“It is, because it’s her life and that affects you as well.”
“I worry about her. A lot,” Elijah said.
I tried to give him thewe aren’t supposed to lielook. But the sincere expression on his face caught me off guard.
“What advice about this situation were you hoping for, Sutton?”
“Oh, I think my mom, whether purposefully or subconsciously, is keeping herself sick in hopes my dad will come home and care for her. And I don’t think manipulation is the answer on my mom’s part, but I do think she deserves closure. What do you think I could say to him to get him to come?”
She drew in a breath. “That’s a big question that I don’t have an answer for. I don’t know if there is anything youcouldsay to make him come. That has to be his decision.”
“So I shouldn’t call him?”
“You should call him. Tell him what you just told me and then let him decide.”
“And if he never answers the phone?”
“Then maybe you have his answer.”
“Did you already try to call him?” Elijah asked softly next to me. “And he hasn’t called you back?” How did he know that?
I nodded.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Maybe therapy wasn’t for everyone, like I had originally thought, because this was too much. Too much pressure behind my eyes. Too much weight on my shoulders. Too many thoughts swirling in my head.
“It’s okay to feel whatever you’re feeling,” Dr. Franklin said.
I gave a curt nod.
“It’s also okay to say whatever you want to. This is a judgment-free zone,” she said.
“I’m okay. I need it to be Elijah’s turn.”
Again, she gave me a soft smile. “Elijah, how did the homework go last week?”
“We didn’t—”
“I scratched the first box,” I said. “But then life got in the way of doing the rest.”
“You did?” Elijah asked.
“Did you do what the first box revealed?” she asked.
“That sexy text,” I said to him. “Asking you out.”
“That was homework?” Why did he have to look so hurt? I didn’t need more emotions right now.
“No… I mean, yes, but I wanted to. I really wanted to,” I said.
I could see the Adam’s apple bob in his throat, but he took my hand in his and smiled through whatever he was feeling. “It was a really fun text,” he said.
Dr. Franklin beamed. “That’s great. Finish the rest of the sheet, okay? It’s a great exercise.” She wrote something else in her notebook. “And Sutton, being a caretaker is hard. Taking a weekend away wouldn’t be selfish. But I’m not going to assign that as homework, even though I want to, because I know theguilt that might cause. But if you decide to do that, I fully support you. I’m sure Elijah would as well.”
“Yes,” he said, “I would.”
“Thank you.”
