a long time, Dad.”
“I guess it was more obvious to everyone else. I kind of hid from it.”
“Is he helping you?”
“She. And yes.”
“It’s about Mom, right?”
“Mostly. That’s where it stems from. But my sister’s death played a part too.”
“I get that. Sam saw a therapist. Did you know that?”
“Yeah. We all did because he was a child. Scarlett wanted us to help her decide. She didn’t know what the fuck she was doing. All of a sudden, she was a mother and needed help making decisions for Sam.”
“He told me all about it. Said the first guy was an idiot. But he liked the second doctor. He connected with her.”
“That’s good to hear. And cool that he shared it with you.”
“You know Sam. He’s a confident guy. And a talker. He used to tell me about how he could see up her skirt whenever she crossed her legs.”
“Whatever got him there!”
“This family has been through some real shit.”
His take makes us both chuckle.
“Reality bites sometimes.”
“So do you feel better?”
“Yes. It’s going to take time though, and I’m not under the assumption every memory will magically disappear. But I feel like I am looking from another angle. One that’s kinder to me. I don’t get ripped to shreds whenever I’m triggered. And being alone isn’t the same comfort. So that’s progress.”
“Thank goodness. I was getting worried. You’re still a youngish guy. It’s no way to live.”
“Youngish? I’ll take it.”
“Did you have to sit there answering a hundred questions?”
