“No problem. Do you want to come in?”

No.

“Sure.” Cora smiled too, because she could offer a benign smile as well as a psychologist, and stood.

The only thing that could be worse than being stuck with Alec and a psychologist was being stuck alone with the same psychologist. Before Cora could take a step, though, Alec entered, neat and calm in his suit.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Doctor Massey smiled again. It was so easy for her. Easier than for Cora, it seemed. Though she had to do this all day. Even more than a social worker. Just that thought exhausted Cora. “No problem, Alec. Follow me.”

With Alec in the lead, they entered behind their therapist into a room that had probably seen more marriages break down than the bar down the road.

* * *

If they didn’t fix their marriage, or at least try to, Cora would always wonder if it was the cheating that had done it.

So here Alec and Cora were, actually sitting on a couch and being stared at by a woman they didn’t know from Adam but who could apparently help them repair everything.

That fog that had settled over her the last few days, suffocating her and leaving her feeling disconnected, became even more stifling.

The lights flickered strangely. The lightning storm outside was wreaking havoc.

Doctor Massey watched them, her face unreadable and passive.

She introduced herself, then had them introduce themselves. Too long was spent going over the confidentiality agreement that, of course, both Alec and Cora understood, but was a legal requirement. And then they were asked what they wanted to achieve in therapy.

The gap between Alec and Cora on the couch was so much like the one that lay between them when they slept. This one, though, wasn’t filled with the things at home. That’s what this room was for. To fill up that gap and see if the words could build a bridge for her to cross over and meet him.

Or if all those words were too light, too full of falseness and anger and bitterness, and fell apart if they even stepped a foot on them.

Why did she always feel as if she had to bridge that gap? Why didn’t she feel that he could walk over it all to meet her? Or that they could meet in the middle?

Because you cheated. You slept with someone else.

That voice sounded shockingly like her mother’s, and that made Cora feel even more uncomfortable than that room or the gap between them did.

“So. Why are you here?”

Cora looked to Alec. Who stared at Doctor Massey.

He cleared his throat like he did in a meeting. “We need to get back on track.”

It was a good answer, solid—it was better than Cora could have provided. Cora looked back to Doctor Massey, who nodded. “Okay. Good. How are you off track?”