Rum and Coke

Brian knocked timidly on the wooden door. It was a sight to see, indeed. A grown, buff and tattooed man like “Synyster Gates” knocking on a door as if he was back in high school and had been called into the principle’s office for doing something wrong.

“Come in,” the pleasant voice said from behind the door.

Brian quietly pushed it open.

“Who is- oh, Mr. Haner, I do not remembering having scheduled an appointment with you,” Dr. Roberts, his marriage counselor said. Her expression was one of confusion.

“We didn’t, but, I need to talk to you. Do you have time?” He asked.

“I have an hour before next appointment.”

Brian looked at her curiously.

She laughed at him. “Yes, I have time. Have a seat.” She said, while shuffling papers around her desk and placing them into a neat pile. Brian took a seat in the chair opposite her and fiddled around with his hands. She took off her trim reading glasses and placed them down. “So, what brings you here?” She asked professionally. “Have you and Michelle talked and worked things out?”

Brian shifted uneasily in his seat. “Sort of. I mean, we I had a fight yesterday…well, it was more like a war…or should I say intergalactic catastrophe-”

“Mr. Haner, how about you tell me what the fight was about?”

Brian nodded his head, slightly embarrassed by his rambling. “I have to start from the very beginning…well, not the very beginning-”

“Mr. Haner, you’re rambling again. Just say what you came in here to say.”

“Right, well, you see my daughter-”

Dr. Roberts’ brow furrowed in confusion. “Daughter? I thought you and Michelle only had a son.”

Brian sighed. “We do. Ellie, my daughter, came from Danni, my most recent ex.”

Dr. Roberts raised her hand. “Tell me about Danni. How long ago was this relationship and what happened?”

Brian scratched the back of his head. “Well, to put it simply, we dated for five months, got engaged, and broke up over a huge misunderstanding- this was in 2000/2001ish. She disappeared for about 7 or 8 years before showing back up on one of our video shoots.”

“Continue.”

“Long story short, I cheated on Michelle with her several months after the VMAs…but I never told Danni that she was the other woman. I left for tour and when I came back three months later, she was gone…and apparently pregnant. Now Ellie, my daughter, shows up after eighteen years and it’s putting a real burden on my family.”

Dr. Roberts pursed her lips. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.” She sighed and twiddled her thumbs. “So, you and Michelle have been fighting over Ellie?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Mr. Haner, I cannot help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”

“We’ve been fighting about Danni.”

“Danni? Why?”

“Because, after much reassurance, Michelle still doesn’t believe that I’m completely over her.”

“And, are you over Danni?”

“Yes,” it would have been very convincing, if not for the look in Brian’s eyes.

“Is that all?”

“No,” Brian scratched the back of his neck. “You see, today is our wedding anniversary, and with all the shit that’s been going on, I completely forgot about it. I didn’t even have the time to apologize. She ran out the door and I didn’t even chase her. And if that’s not lousy enough, I spent the whole day in the studio…with Ellie and her band. You see, they won the contest and they’re opening for us on tour. And the absolute worst part about it? I don’t feel bad- not at all. I mean, sure, Ellie also screamed at me, but I feel so…alive when I’m with that girl, and I haven’t felt that way in years.”

“-since Danni?”

“Yea,” he hadn’t meant for it to come out, but it did.

Dr. Roberts leaned back in her office chair, a knowing smile on her face. “You want to answer the question about being over her again?”

Brian shook his head. “No, I don’t. I want you to help me out, not ridicule me!”

“Mr. Haner, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ridicule you.” She took a deep breath. “Have you spoken to Danni at all recently?”

“No, just Kale, her best friend. She wasn’t in when I called.” Brian felt the need to leave out most of that conversation.

“I see,” Dr. Roberts nodded again. “I think that you should first go home and apologize to your wife. Then, you, your wife, and son need to sit down and talk everything out. Leave everything bare on the table. After that, I highly suggest you talk to Ellie, and Danni of you can. You all need to reach a decision together. I suggest do it over dinner.” She briefly looked at her clock. “I’m sorry, but my next appointment should be home soon. You know that you can call me anytime, correct?”

“Yea,” Brian said while standing up. “Thanks…for everything.”

She smiled at him. “You’re welcome, and I’ll see you Friday.”