Page 111 of Absolution

“Come to my next therapy session with me.”

I think for a few seconds. Then nod. “Okay.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Kyle

“So, youblackmailedher?” Dr. Nina asks, raising an eyebrow.

“What? No,” I protest. “I justsuggestedshe come here.”

She gives me a flat look.

“Come on, Doc,” I add, hands raised. “You’ve been telling me to do a joint session with her since we started.”

“Yes,” she says, dryly. “After she’s had her own appointment. And with a neutral therapist.”

I smirk. “So, you’re saying youcan’tbe impartial?”

“Yes,” she says without blinking. “I like her too much.”

I laugh. “You haven’t even met her.”

“But I get it,” I add quietly. “I like her more too.”

“Kyle,” she says, her tone shifting slightly. “We’ve been through this before. Last time, you stopped coming to therapy and completely cut off communication with the mother of your children.”

I nod, serious now. “I know. I know we’re done. Truth is… I’m not asking for anything. I just need to apologize. Not so she’ll forgive me, just so she knows it wasn’t her. That she didn’t cause what happened.”

The light above the door clicks on with a softtink.

“She’s here,” Nina says.

My palms go sweaty. I push myself up off the couch. “Here goes.”

I open the door.

Jackie is seated just outside; hands folded in her lap. She stands when she sees me.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hi,” she replies.

I step aside, and she walks in. She and I sit down on the couch, careful not to touch. She shakes Dr. Nina’s hand.

Before we begin, the doc clears her throat. “Just to be fully transparent, I've been Kyle’s therapist for a while. If you’d prefer someone more neutral-”

Jackie shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. Honestly, I’m glad you already know the situation. I really don’t want to rehash everything again.”

Dr. Nina nods. “Alright. Then let’s begin. Jackie, is there something you’d like to say or ask first?”

Jackie looks at her hands. “No… I think he’s the one who asked for this.”

I clear my throat, shift a little on the couch. “Yeah. I, uh… I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

She doesn’t respond. Just keeps looking at her hands.

“I know that probably means nothing now,” I continue, voice tight. “But I’ve been going through therapy for a while. And I needed you to know… what happened between us, everything I did, everything I didn’t do, none of that was your fault. You didn’t make me lie. You didn’t make me cheat. That was all me.”

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