The Last Original Wife Read Free Page A

husband wants you to be happy?”
    â€œAs long as it doesn’t cost him any time, effort, or money. Look, I don’t think he ever thinks about it or views my happiness or any part of it as his responsibility.”
    â€œOkay. What do you think you gave up that was so unfair?”
    â€œDr. Katz? I gave up everything—my own identity, my ambitions, my self-respect, and I very nearly gave up my own brother. My only sibling.”
    â€œHow’s that?”
    I looked at him, trying to decide if I had the desire to continue.
    â€œBecause Wes hates gay men. He would not allow my only brother into our house.”
    â€œI see. Hopefully, we can resolve that issue in a joint session.”
    â€œWe won’t. There is no solution to it. Wes just is who he is, and nothing short of a miracle is ever going to change that.”

CHAPTER 2
    Meet Wesley Albert Carter IV
    S ix P.M . and boom! I’m in Dr. Jane Saunders’s office, in the chair, ready to spill my guts like a girl. Nice. To say I’ve come here under stress and duress would be the understatement of the year. For my money? You can take all the shrinks in the world and throw them off a bridge. Who sits around all day listening to people carp and whine? People who can’t figure out what else to do with themselves, that’s who. They say, Oh, I’m fascinated by human behavior. Yeah, right. They take other people’s problems and other people’s money and they feel better about themselves. Oh , look! I’m not so screwed up! Oh , look! I’m rich! Please. Just my opinion. On the other hand, I’d been told by some very reputable people who are very high up in the firm that these guys are the best. We’ll see about that.
    The one good thing I can say so far about this psychiatrist or whatever she calls herself, a relationship therapist, is that she’s punctual, which is good because time is a valuable commodity. I really hate to be kept waiting. It makes me nuts. And she’s got great legs, but let’s keep that between us. I’ve got enough trouble as it is. My friend who’s a lawyer says if this doesn’t go right, this business with Les could cost me big-time.
    The doctor came around from behind her desk and took a seat in the chair opposite me.
    â€œSo,” she said, looking at the paperwork in her manila folder, “Mr. Carter?”
    â€œPlease!” I held my hand up and gave her my most charming smile. “Call me Wes,” I said, thinking I’d be more comfortable because then this session, or whatever it’s called, would feel less serious.
    â€œAll right, Wes,” she said, smiling, “then please call me Jane.”
    â€œAll right, Jane, it’s nice to meet you.”
    â€œAnd why is that?” she asked.
    â€œWhy?” I felt my neck get hot. It wasn’t exactly a hospitable question, was it? “Well, because I’ve, I mean, we’ve been told that you and your colleague might be able to help my wife and me get things back like they used to be?”
    â€œIs that what you want, for things to be as they used to be?”
    â€œFunny question. Just so you know, I’m only here for the marriage. Going back to how things were would be fine with me, but my wife has other ideas.”
    â€œGo on.”
    I thought about it for a minute and realized being here with Jane could be very uncomfortable and I didn’t like the hot seat. I was the one who put other people in the hot seat. I didn’t like to tell strangers what I was thinking. If I’d learned anything in all my years in corporate America, it was that showing all your cards was a bad idea. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t too sure what Les had in mind in terms of changes she had been looking for from me and the kids. But I’d come here to see this silly therapist, hadn’t I? I was trying to fix things, wasn’t I? I wasn’t such a terrible husband.