Page 32 of The Holidays with Dr. Mitchell
“Well, of course. Everyone knows you’ve got to pay the doctor, and the doctor has to eat.”
“This is where your ego has deceived you, and your arrogance shines brightly tonight,” Gus smiled. “You speak lies to get through this program. That’s not at all uncommon,” Gus glanced around the room. “Most men who are disconnected from their true sense of self lie and deceive and play games.” He lookedat me, “They are quick to anger and slow to forgiveness. Dr. Mitchell and Collin have shown us a valuable lesson, one we must always be mindful of.”
“And that is?” Collin said, his mood now matching mine.
“Deceiving the ones trying to help soothe you and your spirit is merely deceiving yourselves. You hurt only yourself by lying through your teeth to progress through this program.”
“That’s the thing. I love my wife and my kids,” I said honestly. “This trip was supposed to be a fun retreat. I thought we’d be firing up the sex life on all cylinders, but here I am instead in some weird-ass situation, feeling like a child who is getting busted for talking in class. I swear, I didn’t sign up for this shit.”
“No, you didn’t. Your wives signed you up,” Gustoff looked at Collin and me. “I knew you two would be the most difficult among us because the other men signed up for this themselves.”
“So, my wife knew I would be going through this?” I answered, a bit disturbed that Ash would go so hardcore on my ass.
Shit, remind me never to miss John’s band recital again.
“They knew you would all be reunited with more intense love and passion,” Gustoff said. “Before we go further in our outdoor therapy, which will be braiding palms, I want to acknowledge that I am quite impressed with Dr. Mitchell and Collin today. Collin has shown me motivation, whether based on deceit or not, and Dr. Mitchell has shown me that he is progressing toward ego death by relating himself to his youthful inner child.” He clapped his hands, “Good work today to the both of you.”
I looked at Collin as if he’d grown two heads and then back to Gus as if he’d grown three. This was only day one of this circus, and I already wasn’t sure what kind of man I’d return to Ash as. I was exhausted, hungry for a rare steak, and dying to be home. I would give just about anything to be at home and decorating forChristmas with Ash. Hell, I’d even put on a goddamn apron and bake fucking Christmas cookies. All the things I usually took for granted sounded like paradise right now.
My mind went to Ash, wondering if she was enjoying herself. She loved the holiday season, Bing Crosby playing in the background while she and the kids baked cookies and fudge and decorated the tree. Half the time, I referred to her as Mrs. Claus because she went all-out for the holidays, starting the day after Thanksgiving. Now, we were separated on this remote island, and it didn’t feel like the holidays. To make matters worse, she couldn’t decorate anything or bake cookies with the kids because we were here killing our egos.
I had to make this up to her. She was probably coming off the back of shitting in the sand all night while eating grass and participating in things that pulled her farther away from the festive brightness of the holiday season.
Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I became concerned about ruining the holidays for Ash by coming here and greedily thinking I’d be screwing my wife for two weeks straight to bring some fiery passion back to our lives. All she would’ve wanted was just to have me present while decorating the family Christmas tree, but instead, we were here. I had no idea how miserable my lady was on the other side of this island. Maybe tonight, if we didn’t drink the shitting poison, Collin and I could escape and get back to the ladies. I’d book our flights home, and we’d be there in time to decorate and enjoy our children and families.
Because at this rate, with Collin selling out and not getting my back to save his own, he and I would wind up mortal enemies by the end of everything. Somehow, I felt responsible for saving Christmas…and I would.
CHAPTER 17
Ash
We were officially on day four of this relaxing and rejuvenating retreat, and I was ready for the men to return. I was fully refreshed and couldn’t wait to show Jake and Collin the adorable ornaments Laney and I crafted yesterday after a relaxing two-hour massage, facials, manicures, and pedicures. This place was paradise for an exhausted mom like me; however, I missed my husband, and the buzz was that they may return tonight or tomorrow.
“Are we going for morning yoga?” Laney asked after we finished eating another delicious breakfast that this place spoiled us with.
“Why don’t we skip yoga and meditation classes and finish the ornaments? Then, we can take the kayaks out after that. What do you think?”
Laney nudged me in my side, “You, skip meditation?”
I smirked. “You all give me a hard time about being into all this stuff, but I’m not rigid about it. I just like to keep myselfgrounded and centered when I’m stressed, which happens to be often when I’m home,” I laughed. “Being here seems like a meditation on its own, you know?”
“I get that,” Laney said. “I have to say I like meditating now that I’ve gotten the hang of quieting my mind.”
“It’s easy to do it at a place like this,” I said, glancing at the light aquamarine water.
“It is,” Laney answered as we walked along the wooden dock-like walkway that led to the entryways of our over-the-water villas.
“So, what should we do?” I asked when we got to the front of Laney’s place.
“Let’s finish the last of the ornaments we were making for the kids. After that, I’d love to get into my bikini and kayak,” she said while I followed her inside.
“This place is so cute, but I’m going to get cheesy for a second and say I wish the guys were here to enjoy it with us,” I said, sitting at the table where our ornaments and paints sat out from the previous day.
Laney sat across from me. “I know. I feel bad saying this,” she cringed, “but I’m getting kind of bored. I’m ready for Collin and Jake to get back.”
“Who knows whether they will come back today,” I answered, dipping my paintbrush in the cobalt blue color and sliding it gently down the side of the starfish I was painting. “From how we’re getting pampered over here, I’m confident the guys are being spoiled rotten on their side of the island with ziplines and who knows what else.”
A knock at the door startled us both. I immediately wondered if the men were finally back, and I felt a jolt of excitement course through me at the thought.
