Mistaes

Three Months Later...

Kimani's leg shook as she stared at the clock. 12:15pm. She sighed as she realized only fifteen minutes had passed and she still had an hour and forty-five minutes to sit and pretend Harrison wasn't sitting directly beside her and Dr. Rosenburgh wasn't watching her every movement.

Why had she even agreed to this? She asked herself. She did not want to be here, with him, talking about their problems with a complete stranger. Kimani looked at Harrison and almost lost her cool. Ooh, she hated him!

Harrison kept his eyes straight as he felt Kimani's eyes bore into him. He could feel the hate radiating from her and he just knew he was wasting his time trying to make them work but he couldn't let her go. He needed her in his life. He just didn't know how to get her back.

Dr. Rosenburgh looked at the detached pair and felt it was time for the grand introduction.

"Well, I am Dr. Jennifer Rosenburgh and I am what I'd like to call a marriage counselor extraordinaire. I have a 96% success rate and those I couldn't put back together I sent to my husband Frank to be set apart in divorce court. He's a judge by the way. Anywho, you can call me Doc, or Rosen, or Jenni, with an "I" not a "Y", or Hot Stuff, but never Dr. Rosenburgh because it sounds awful formal and this ain't a formal place I'll tell you that. So, after that little spill let's dig in, shall we? So, why are y'all here today?"

Kimani looked at the fast talking chubby woman and almost laughed. How was this Paula Deen wannabe supposed to help her marriage? Dr. Rosenburgh saw Kimani eye her warily and she decided to try something different.

"Okay, since y'all don't feel like talking about today, let's talk about yesterday. Well, not really yesterday, but what everyone says feels like yesterday, the day you two met. Tell me about it."

Harrison coughed and looked at Kimani who seemed to have checked out of the appointment completely before speaking, "Well, umm, I met Kimani during the Southern Heritage Classic, my junior year at TSU. I was at the game and I was focused. You see I watch sports for the game, the technical aspect of it, not the hype and fanfare that goes with it so when I watch I like it to be quiet but there was no such thing during that game because the entire time I just kept hearing the most obnoxious screaming and cursing from behind me. It got so annoying that I finally turned around to give whoever was hoopin' and hollerin' a piece of my mind and it end up being no other than Ms. Kimani James."

Kimani couldn't help but smile as she thought of that day. Harrison noticed the dimples forming in her cheeks and continued.

"She was decked out in blue and white with a tiger on her cheek and a scowl on her face and she was yelling at the top of her lungs, 'What kind of play was that?! Stop blitzing and run the ball you dumbasses!' I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm but I guess a losing team wasn't all that funny to their number one fan because in seconds she was down those bleachers and in my face."

"I wasn't in your face." Kimani chimed in.

Harrison was taken aback by Kimani's rebuttal but welcomed it with the thought, "at least she's talking."

Kimani started again, "Well seeing as your like 6'4" and I'm just 5'5", I technically wasn't in your face, I was in your chest. And I remember I was in your chest because I remember poking it as I went off on you for laughing at my team." Harrison laughed and Kimani playfully swatted him. "You know I don't play about my Tigers!"

Harrison heard Kimani laughing and saw the twinkle in her eyes that he thought was gone forever and he almost tackled her then and there. She was so beautiful and caring, so loud and funny. She was damn near perfect so why the hell did he do something that let her slip away.

Kimani saw the hilarity drain from Harrison's face and knew what he was thinking. "How did we get here Harrison?" Harrison just shook his head. He didn't want to think of the bad things, he just wanted to think of the good times with his wife. So he finished the story.

"So as this pretty little firecracker dug a whole into my chest with that finger I ever so politely asked her to stop before picking her up and kissing her silly." Harrison looked at Kimani who just shrugged.

"So after his impromptu display of affection, I slapped him silly and went back to my seat, and when I saw him leaving I decided to follow because let's be honest any man that kisses you to shut you up has keeper qualities. So as he walked out of the stadium, I jumped on his back and told him to take me home."

"And I obviously agreed because as she said, let's be honest, a woman that slaps you after your first kiss definitely has keeper qualities."

"And you've been together since that day?" Dr. Rosenburgh asked.

"Yep, until about three months ago." Kimani said resting her head on her hands.

"What happened three months ago?"

"The reason we're here." Harrison answered as he slouched back into the couch.

"And that is?"

"I found him in bed with another woman."

Harrison sighed and Dr. Rosenburgh nodded. "But still, why are you here? I thought it would be a no brainer to get a divorce if a person cheated."

"My thoughts exactly. But he won't sign the divorce papers unless I do this." Kimani said while cutting her eyes at Harrison.

"Why won't you sign the papers Harrison? I mean you cheated and I just thought when you do that it's a way to end the relationship while making a back up plan with someone new."

Harrison blew out a breath. This woman was irking his nerves. Did she know anything about them before she decided to take their case?

"Look, I don't want a divorce because I love my wife and I believe she still loves me and I want us to work, to be a family, because I didn't have that. And in regards to your assumption of cheating, that's not it at all. I didn't cheat as apart of an elaborate scheme to end things with Kimani, I did it because of how the woman made me feel."

"How did she make you feel Harrison? Huh? How'd Miss Nia make you feel?" Kimani snapped.

"Because I believe I was the one that made it her lifelong job to make you feel loved not some bitch off the street."

Harrison groaned, "It's not about being loved Kimani. It's about feeling appreciated. Doc, we had problems before I cheated,"

"What problems?" Kimani interrupted. "The only problem I can think of is that I spoiled you. That I did everything for you, gave you everything you ever had, and,"

"No, that wasn't the problem. The problem is that you believe that you did everything and I did nothing. Like I gave no effort toward this relationship. You see Doc, Mani always throws that in my face. 'I do this and I did that, I gave you this and I made you that' always making me feel like less."

Kimani looked at Harrison in shock.

"So I made you feel like less? What do you think I felt like getting up at five in the morning everyday taking care of you and your son, then going to work taking care of people I love but I know are going to die, only to come home where I have to take care of the house, cook and clean, take online classes, put Amir to bed and sex you at the end of the day. I put 200% into everything I do and there is no 'thank you' there is no 'I know you're tired let me take care if that', I work my ass off and you go cheat because I make you feel like less. You're on some straight bullshit and I'm ready to go, so Julie, Jodie whatever your name is call my lawyer and tell him I tried."

Kimani grabbed her purse and stood but stopped dead in her tracks when Harrison spoke.

"Hold up, sit back down we're not through."

"What?"

"You heard me. You will sit back on this couch and you will listen to all I have to say so bring that ass back."

Kimani was so confused that she found herself doing as he said. She sat back on the couch and looked at him in astonishment. Harrison looked at Kimani intently as he talked.

"I understand the sacrifices and I get how hard you work for me, Amir, and yourself and I appreciate it more than you'll ever know, but it doesn't give you an excuse to treat me like my role is secondary in this family and this marriage. I provide for us. I pay the bills and I buy the little things that you don't think of. I don't ask you to do half the things you have decided are apart of your job description you did because you feel I can't handle it which in turn hurts me and makes me feel like less. Shit Mani, it could be something simple like writing a grocery list and you dictate what store, what foods, even the paper it's written on and in the end you do the grocery shopping anyways because you say 'I would forget something'."

"Wow, this is interesting. Kimani, do you do this?" Dr. Rosenburgh asked.

Kimani pondered they're relationship and realized, "Yes. I guess I do but I've always been this way. I'm the oldest of five children and at fifteen when my mom died I became the mom in my house. I had to do everything. It's just how I'm wired. I never meant to immasculate him."

"Now say that to him Kimani." Dr. Rosenburgh instructed.

"Harrison, I never meant to do that to you. However, if this is how you felt why didn't you just tell me? Why go out and cheat on me?"

Harrison knew Kimani was hurting and he wiped the tears that escaped from her eyes away. "I thought I tried. I would bring it up but I felt you wouldn't listen so I would let the conversation slide but I realize now that I was shutting myself down before I even started. But I know now that I have to speak up and that's what I'm doing now. I fucked up. I cheated. And I was dead wrong. I admit those things but I also admit that I love you Kimani, more than life itself. You and Amir are my world and without you I have nothing, so I won't sign those papers because I know there's more for us. We have a future that can be unparalleled but only if we work for it. It may hurt and there may be tears but we can get past this. We just have to try Mani. Will you try with me?"

Kimani knew this was a life-changing decision. No would mean an ugly divorce and yes would mean forgiving Harrison, forgetting his mistakes, and forging a future in spite of their past, and both of these options didn't seem promising but looking at Harrison she felt the hope that he felt. She loved him and her love went beyond his faults just as his did for her.

"Baby?"

Kimani refocused on her present situation and realized both Harrison and Dr. Rosenburgh had been waiting on her answer.

"Will you?"

Harrison felt like he was proposing again as he awaited her answer. He knew he didn't deserve a chance but he was internally praying she'd say yes. He felt his heart tighten as she opened her mouth to speak but what she said released all the tension in his body.

"Yes Harrison, I'll try."

And without warning just like the day they met he kissed her, and it was like giving water to a man dying of thirst. Harrison had longed to kiss Kimani's lips since the appointment had started and feeling them against his was like a spark to an internal flame. He kissed her with with all the passion in his soul. He needed her and he this was going to show it.

Kimani found herself entangled in a liplock she hadn't even seen coming but god she was happy it was here. Truth be told under all that anger and resentment she'd been harboring toward Harrison she still loved and wanted him more than any man she'd ever been with, and in that moment her body was screaming for him. Three whole months without his touch, his kiss, his affection was long enough, she needed this. She needed him.

Kimani wrapped her arms around Harrison's neck as she kissed him with matched intensity. All of their problems seemed far behind them as they made out like teenagers on a therapist's couch.

Dr. Rosenburgh watched the steamy reunion for a second before pulling out her whistle and giving it a sound blow. Kimani jumped out of Harrison's arms at the noise.

"What the hell?"

"Sorry for interrupting you two but I can't have stains on my couch."

"We're sorry Doc." Harrison apologized as he withheld a laugh.

Dr. Rosenburgh put the whistle away as she spoke, "Uh huh. I guess I should change that speech cause although this ain't a formal place it sure ain't your bedroom."

Harrison laughed out loud then and Kimani looked at him like he was crazy. She was mortified and he was laughing. What kind of shit was that? Kimani hid in her hands as embarrassment washed over her. Dr. Rosenburgh saw that Kimani was upset so decided to set her straight.

"Honey don't get in your feelings, I was only teasin'. Trust me if I was angry you'd know it. As a matter of fact I'm glad to see some people can work it out themselves. It makes my work easier. Plus, I got to use my whistle for something different. You see, usually I use that whistle to stop people from killing each other on my couch but today I got to use it to stop people from getting kinky on my couch."

Kimani couldn't help but laugh at that and soon the three of them were cracking up together. After everyone calmed down Dr. Rosenburgh spoke.

"Okay y'all, I got some homework for you. I want you two to spend the weekend together. There's to be no baby, no work, no distractions, and definitely no sex."

Harrison could feel the painful case of blue balls forming as she spoke.

"I want you to connect on a mental, emotional, and spiritual level before getting physical because sex is often like putting a band-aid over a gun shot wound. I want you to practice communicating effectively together and individually, Kimani I want you to allow Harrison to make the decisions, to take control, to be the man, while Harrison I want you to make sure your decisions cater to the desires and needs of Kimani as well as yourself. And to help you out I'll have Stacy at the front desk give you recommendations of a few vacation spots that are nearby."

Harrison grabbed Kimani's hand in his and smiled with anticipation. This is what he had been waiting for an opportunity to prove to Kimani that he could do better, they could be better, better than they ever were before.

Kimani on the other hand was filled with hesitation and she voiced it.

"I thank you for the support Doctor but I don't think we're ready for this."

"You're speaking for me again Mani." Harrison commented.

Kimani looked at Harrison and knew she'd poked a hole in the balloon that had been carrying him during his happy high.

"I'm sorry. Let me rephrase that. I'm not ready for your homework. It's just for me a whole weekend together seems a bit excessive for a couple who only decided fifteen minutes ago to try and work it out."

Dr. Rosenburgh pursed her lips in deliberation of that thought before saying, "I understand your concern but I urge you to use this weekend as a way to determine whether you should pursue the relationship any further. It may seem premature but I know you would rather do this now than waste months in therapy to come to a conclusion you could've made in the beginning."

Kimani sighed as she relented. "Okay. I'll do it. I will try not to be controlling and I will try to communicate effectively with my husband over the course of three days and nights but be warned Harrison I'm a work in progress and forgiveness won't come over night. Let's just take it slow and don't press your luck. Okay?"

Harrison gave nodded his head and agreed.

"Well now that that's settled, look at the time. Your appointment is finished. I believe we've made excellent strides toward reconciliation and the weekend will truly determine what's next for you two." Dr. Rosenburgh announced.

On her way home Kimani couldn't shake the feeling that she'd jumped the gun. Was she really ready to try and mend their broken relationship? Could she really forgive him? She didn't know. Three months they had been apart. Three months she had let the hurt and anger marinate in her belly to a point where she was scared to give a shit because doing that might just be more painful. Kimani huffed and looked at herself in her rearview mirror and gave herself a pep talk. "I love him. I love my family. I can do this. I will do this and everything will be alright."

**************************************************

"Did you hear what happened with Dr. Hanson?" Leann said to Ginger as she typed.

"Ooh, what happened? I want to know!" Ginger spun around in her chair so she was facing Leann. "You know Handsome Hanson news always gets my full attention."

Leann stopped typing and turned to Ginger in full Wendy Williams mode.

"So apparently Hannah left him."

"Shut up!" Ginger yelled. "Why?!"

Leann hushed Ginger and she apologized.

"Sorry, but why?" Ginger whispered.

Leann took a breath before explaining. "Well, apparently Hannah had gotten fed up with his hectic schedule and him choosing his job over her, so she went out and found someone who appreciated her."

"She cheated?"

Leann nodded. "Mmm huh, with a woman named Suzanne."

Ginger's eyes became saucers as Leann's words sank in.

"Holy shit!" She squealed. "No way! A woman! Hannah left fine, sexy, handsome Hanson for a woman! Fuck outta here! How do you know?"

"Because I was at the bar where it all went down and I heard everything."

"Heard what?" Dr. Jase Hanson asked as he came to the desk.

"Dr. Hanson? I didn't know you were coming in today."

He watched Leann and Ginger exchange looks before they began talking over each other. Jase tried to follow them both but it was impossible do he just asked them to stop.

"It's fine I don't want to know anymore. I actually came by to pick up the patient information for my rounds."

Leann smiled nervously. "Right, those. Here you go."

Leann handed the charts to Jase and he thanked her.

"I guess I'll be on my way." He smiled again and began to walk away but Ginger stopped him.

"Dr. Hanson can I walk with you? I kind of wanted to talk to you about something."

Jase cringed. He already knew what she wanted to talk about and he didn't want to hear it.

"Umm maybe some other time I really need to get to work."

He walked away quickly before Ginger could respond and turned a corner away from the drama. He knew Ginger wanted to talk about the demise of his relationship. She always had to stick her nose in others people's business and Leann was always ready to tell it. He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. He really wished Leann hadn't been there that night because he was pretty sure by the end of the day the whole office would know he'd been dumped.

He wasn't upset over the break up, admittedly he was relieved. They'd been together for a year and a half but things had been less than perfect for a while. Hannah was always complaining and nagging about commitment and how he worked too much, talking about he didn't really love her, which was true and if he'd admitted it they would've probably been done six months ago, but, he hadn't been so now he was the guy who'd been dumped for a girl, and that just hurt his pride.

Jase sighed. There was nothing he could do though except whether the storm of pity glances and jokes, keep a low profile, and stay busy. And he knew the best way to stay busy was to stay working. That's why he was here on his day off. He looked down at his first chart, found the room number, and headed that way. Time to get to work.

Nia was a ball of nerves as she waited for the results and when she heard a knock her heart started beating double time. Jase opened the door to the room speaking as he entered and never letting his eyes leave the chart. "Hello Ms. Jones, I'm Dr. Jase Hanson."

He looked up and was instantly knocked speechless. Ms. Jones was easily the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen with her dark chocolate skin, full lips, ample breasts, and as his eyes traced down her body past her small waist he smiled at the round hips and what he assumed to be an equally ample derriere completing her figure.