I took my time explaining and sharing with them everything up to this exact point, and took a cookie off the plate in the center of the table while I waited for them to respond.Both of them sat there, glancing at one another, a little sly smile on both their lips when I stopped talking, and then they both turned and looked at me.
“We know you are hurting.It’s clear.Though I think you need to give her a chance to explain,” Iris said.“I mean, you are a counselor.You know the importance of allowing someone time to explain their side, but you stopped her before she had the chance.”
Iris had hit the nail on the head.I was exactly that, and I knew the importance.Only it seemed different when you were the one in the middle of the conflict.It was easier to cast the blame and run, not allowing the other person to voice their side and risk being hurt by the truth.
“What if what I believe is true?That she got the card and chose not to respond?”I questioned.
“Well, I think then you have a right to know.However, without knowing Mindi well, I know what her heart is like, and I know she’d not do anything to anyone just to intentionally hurt them,” Iris said, resting her hand under her chin and looking at Zach.“What do you think?”she questioned.
“I agree.I think maybe you need to give it some time.Digest what your beliefs are, and once you have done that and calmed down and are ready to be open enough to listen, and I really stress that part, then approach her.Obviously, the shock of seeing that card again was what drove you to act the way you did.You weren’t expecting to see the card.Instead, you were maybe ready to take the relationship you once had and see if there was anything still there.I think you need to give her a chance to really explain and share with you, not railroad her.”
“Oh God, I did that, didn’t I?”I said, running my hands over my face.
“I’m afraid so,” Zach added while Iris nodded.
“I’m a horrible person,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee and shoving another cookie into my mouth.
“No, you are human,” Iris said, getting up from her chair just as Grace came into the kitchen, her head hung low.
“Hey, Gracie,” I said.
Zach turned and looked at his daughter and then tapped his knee.“What is it, pumpkin?”he questioned.
Grace climbed up onto his knee while Iris brought over a glass of milk and handed her a cookie.
“I’m just sad.”
“Why?”Iris questioned, looking to me and then back to Grace.
“Because Sarah is going to be leaving.She didn’t want you to know, or for Mindi to know, but she was crying last night.”
Iris patted Gracie’s head as she buried her face in her father’s shoulder.Zach looked over at me and hugged his daughter.
“Why?”
“She wants to stay with Mindi.Noah, can you help her?”Gracie asked, looking over at me with her huge brown eyes.
“Oh, sweetie, I don’t think Noah can do anything for her, but don’t be sad for her,” Iris said.“She’s going to find a new home.”
“I know, but it won’t be here.”She pouted.
Iris looked at me and smiled softly.“Gracie and Sarah became great friends over the summer.”
“Well, you can still be friends.Distance doesn’t stop that,” I said.
“Please, there must be something you can do for her.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but it’s not up to me,” I said, looking at both Zach and Iris.
“Gracie, why don’t you take your milk and cookies and go watch some TV?”Iris said, grabbing her a small glass of milk.
“Fine.”She sighed, then grabbed her glass of milk and hopped off her father’s lap and took off toward the sitting room, leaving the three of us in the kitchen once again.
“Grace has been hinting that we should take Sarah in,” Iris told me.
“Ah, I see,” I answered.
“She thinks it’s that easy.We’ve tried explaining things to her, but, well, she’s eleven.”
