Summary - Marjorie finds out about Reece's 'therapy' sessions with Charlotte, but she gets the wrong end of the stick.
Charlotte crouched down next to her friend, almost in tears herself. "Marjorie this isn't what you think, there's nothing going on between Reece and I". She went to touch Marjorie's arm but snatched her hand back when Marjorie flinched away from her. "We need to talk about this, please come and sit in the lounge." Charlotte turned to face Reece - she was so annoyed with him. She'd told him to tell Marjorie time and time again - maybe she should have just done it for him. She heard Marjorie shut the front door, then heard her sniffling behind her. As the three entered the lounge, Charlotte and Reece sat on the sofa ready to sort this mess.
Marjorie sat on a separate chair, wrapping her arms around herself in a desperate attempt at self comfort. Reece wanted to hold her so desperately but he understood that she didn't want that right now. Watching her having to resort to self soothing like a child was making him want to throw up.
"Marjorie, this isn't what you think. For a couple of months, I've been coming to Charlottes occasionally to talk. She's been helping me work through some things. Mia's already told her pretty much everything about me, so I don't have to constantly go over old ground. Do you remember that time you told me I should get therapy? Well Charlotte encouraged me to do the same thing, and at the moment I just don't feel ready to take that step fully. So Charlottes basically been a..." he searched for the right word.
"Just a listening ear" Charlotte interjected. She continued desperately "please Marjorie, please, PLEASE know nothing has ever happened between us. We're like a brother and sister, there's nothing like that there. We should have told you, I'm so sorry."
Marjorie sat blinking at them for several seconds, tears still falling freely. "Why are you bringing her presents then?" she said quietly.
"It's just a thank you gesture." Reece replied.
For the first time that evening, Marjorie finally looked directly into Reece's eyes. She took a small breath in, making a tiny little hiccupping sound that made Reece want to rip his own heart out. "So, you don't want to talk to me? That's what it is? You don't trust me, so you come to your ex girlfriend's new girlfriend? One of my best friends? I've tried to get you to open up so many times and you've always shut me down! So you've been here opening up to Charlotte?" She had to stop because her chest was hurting as her sobs intensified again. Why couldn't anyone just love her completely? It was always like this, she was always left out in the cold.
"No...no...it's so much more complicated than that Marjorie. Please understand that I've been doing this for you. I've been terrified recently that my issues have been preventing me from giving you the attention and treatment you deserve." He nearly said 'preventing me from loving you correctly' but he felt that was too close to actually saying I love you. Recently he'd been feeling more and more ready to say it, but he didn't want the memory tarnished with tears for her.
Charlotte interjected again "Marjorie, all Reece cares about is you, I promise everything he does is for you."
Reece plucked up the courage to move off the sofa and kneel down in front of his girlfriend. He gently caught her hand in his, feeling relieved when she allowed him to do so. He looked into her eyes, and said "I know we've hurt you by keeping this a secret. Neither of us ever meant for this to happen, and Charlottes right, I should have told you. Will you let me make it up to you?" He held his breath as she opened her mouth to reply.
"Yes" she whispered so quietly he could barely hear her.
He sighed with relief. He hadn't lost her. He hated himself for causing her to cry, and it made him wonder in that moment - did he even deserve her? Only time would tell, but as long as he had air in his lungs, he would love her like his life depended on it.
