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Giselle’s smile faltered briefly, and her shoulders slumped before she nodded and closed the door behind her. Could I have imagined her disappointment? Did she enjoy our solo meetings as much as I did? I tempered my excitement, because I knew that soon Bethany would be in here with us, and she would bring her negative energy with her.
She took her seat in the armchair beside the couch, and I made sure to scoot to the other side of the couch so that I could be closer to her.
“Did you do your homework?”
I nodded. “I did. Well, as much as I could.”
“What does that mean?”
“It simply means that I tried to have the conversation, but it only got so far before my wife decided that she wasn’t interested.”
“Casimir, what is it that you believe is holding you and your wife back from making any type of progress?”
I sighed. “She doesn’t want a traditional marriage. Beth wants the freedom to live her life without restrictions and not having to answer to anyone. I want a wife.”
“Does she know what that means to you?”
“She does. We had an in-depth conversation about our expectations before we married, and we both agreed to the other’s views. We made some changes to make sure that our goals aligned. Or at least we did verbally. But that’s about as far as those changes went. A conversation.”
“Have you shared with her how that makes you feel?”
“I have.”
“And what does she say?”
“Let’s just say that I think you would fit the view of a wife that I have better than my wife does or would be willing to.”
She angled her head in a peculiar manner. Then she shook it and stated, “Let’s not do that.”
“I’m simply being honest.”
She sighed dramatically. “I have to be an unbiased facilitator in this process. My personal feelings, thoughts, and life decisions have no place in these sessions, Mr. Perez. Is that understood?”
“I understand. But it doesn’t change my perspective.”
She leaned forward a little, and my eyes swept down to her cleavage. Realizing her mistake, she instantly sat up and tugged the cowl neckline of her taupe-colored fitted dress back up.
“Here’s what I have to offer. My services as your marriage counselor or recommendations for another provider who you can maintain strict professional boundaries with, Mr. Perez.”
“I really wish you would call me Casimir.”
“And I really wish you would respect the professional boundaries.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that you don’t refer me to another professional.”
“Not just you, but Mrs. Perez as well.”
I nodded and sat back in my seat just as the door swung open. Bethany’s cheeks were red, and her eyes were bright.
“So, what did I miss?” she asked and clapped her hands together.
“We were discussing the homework that I gave Mr. Perez on his last visit.”
“Oh, the unauthorized visit?” Bethany stated and glared at me.
Giselle’s eyes swung back and forth between my wife and me, but she didn’t say anything.
“I explained to Dr. Champagne that I attempted to have a conversation with you regarding how you thought I saw our marriage.”