Emancipation

twenty three

My first appointment with Dr. Wilson went much better than I anticipated. She told me that it was the first session so I could talk about whatever I wanted and she could tread the topics from there. So I just talked about my life — about my family, my marriage and about the nightmares.

I know James said we could always look for more therapist but she just felt... right. At least in the first session she did. She had a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Duke University, and had been practicing as a therapist for ten years now. I mean, her office was filled with framed diplomas and degrees.

She was a beautiful woman with olive skin, her hazel eyes more captive than anything else about her, well maybe apart from her voice. She had such a soothing voice, like it was funny how much you could get lost in how smooth it was. Being a professional, she assured me about the confidentiality ethics and I think I really needed to actually get a little comfortable to begin with.

"You still haven't told me if I should dress up casual or fancy." I say into the phone, standing inside my closet space as I look through my clothes.

"Anything you're comfortable with." James replies. "You do know that I'm picking you up in half an hour, right?"

I think the last time we went out was when he told me about getting his CEO position. Today was Saturday, hence the date night. It felt different than all the other times we went out, because this time my feelings were involved, this time I knew he had planned something that I had no clue about.

Last couple of days hadn't been easy. I realised that it took a lot from James to actually speak his mind out, he had all these thoughts trapped inside of his head. It didn't help at all that I didn't have very good people skills either, but he just needed a little push to talk.

We talked in office and over dinner table but he always went back to his thoughts after a while. It would take a lot of time for both of us to let loose around the other, especially me because of how intimidated I feel in his presence.

"Yes, I'm aware." I sigh, looking at the dresses in front of me.

James hung up after telling me to meet him in the driveway in half an hour. It's three in the afternoon, and while it was supposed to be night plans, he said he would change plans a little and rather have us leave early. I have absolutely no idea where we are going so I was a little nervous, but also a little excited.

I finally decide to wear a warm yellow dress with button downs till my upper waist and an elastic belt separating it from the rest of the material as it flows down just a little above my knees. I let my hair loose, because I washed them and dried them into bouncy waves.

By the time I'm ready and have packed my bag for the sleepover it's almost been half an hour, so I decide to go downstairs and wait in the living room. I've started using elevator more often since it's convenient. And I think Mrs. George would agree to that. When I reach the first floor, I make my way down the hallway to the living room.

I haven't spoken to Chloe since the kitchen incident, but something tells me James did because she hasn't really bothered me for a few days now. Just as I reach the living room, I notice Carrack sitting on the couch, reading a book.

"Hey." He smiles, looking at me. "We live in the same house yet I haven't seen you in almost a week now."

"Well, Carrack, I think you should eat dinner with us more."

It was true though, he hadn't eaten with us in almost a week now. When I first got to know that James had a living arrangement like this, I was honestly a little weirded out. But when I first visited this mansion, I understood why. It's huge, so huge that you could go days without running into three other people who live here. It was like a huge frat house with everyone instead of a separate room, had separate wings of the house.