“A family therapist,” I said plainly hoping for no arguments.

“A therapist,” she repeated.

“We need this, Bette. We need help keeping this family together.”

She opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted by the other door in the office opening.

“Tina, Evan, Bette, come in.”

*****

I looked up at the to see who that deep voice belonged to and nearly… uh… creamed my pants. My mouth fell open when my eyes landed on the six foot tall lean but definitely hiding a few muscles, male therapist.

I followed behind my mothers and entered the office. He introduced himself as Reardon Lynn and offered us a seat. My mother chose the couch, the only seat in the room. Tina sat next to her and I sat next to Tina. As far away from my mother as I could.

“Why dont you tell me about why youre here?”

Not everyone answered at once. And then finally…

“As a family weve stopped talking to each other. I dont know what is going on in my daughters life or my wifes and in turn they know nothing about mine.”

“Communication is important in every relationship,” he stated.

“Yeah well, what about when they want to know everything? I cant have any secrets,” I kind of muttered.

“Evan?” he asked me to elaborate.

I stayed quiet.

“Okay… Bette, do you feel the same way?”

“The same way as Evan or the same way as Tina?”

“Either one.”

I bowed my head staring at his feet, his big feet, as my mother answered.

“We dont talk anymore.”

“And who do you feel is responsible for that?”

“I guess were all to blame.”

“And why is that?”

*****

When is he going to stop grilling me? I thought.

He wanted answers I didnt want to give.

“Because she broke her promise of being there,” Tina answered.

“Being home?”

“Shes to involved with her work. She promised to be home more when I lost the baby. She promised to be home when Evan was sick. She promised to be home when we first got married but hasnt kept her promise yet,” Tina rattled off.

“Anything you want to say, Bette?”

“What could she say? Its true. She hasnt been home,” Evan answered for me.