Losing

Images came to her mind of Mason, and her heart raced as it did every time he was near. She breathed in the intoxicating scent of musk, cedar, and leather that clung to him like a beloved old blanket. Even now, away from him in another room, she could still catch a whiff of his scent in the air, and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck would stand at attention. With a sigh, Thea flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder. She started organizing her workspace, trying to distract herself from the thoughts of Mason that kept coming back. She heard the door open behind her and spun around, anticipation flooding through her as she hoped to find Mason standing there. But instead of it being Mason, Thea’s excitement turned to disappointment as she saw Genevieve standing in the doorway.

The silence stretched, and tension hung heavy in the air. Thea finally broke it. “Please, come in,” she said. Genevieve stepped through the doorway, eyes sweeping the small office, taking in the neat and charmingly decorated room. She tugged her coat closer as if to protect herself from the hostile atmosphere. “How did you know I was here?” Thea asked.

Genevieve strutted around the office, her heels clacking against the floor. Her expression was one of superiority as she waved her hand around the room, her voice carrying an unmistakable air of authority. “It’s my company, dear. I knew of the firm hiring you the day Mason started making his plans,” she said in a condescending tone as her eyes lingered on Thea for a few seconds. “Addison finally took one of my calls,” she continued, her chest rising with pride. She stopped in front of Thea and stared at her intently. “She showed me the pictures that were in your abuse lawsuit,” she spat the words out with contempt. “So....” she left her sentence unfinished, her lips pursed in disapproval.

Thea crossed her arms and stood her ground; her jaw set firmly. She had the advantage here, and it was clear she knew it. “I know you’re used to people telling you that it’s okay,” she said, her voice unwavering. “But I’m not one of those people. I want to hear it from you,” she finished as she waited for her answer.

Genevieve’s gaze was fixed on Thea’s face. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and regrets weighed heavily in the air. She swallowed hard and said, “I’m sorry.”

Thea smiled gratefully and extended her arm, her hand hovering like a hummingbird over the couch. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Please, have a seat,” she gestured for her to sit down.

Genevieve slowly walked over to the couch and cautiously lowered herself onto the cushions, her bag clutched in her hands. She shifted her eyes to the side, giving Thea a brief glance before looking away. “Addison told me you two were friends in college. Although, I don’t know how you got into such a prestigious school.”

Thea took a deep breath and steeled herself when she heard Genevieve’s words. She had grown used to the sneering, backhanded comments from her boyfriend’s mother, and she knew that this time would be no different. “Stop,” Thea said firmly, sitting in her comfy chair. “I’m done with the disrespect. I got to where I am because I busted my ass. I’m a self-made woman.” She crossed her legs, pushing out her chest and chin with confidence. “You should know that better than anyone.”

Genevieve replied, “I do.”

“Good.” Thea reluctantly conceded, a skeptical look on her face. “So, why are you here?” She asked, her eyes fixed on her expectantly as she waited for an answer.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as her gaze shifted around the room before resting back on Thea, “I’m not sure why I’m here,” she admitted, “How about we just skip to the part where you already know what brought me here.”

Thea examined Genevieve with an analytical gaze, “I did some research on your husband,” Thea said, her voice taking on an authoritative tone. “His model for building this company was undoubtedly aggressive. It was get in line or get left behind. It seems like a difficult philosophy to live by.” Thea watched as Genevieve’s expression shifted from surprise to guilt, and she knew she had hit a nerve. “You try every day to uphold his values because you aren’t ready to let go of him,” Thea said quietly, her voice conveying a tenderness that Thea could tell Genevieve wasn’t used to hearing. Tears began to form in Genevieve’s eyes, and she blinked them back, remaining silent. “Instead of bringing your family closer, it’s driving you apart,” Thea continued. “Do you know that Mason thinks you’re not proud of him?”

Thea watched as the proud smile on Genevieve’s face twisted into a grimace of raw emotion. Her eyes grew red and glossy, and she reached for the box of tissues on the side table. She wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and said, trembling with love, “Addy and Mason are some of the most successful lawyers in this country. Of course, I’m proud of them.”

Thea nodded, her face softening. Taking a deep breath, she uncrossed her legs and leaned in towards her, her gaze intense. “But they need to hear it from you,” she said. “It’s time to do things differently, or you will lose them forever.”

Genevieve dabbed her tears with a tissue, recalling her conversations with her husband before he passed. “My husband told me we’d ride off into the sunset and let our children take over once we built our fortune…and now that will never happen.”

Thea’s heart ached for Genevieve. She pursed her lips and asked, “Why not? Even though he’s not here anymore, you owe it to yourself. You’ve worked hard and done your due diligence, regardless of the consequences. And sometimes, stepping out of the portrait can give you a different perspective as you can see the whole picture from a vantage point other than your own.”

Genevieve’s face fell as Thea’s words sunk in, her stomach twisting with the realization of what she had done to hold on to her husband. Painful memories of her children flickered through her mind, and she wondered if it was too late to get them back. She struggled to keep her composure and stood up, shouldering her bag. “You’ve given me a lot to think about,” she said, managing a weak smile. She smoothed her hands down the front of her skirt, “You’re not too bad of a therapist.”

Thea stood, and a hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “Well, look at you. That was almost a compliment,” she said.

Genevieve’s eyes hardened, her face closed off and aloof. She gave a tight smile and said, “Well, don’t read too much into it.”

Thea’s lips curved into a playful smile as she replied, “Oh, I wouldn’t dare.” She paused, and her eyes lit up. “Hey, speaking of Mason, Addison is planning a birthday bash for him in two weeks. You should come.”

Genevieve’s stomach clenched at the thought of joining a family gathering. She ran her palms nervously over her hair and admitted, “I don’t think he wants me there.” She tried to suppress the disappointment rising within as she forced herself to respect his boundaries.

Thea’s eyes softened as she spoke, “This is true, but if you want to make things right, I would start there.”

Genevieve paused for a moment, her hand hovering over the doorknob. “I’ll think about it,” she finally said, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. She stepped outside and paused again before turning back to look at Thea, “I look forward to getting to know you better...Thea.”