Chapter 42 - Treatment progresses.
We arrived at Brandi's place and mum escorted me up the stairs to Brandi's door and knocked on it.
Penny was waiting in her van in the driveway. She was wearing some of mum's borrowed clothes. Mum was dressed casually, just a t- shirt and jeans.
Brandi came to the door after hearing the knock. We could hear the familiar clop, clop, clop of her heels on her hardwood floor.
The door slowly opened. And Brandi stood there.
"Oh hello, Anne and Jay. Thank you for coming. Do come in." Brandi said.
She opened the door fully and gestured for us to enter. Mum and I entered. Me first followed by mum.
"Usual place please, Jay." Brandi said as she shut the door behind us.
I continued on down the hallway. Mum and Brandi lingered by the door for a moment or two. I entered the old bedroom that Brandi used for her clinic/ office. It hadn't changed except for her Ph.D was hanging crooked, and she had a fresh vase of flowers on her desk. A nice bunch of three orchids and some roses.
I could hear Brandi and mum talking in the hallway. I could hear them but not clearly. It seemed that they were discussing what was wrong with me and if anything had caused it. As well as what had sprung me out of it.Brandi mentioned that she would like to begin with a sit-down session with mum and myself. And then just me. She mentioned it should be about half an hour. She also asked if Penny would like a seat in her lounge and maybe have a cup of tea. I could hear the front door open again and Penny come in. Then mum and Brandi entered the room I was in.
Brandi was wearing her usual working clothes. A light grey sleeveless blouse. A black straight cut knee length skirt. And black slip Ons with small heels. No stockings this time. Her rose tattoo prominently visible, around her right ankle. She had on a pearl necklace, matching pearl teardrop earrings, And a watch. Her hair tied up in a bun, very Penny-esque. She was somewhat dressed down as opposed to her usual working garb.
I was sitting on the 2-seater couch in Brandi's room furthest from the door. Mum sat next to me, and Brandi sat in her chair by the door. She sat in and crossed her right leg over left. She reached across to her desk and grabbed her pad, glasses, and a pen.
"Thank you both for coming. And it is good to see you Jay and in a better state than was described to me. Let me start by saying that whatever is said in this room, stays in this room. Unless there are thoughts that might lead to self-harm or harming others. Okay?" Brandi said sounding unusually professional.
Mum and I both nodded our acceptance. Half of my mind was elsewhere. Every time I had seen Brandi I had ended up in all her holes, and I was wondering would it happen again. A thought reinforced by my view of Brandi sitting there one leg over the other, glasses halfway down her nose. Her tattoo of entwined roses taking center stage, In a stern yet seductive pose.
"Now I understand you recently had an incident, where you broke down in a state of depression with regression, quietness and possibly catatonia. Is that right?" Penny asked.
"Apparently so." I said.
Brandi turned to mum.
"Anything further Anne?" Brandi asked.
"Well, he went to Janice's for some anatomy help, and he tried some of Janice's chocolate cake. He picked both Yana and me up and he went quiet when Yana and I discussed using his dad's van as a wedding car. And then when we got back home, he just broke." Mum recounted.
"Okay and any thoughts and feelings on it?" Brandi asked mum.
"Well, naturally we, Yana, his dad, and I were besides ourselves with worry. He just lay in a fetal position hugging his old bear. And apparently, he suckled Yana during the night. And he wouldn't eat, drink, or speak. Until recently." Mum said.
"Suckled? I know Yana can be quite sexual and sensual, but how do you mean?" Brandi asked.
"Well, he didn't suck her nipples in a sexual, fun way. More like an infant breastfeeding." Mum explained.
"Interesting and what do you think caused it?" Brandi asked mum.
"I don't know, but I did think maybe someone had spiked his drink or something. But his group all said he hadn't been out. And lately him and Yana have been joined at the hip." Mum said.
"So, you and Yana were discussing wedding plans at the time?" Brandi asked mum.
"Yes, why?" mum answered.
"You don't think that is what caused it?" Brandi suggested.
Mum went quiet.
"In the meantime, I'd like to ask Jason, see if he has any thoughts on what happened, and maybe what caused it. When you're ready Jay." Brandi said, reaching out to touch my leg as she finished speaking.
We all sat there for a minute or two. Mum processing Brandi's point of view and suggestion. Me processing what to say. Brandi just waiting. Then I spoke.
"Well, I think there may some truth in what Brandi has suggested. You had all been discussing wedding plans and such like. I know Yana has plans, but those I believe are her domain. Things such as dresses, make up etcetera. Some are both of our domains, Food, entertainment, venue, guest list etcetera. But some things are my domain, particularly wedding transport. Now I may be wrong, but I always thought that was the groom's area to arrange. So, I thought that asking Yana's opinion on it and not mine was shall we say 'off-putting.' Also, everyone seems to have gotten involved. Janice with the cake, and it just seems that everyone has ideas or suggestions for the wedding, useful or otherwise, but no one seems to discuss them with me. I just sometimes feel that I'm a third wheel and I've been pushed to the kerb. And your discussion was possibly the straw that broke the camel's back." I explained. Brandi writing it down.
Mum just nodded as it dawned on her how I had viewed recent developments.
"Anne, anything to say?" Brandi asked.
"Ah, just that I am sorry and you're right we have kind of overlooked you lately. I am sorry." Mum said, as she started to sniffle.
"I have a question for you, Jay." Brandi said.
"Yes Brandi." I answered.
"In all honesty tell us about how you feel about your current situation with Yana, the children, Medical school, and the wedding. We know how Yana feels about it. But no one except for Penny's son knows how YOU feel about it." Brandi said, the emphasis on the you.
"So, you want to know my take on the situation?" I asked.