‘You made it,’ I said when he ended the call and instantly regretted my tone, which sounded caustic. I remembered what Julia had said last week about respecting one another. Sardonic comments wouldn’t help either of us.
‘I told you I would, didn’t I?’ he snarled, putting his phone into his jacket pocket.
It was only then that I noticed, Julia was standing at the door, waiting for us.
We went inside and took the same seats as last week.
‘So how have you both been?’ she asked, smiling broadly at each of us.
‘Good,’ I lied because I don’t know what else to say.
‘How did you get on with the homework I gave you?’
Julia was referring to the exercise where she wanted us to recall what had drawn us to one another in the first place.
Neither of us replied.
‘Okay, Maya, let’s start with you. I’d like you recall the first time you met Hugo. What did you think of him?’
I squirmed, hating feeling so vulnerable. So exposed. ‘Well… I guess… I… em… I thought he was attractive, definitely. I also liked his confidence, like he owned the room.’
‘Thank you, Maya. And now your turn, Hugo. What did you first think when you met Maya?’
His eyes took on a faraway look. ‘Well I thought she was really beautiful. She stood out. She was with a group of her friends and she was the first one I noticed. Then when I started talking to her, I discovered she was good fun to be around.’
‘So do you still think of her like that?’
I held my breath, waiting for his response.
‘Sure… I guess… I mean look at her, she’s stunning.’
I sagged with relief. It had been a long time since I had heard him say anything nice about me. At least he still found me attractive.
‘And would you say she is still good fun too?’
He didn’t reply and instead looked across the room to where the fronds of the sorry-looking aloe vera plant were hanging over its pot.
‘Hugo?’ she prompted. ‘I need you to open up here or we’re not going to get anywhere.’
‘I don’t get to see the fun side of her any more,’ he admitted.
I felt fury warm my veins. ‘How can I be fun when you’re never around?’ I retorted. ‘I’m practically raising Elliot by myself. It kind of zaps the fun from everything.’
‘This is what I mean,’ Hugo said in exasperation. ‘She is constantly getting digs at me. She criticises every little thing that I say or do. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells whenever she’s near.’
‘Oh, so I’m a nagging wife, is that what you’re saying?’
‘Okay, Maya,’ Julia said, stepping in. ‘I need you to be calm and let Hugo speak.’
I fell quiet, chastened.
‘Why do you think Maya criticises you, Hugo?’
He shrugged. ‘I don’t know but sometimes, it’s like she really seems to hate me.’
I stared at him, furious. He was painting me as the bad guy here. The whole reason we needed counselling was because ofhim.
‘What normally happens when Maya starts at you?’ Julia pushed further. She had this annoying habit of holding yourgaze until you felt so uncomfortable that you had to blurt out something to fill the silence.
