A Sister's Promise (Promises) by Lenfestey Karen

Author:Lenfestey, Karen [Lenfestey, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

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Kate parked in front of the Victorian house whose best days were behind her and noticed the shutter outside Michelle’s window barely hanging on by one hinge.

Kate didn’t like Crew Cut Man. She didn’t like him at all. But Michelle wanted him back. Unfortunately, Michelle needed him back. And it was Kate’s job to somehow make him want to come back when what she really wanted was to have him arrested for statutory rape.

Once inside, Kate saw rosy-cheeked Graciella in her playpen. Her attitude softened like jello. “Hi, sweetie.” She waved at the baby dressed in yellow ducky pajamas.

“Want to hold her?” Michelle asked.

Kate considered it for a moment. Then she picked Graciella up and carried her to the lumpy futon opposite Michelle and Crew Cut Man. The two waited for Kate to take charge as she searched for the right words.

“Thank you for coming,” Kate said to him, trying to disguise her insincerity.

He nodded his acknowledgement. Too macho to even speak.

Graciella deserved better than him. “Well, let me explain why we’re here. My understanding is that you both want to make this marriage work, but your circumstances have made it very difficult. Is that accurate?”

They nodded in agreement. Graciella started to cry. Kate placed her against her chest and rubbed the baby’s back in a circular motion. Graciella, however, continued bawling and Kate had to admit it was rather annoying.

Michelle took her from Kate. “I think Gracie is getting a tooth.” Although at first the baby continued fussing, she calmed down when Michelle rubbed her gums. But Michelle had to split her attention between keeping her daughter calm and working out a solution to her bigger problem. Kate couldn’t help but think if Michelle hadn’t had a baby in the first place, she could walk away from Crew Cut Man and never look back.

“Certainly having a baby is extremely stressful,” Kate said with unwarranted authority. “Even though it’s wonderful that you have Graciella, the truth is you two didn’t have much of a chance to get to know each other first. Marriage takes a lot of work.” Oh, great. Instead of using Carl Rogers’s “unconditional positive regard” she was using the Cliché Counseling Technique. “Which one of you would like to go first in explaining what you need from the other person?”

The kitchen faucet dripped. Michelle and her husband remained silent, looking uncomfortable. Drip. How could Michelle sleep at night with the faucet dripping every five seconds? It was like anticipating, but not being able to block a slap in the face. Drip.

Kate forced herself to make eye contact with Crew Cut Man. “OK. Let me start with you.” Drip. “How do you feel about Michelle going to school?”

“I want her to go. I want her to get her diploma and go to college if she wants to. Michelle’s too smart to end up working in a factory like me.”

Wow. He wasn’t a complete jerk after all.

Michelle looked at him and smiled.

Kate’s shoulders relaxed as she gave the trademark counselor nod.

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