The Relationship Coach (27 page)

No longer would he be trailing her like a shadow everywhere she went. No longer would he pass her in the hallway of Mate Inc. The idea of not seeing Reed caused heartache so profound, she refused to think of the implications that pain meant.

She’d grown to like having him around.

She enjoyed his quick wit, his intelligence and his objective way of observing situations. He was spontaneous, fun, and damn good looking. Working beside him every day had slowly awakened every nerve ending in her body and wrung her emotions inside out.

If she were to evaluate how she felt about Reed, she feared her heart would soon be involved. The end of the filming would be a good time to stop her involvement with him. All she had to do was tell him, and he’d promised her he’d stop pursuing her. Her mind acknowledged the danger of their involvement, but her body longed to join with his again.

She halted outside the door, needing a moment to push aside her thoughts of Reed and focus on her clients. She loved her job, and this couple needed her help in facing their dilemma.

Opening the door, Lacey walked into the interview room, where Reed and Ty were busy setting up.

“Are we ready?”

“Just need to do a couple of lighting checks, and we’re all set.” They held the lights up to her face, and Ty read some kind of meter. Reed positioned the lights further away from her and turned them to make the lighting softer. Again, they checked the meter.

“All set,” Ty said.

A knock on the door announced the arrival of her clients.

“Come in,” Lacey called.

David and Jennifer walked in together and took a seat across from Lacey.

Lacey glanced at Reed, and a melancholy sadness rattled her. Their last interview together. She took a deep breath and pushed the thought out of her mind. “Are we ready?”

“Filming,” Ty called.

“How are you guys?” she asked.

Jennifer shrugged, and David spoke up, “Okay.”

Lacey leaned toward David, sensing a change in the couple. “You both look a little down today. What’s going on?”

Jennifer sniffled. “He didn’t do his homework.”

Lacey glanced at her notes and turned to David. “I remember giving you three assignments. A list of how different your life will be without Jennifer, a list of what you like about your life with Jennifer, and a list of reasons why you can’t marry.” If he hadn’t done his homework, then she doubted they would be together much longer.

“I tried, I really did, but I don’t know why I don’t want to get married. As for the other two lists, I don’t want her to leave,” David said, glancing at Jennifer.

“And your homework, Jennifer, was to write out a contract giving David a date as to when you’re moving out if he doesn’t agree to get married.”

“I have it right here,” she said, digging into her purse. “I gave him a week.”

“A week,” Lacey said, stunned by how quickly she was moving. Yet, that was her decision to make, and it looked like she’d already made up her mind.

“This has been a battle between us for six months. You are our last hope. I’ve already found an apartment. They’re waiting for my deposit.”

“Does that seem reasonable to you, David?”

He ignored Lacey and turned to Jennifer. “I’ve told you over and over I don’t want you to leave. I love you.”

“Just not enough to make it legal.” She held a Kleenex to her eyes.

“David, what is holding you back from marrying Jennifer?” Lacey asked again, trying to find out this man’s resistance. If she knew his reasons why, then they could work to overcome them.

“Marriage scares the hell out of me.”

“Knowing you’ll lose Jennifer, your fear of commitment is more important?” Lacey asked.

He stared at Jennifer and tried to take her hand. She pulled away. “I love you, but I don’t want to get married. I want things to stay the same.”

“But if Jennifer moves out, life won’t be the same.”

“I know that,” David said, his eyes flashing anger.

Lacey observed the couple, wondering what she could do help them. She tapped the end of her pencil on her notebook. “What if Jennifer became seriously ill and couldn’t work any longer. David, what would you do?”

He shrugged. “If it were for a short time, I’d probably take care of her.”

“What if Jennifer became paralyzed?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t handle that. She’d have to go back to her parents. They have resources I don’t.”

Lacey nodded, setting the trap. “Fair enough.”

“What if Jennifer got pregnant? What would you do then?” Lacey asked and then whirled on Jennifer. “Not that I’m advocating that at all. I’m not.”

“I don’t want kids,” David said quickly.

He wouldn’t care for Jennifer if she was paralyzed, and he didn’t want children with her. For a moment, Lacey sat there and let his words resonate in the room, hoping Jennifer would come to the conclusion on her own.

In horror, Jennifer recoiled, physically moving away from David, her eyes widening. “You know I want children, a family. I’ve said that since the first day I met you.”

David squirmed. “Yeah. I was hoping you’d change your mind.”

Her eyes were wide with indignation. “Change my mind!” Realization echoed in her voice. “You don’t love me. I’m convenient. I’m someone who cleans the apartment, cooks, and gives you sex. It’s all about you.”

“Oh, Jenny. How many times do I have to repeat it? I love you.”

She shook her head. “No! Both of your answers clearly show you don’t realize that when you love someone, you put her needs first. I’m just someone you come home to.”

“Well, you’re not putting my needs first by demanding we get married.” David raised his voice in anger and looked at Lacey for confirmation.

Jennifer all but exploded. “I’ve put your needs first for the last two years. Now it’s time for me to think about how much longer I should wait on you.”

David didn’t know how to respond. He sat there unable to say anything, but Jennifer was just getting started.
“I have your dinner cooked when you come home. I do your laundry. I clean the apartment. I pay the bills. All I asked of you is to love me and consider my dreams.”

Lacey watched as David struggled for words. He sat there, his eyes downturned, his lips pursed. Silence stretched into minutes.

Jennifer picked up her purse and stood. “I’m done. He’s not going to change, and I’m tired of trying. I’m leaving here to go put down a deposit on the apartment. The movers will get my stuff next weekend.”

David glanced at her. “I’m sorry. I do love you.”

“I’m sure in your own way you do, but it’s not enough for me.” She glanced at Lacey and let out a deep sigh. “Thanks, you’ve helped me make a decision.”

Lacey rose from her chair. “You’re welcome.” She walked Jennifer to the door and then halted. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll be okay.”

“Good. Give me a call, if I can help you in any way.”

“Thanks.” Jennifer went out the door.

Lacey knew that was the end of Jennifer’s relationship with David. A sense of failure filled Lacey, leaving her sad. She hated to see her clients not make it together.

David continued to sit in the chair and stare into space.

“Are you all right?” Lacey asked, sitting back down across from him.

“I wish I could have married her, but I couldn’t.”

Lacey nodded. “Is there anything else you want to talk about?”

“No, but I don’t want to go home. I know I’ll be alone. She won’t come back.”

“No, I think it’s over,” Lacey confirmed.

“What do I do now?” He looked confused almost lost.

“You take some time to evaluate why you didn’t want to marry Jennifer, before you get involved with anyone else. Many women want the safety and security of marriage. You may never want to marry, but you need to let the woman know that right up front, before you ever get involved again. And you need to tell them you don’t want children.”

“I
did
love her.”

“I’m sure, in your own way, you did.” Lacey wanted to show him she wasn’t taking sides, but it was hard. She wanted to yell at him that he was a dumb schmuck for not seeing what a beautiful wife and mother Jennifer would have been. His loss.

“But I didn’t want to marry her.”

“I understand.”

With that, he rose and started for the door..

“Good luck, David,” Lacey called.

“Thanks. Goodbye Lacey,” he said and walked out the door.

Lacey closed her file, leaned her face into her hands, and sighed. She hated it when she was unable to resolve the issues of one of her clients. She hated it when she watched a break-up, and she hated it when two people could not work out their issues.

David was afraid of commitment, and Jennifer had reached a time in her life when she needed something more. At an impasse, neither one could win.

And neither one would be happy for quite some time.

Reed stepped in front of the camera. He touched her on the arm, and she jumped.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Involved with helping this couple, she’d completely forgotten about the camera in the room. She gazed up at him. “I’m sorry. I hate it when I can’t help a couple.”

He sat down across from her and leaned toward her. “What went wrong with this couple?”

Lacey straightened and remembered the documentary. “Some issues can’t be resolved. He didn’t want to get married, and she was at a place in her life when she needed a commitment from him to continue in the relationship. He wasn’t willing to give her what she needed.”

“Why couldn’t she wait?”

She frowned and wanted to ask him “Really?” but knew the cameras were rolling. “She’d given him two years. She could have given him twenty more, and it wouldn’t have mattered. I think deep down she knew David would never marry her. I don’t think he understands love. It’s easy to say the words, but the truth lies in your actions. David enjoyed what Jennifer did for him, but if this had been real love, he would have done more to save the relationship.”

Reed stared at her, his green eyes warming her insides making her feel safe and secure. Once again, she felt at ease in front of the camera.

“Give me your definition of love,” he asked.

There were as many definitions of love as there were kinds of love, but the emotion between a man and a woman was both simple and complex. She took a deep breath. “Love is putting the other person’s needs before your own. When you’re in love, you’re not selfish, and your partner is your best friend and wants the very best for you. Being with him makes you a better person.”

“But she was putting her needs before his.”

“In a way, yes. But she had put his needs first for two years. It was her turn, and he was unwilling to satisfy her need for commitment before his fear of marriage. If he’d loved her, he would have put his fears into perspective and married her. Just completing the simple homework assignment I gave him would have shown her he was willing to work on their relationship. He chose to ignore her needs, and it cost him a relationship.”

Lacey watched Reed struggle to understand, his forehead wrinkled, and his brows drew together. Could this be part of his problem with love?

“Love is putting your best friend’s needs first,” he said, quietly as he contemplated the thought for the first time.

“You want the best for your partner, and you want her to be happy. And sometimes that means doing things that are not in your comfort zone. Like marriage.”

“Like bungee jumping?” he asked.

She laughed. “Yes, exactly. Or loving your partner enough to know that bungee jumping could send her over the edge, so you ask your buddy to go do it with you instead.”

“Hey, I got you to smile,” he said, his voice sincere.

She ducked her head before raising her gaze to stare into the depth of his soul, feeling scorched by the heat reflected in his eyes. She wanted to dive into that head and let it take her away. “Yes, you did.”

Ty called out, “Cut! You two were getting sappy, and I thought we’re done.”

“Good call,” Reed said. “I’ve got one more client who has agreed to talk to us, but not during a session. This is a wrap for you,” he said, the mood shifting back into work.

She let out a sigh, as tension left her body. “That’s a relief. Though, I will miss you guys hanging out here. Usually, there are only females in the office and having some testosterone around has been different.”

Reed smiled. “The flower smell does seem to be a little less in here now.”

“Oh, that will change once you’re gone.”

He gazed at her, unclipping the microphone from his shirt. “What are you doing later tonight?”

“Going home and resting.”

With a tilt of his head, he said, “I hate to eat alone. Want to grab some dinner?”

She should say no, but she hated to eat alone as well, and after today, she wouldn’t be seeing Reed. Why not one last celebration? “Okay, but I need to run home. Pick me up in an hour?”

“See you then.”

***

Everyone had left for the day as Reed took the elevator down to the garage. One more interview before he moved to the studio to begin putting the film together, splicing and editing and trying to come up with a documentary that showed how relationship coaches were people without doctorates, who really didn’t know how to guide lives.

However, he was having more difficulty remembering the reason for the documentary other than he’d enjoyed watching Lacey work with people. Observing her today, with the break-up of that couple on camera would be excellent viewing.

He stepped off the elevator, and Jose walked toward him.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” Reed asked, startled to see the kid.

A dejected air permeated the kid’s expression. “I’m done.”

Reed frowned. “You finished your assignment?”

“Yes. But I quit.”

Reed stopped walking and stared at the kid. “What happened?”

Jose pulled an envelope out of his pocket and slammed it into Reed’s hand. The return address was the Los Angeles Film School. Reed opened the envelope and read the letter that started with, “We regret to inform you…”

“Damn!” he said.