Tired and disallusioned, Kate drags to therapy.

Chapter Nine

Wednesday, 7 p.m.

            Kate, finished with cleaning up the kitchen, plopped down in the family room in her recliner.  She closed her eyes and let out a big sigh.  Slumped with her arms dangled over the arms of the chair, it was therapy night.  Marital therapy.  “Ugh” escaped from way down in her lungs when she realized that she had to work tonight afterwards. Picking up Jessica at the police station and delivering her tearfully home had cut into Kate’s sleep.  She really needed a nap before going to work, but she didn’t figure she was going to get one as she drifted off to sleep.

Kate jerked awake with the noise of Rob setting up the ironing board.  She couldn’t believe it.  Rob was going to iron clothes?   Pair of black slacks and a dress shirt were draped over the back of the sofa.  Kate got up and headed out of the room to get Isabel and Lillian into their pajamas.  The babysitter would appreciate it.

Rob sneered to Kate.  “Are you going dressed as you are?

Turning back Kate said, “I thought I would.  My jeans and blouse are clean.”

Rob smiled at Kate and said, “I wouldn’t if I were you.”

“Why?  Is our marriage going to become perfect if we are dressed nicer than usual?”

“I guess that’s not going to happen.  I’m going to look nice anyway.  You do as you chose.”

“Thanks for your permission.”  Kate didn’t waste any further time leaving.

Rob led the way into Dr. Elise O’Connor’s office.  He took his usual seat on the sofa and signaled Kate to sit next to him.  Kate sat down next to Rob.  She wondered.  Why?  Why had she sat next to him?  She wanted to get up and sit in a chair, alone.  She looked over at it.  Could she move?  Did she have the guts?  Kate got up and sat in the chair farthest from the sofa Rob was on.  Rob glared at her.

Kate was nervous now.  She had done what she wanted to and it was new to her.  She had made her own decision.  Kate sat there in her own world trying to remember outside of work when she had made a decision for herself personally.  She made them professionally at work.  She made decisions for their daughters.  She even made decisions for Rob.  But Kate couldn’t remember when she had last made a decision for herself independent of her family.

“Kate.”  Dr. O’Connor said.  “Rob and I were talking about how you two have been getting along since the last session.”

“Oh.”  Kate was confused for a moment.  All that came to mind was a blur of the girls, angry Rob and the vague remembrances of multiple surgical cases in the past week.  She looked down into her lap at her hands wondering what to say about the fear that accompanied her memories. 

Rob frowned.  “I’ve had to do more work around the house, and it has really messed up my schedule.  It’s her work.”  Rob pointed at Kate.

Kate looked up, first at Rob then at Dr. O’Connor.  She sighed.  Here we go with the complaints.  Kate wondered if she had the strength to argue with Rob tonight.  She looked at Dr. O’Connor who at 7 p.m. looked great and put together.  Kate felt frumpy and dull.  She was intimidated.  Kate remained quiet and shrugged her shoulders. 

“So, what extra do you have to do?  I’m wondering because Kate looks tired and worn out.  She looks like she could use the help.”

“I have to chase down my laundry because it’s never put away.  I’ve had to cook dinner twice this week.  And then the girls.”  Rob paused and rolled his eyes.  “I’ve had to help them take a bath and get into their pajamas because Kate was still cleaning up the kitchen.  The house is a mess and nothing is getting done.”       

“Then sometimes Lillian and Isabel wake up early, especially Lillian and she wants breakfast.  I’m trying to enjoy my coffee.”  Rob pointed at Kate again.  “If she would do the work she is supposed to do, I wouldn’t be bothered.”

Red was spreading over Kate’s face.  “Just what do you want Rob?  You’re talking about a time when I am at work.  How am I supposed to be at home making sure you get your coffee time and work making money at the same time?”  Kate moved to the edge of her chair.  Her eyes narrowed.  “You were against me working only part time.  You wanted me to work full time.  So I would have been home less than I am now.”  Kate leaned back in her chair, slouched exhausted by her outburst. 

Elise, surprised by Kate’s behavior, asked Rob.  “What is it you are expecting?”

Tears formed in Rob’s eyes.  “My mother is sick and is going to die soon.”  He looked down.  “I want to spend more time with my mother.”

“He’s grieving because his mother has been promising us that she is going to die for almost two years now.”

“You never have liked my mother, and all she has ever wanted is to be closer to you.  Now you don’t even care if she dies.”

“You’re right.  I’m tired of her moping around depressed telling us.  ’I’m not going to live forever.’  I’m tired of her manipulations.  And I’m tired of your complaints.”

Rob looked tearfully at Kate.  “All I’m asking for is more time to spend with my mother.  She loves it when I sit with her and let her talk about when I was a child.  She’s just looking for a few moments of happiness in what is left of her life.”

“Let’s calm down and talk about what each of your expectations are here.  Kate, why don’t you go first?” said Dr. O’Connor.

Rob blurted out.  “I want some help.  Not more work around the house.  I would like to spend more time with my mother instead of doing Kate’s work.”

“So you resent helping around the house you live in?” said Elise.

“I wish Kate could help around my parent’s house too.  Then I could spend more time with my mom for sure.”

Elise frowned.  “Do you think that’s reasonable?”

Rob looked at Dr. O’Connor and blinked a few times.  “What are you saying?  You think I should just give in to Kate.  Let her have her way all the time?”

“No.  But I’m wondering what it is you are looking for in your couple’s therapy if you’re not willing to listen to your wife’s needs also,” said Elise.  “And since our time is up I would like the two of you to each come up with ways you can help the other.”

“You mean I have to come up with ways to help Kate more?  It just isn’t normal. I’d be ashamed if the guys at work knew I was almost doing my own laundry now.”

Kate kept her head lowered and smiled to herself.

Elise asked, “Rather than relying on Kate to clean two houses, why not hire a maid?”

“What?”

Kate started laughing and said, “Rob wouldn’t pay anyone to do women’s work.  He just doesn’t think it deserves to be paid for.”

“Rob, I want you to try anyway.  And Kate is to do the same for you.  So make another appointment for next week at the desk.”  Frustrated Elise headed out of the door first.

“Okay,” said Kate as she moved to the door.

Rob turned to Kate as he passed her going through the door.  “You won’t think it’s funny when we get home.”  Rob had whispered keeping his face neutral.

Kate trembled, worried as she made the next appointment.  Rob had already gone to the car.  What was she going to find?

Kate found Rob in the car breathing hard and tight lipped.  She didn’t say anything all the way home.  Rob didn’t either.

When they got home Rob slammed the door shut and said, “You hate my mother and me.”

“That’s not true , Rob.”

“All she has ever wanted is to be closer to you.”

“I’ve heard this so many times.  She wants me to be closer on her terms.  She has set ideas of how submissive I’m supposed to be to you and your family.  I can’t cope with that stereotype.”

“Just help her out more is all I’m asking.”

“Rob, when am I supposed to be with our daughters?  When am I supposed to relax?”

“Damn it.  You could give up reading all those books of yours.  You take too much time relaxing now.  What more do you want?  When am I supposed to relax?”

“You can relax at the same time I do.”

“Great now even less will get done.  Great solution, Kate.”

“I’ve had enough.  Your answers are the only ones that are right anyway.”  Kate spoke firmer.  “I’m going to take a warm bath before I go to work.  I don’t want to be disturbed.”

Kate proceeded up the stairs.  On the way to the master bedroom she looked in on Isabel and Lillian.  She smiled down on them and their innocent sleeping faces.  Warm feelings flooded Kate’s heart and she wondered while looking at her daughters how she could fight with Rob.  Here were two perfect examples of their love for one another.  Calmer, Kate went on to the master bathroom and filled the tube with hot water.

Kate started to undress.  The bathroom door slammed open followed by Rob, the force behind the door.

“I’m not through with you.”  He raised his fist.  His fist came at Kate’s face but swung on by.    

Shocked Kate stood waiting for the blow to land.  She was left with a cool current of air from the motion of Rob’s clenched fist.  Kate recoiled from the rage contorting Rob’s face.  Without another word, Rob turned around and left the bathroom.

Kate slumped to the edge of the tub.  Rob’s fist was once more in front of her face coming directly at her.  She blinked and shuddered as the image left her feeling empty only to find terror from the assault of Rob’s anger.

He wasn’t through with her?  What more did he want?  And what did he want?  The Rob who had charged at her in the bathroom was not the Rob she had married.  Who was he?  Who was she any more?  Is this what they had come to?  Kate tried to dispel her feelings of betrayal, a betrayal of the trust that had existed in their marriage before tonight.  Even with their problems, she had still trusted Rob to act in all of their best interests.  What could she trust Rob with now?  Would he hurt the girls?  Further physically intimidate her?  What?

Kate buttoned her blouse back up and let the now cold water out of the bathtub.  She left the bathroom and headed to the living room where Rob preferred to spend his evenings.  “What is your problem?”

Rob jumped up and pushed his face within inches of hers.  “What’s my problem?  What’s yours?  You can’t be relied on to do your work or take care of us.  I’m wondering what next you’re going to do?  Abandon us all?”

“You’ve got to be kidding.  I do no such thing.  But my question is, are you in control of yourself enough to take care of our daughters?  What are you going to do next?”

“Me?  All I’ve done is all the work around here.  How could you even question me?”

“Easy Rob.  You just almost hit me.  Are you going to control yourself enough to be safe around our children?”

They glared at each other.  The silence stretched out between them.  Reclaiming her calm, Kate said “I hope you’ll behave because I have to go to work.”

“Good, I could use some time away from you.”

Kate left without a backward glance.