“We’re in session,” I remind her. “I won’t tell your mother anything you say here. Doctor-patient confidentiality.”

She blushes. “It wasn’t the first time, but I’m not an alcoholic or anything. Sometimes I drink a beer or two at house parties or, you know, stuff like that.”

“And I assume your mother has no idea?”

Tegan shakes her head.

And, I have to be honest with myself here, the next question is one hundred percent professionally needed, but I’m not going to pretend it won’t satisfy a great curiosity I’ve had since learning my office neighbor had a daughter.

“What about your father? Does he know?”

Tegan becomes uncomfortable again. “I don’t know who my father is.”

And I’ve stumbled on a minefield. From now on, I must tread carefully.

“Does your mother not know, or—”

“Oh, no, she does. She’s just refused to tell me point-blank every time I’ve asked, so I’ve stopped.”

“Has she given you a reason why she doesn’t want you to know?”

“Yeah, she said my father wanted nothing to do with me or her after he discovered she was pregnant, and that I’m better off without that bastard in my life.”

“And what do you think about that?”

She fidgets with the silver band on her middle finger. “I’d still like to meet him. Even if he chose not to be in my life, I want to know who he is, what he does, if we have anything in common. Half of my genes are his, and I have no clue who the guy is. He could be a stoner loser, or a genius.”

“Would it make any difference if he was one or the other?”

“Probably not, but I’d still like to know where I come from. And…” Tegan places both her hands under her thighs on the couch.

“Go ahead,” I prompt. “You’re safe here, please talk freely.”

“I want to ask him why he abandoned me. Mom already has her answer, but I never got mine.”

“That’s an excellent point, Tegan, and we can work on convincing your mother to reveal your father’s name. Or better, even. If you decide therapy is something you want to continue, you and your mother could see a family specialist together. One that would make your mother comfortable, and where she’d feel on neutral ground. I’d love to help you, but I’m not the right person to consult you both.”

“Mom would never agree to that.”