Thea

Watching two weeks fly by so quickly was extremely discomforting for Thea. She had expected the days to trickle by and just like that a week was gone.

She had spent the week working on so many pieces and had no spare time to go out for lunch with Hank as they usually did. All she could do was smile extremely wild whenever he drove her to work.

Thea had drove herself to work this Saturday. She was leaving to the therapist later in the day. It had been almost impossible finding a therapist that was willing to work on weekends but Dr Amebo had come highly recommended and her fee was no child's play.

Thea had spoken with Jamal about her and he had chosen a convenient time for their session. They barely talked since he was always at work and the few times he came home, they missed each other because she herself was mostly in her office working.

Thea finished with work and called Jamal's office on her way to therapy. His assistant informed her that he was going to join her there. Thea arrived at Dr Amebo's office and smiled when the heavy set woman opened the office door for her.

"Good afternoon," she greeted.

"Afternoon. You're Thea?"

"Yes."

They had talked over the phone once when she tried to make some enquiry and the woman looked the way she sounded. Thea was already imagining what kind of mother she was, she was sure she was patient and attentive.

"Where's your partner?"

"On his way."

Thea took the seat she was offered and waited for Jamal.

"Do we start when he arrives?"

"Yes, I think that's better."

There was a lot to unpack in her relationship and she preferred if the discussion started with Jamal. After all, he was the one always evading her affections.

Minutes passed by and Thea chewed on her nails while the Doctor worked on her tablet. They were booked for one hour and it was almost up. Thea didn't try to call or text Jamal, she knew from experience not to.

"I could reschedule you for another week," The Doctor offered after half an hour passed.

"He'll be here soon."

Half an hour later, Thea stood from the sofa. "Thanks for your time." She almost ran to the door until the Doctor's words stopped her in her tracks.

"You look relieved," she noted.

Thea ran out of the office then and drove to her father's house. She didn't bother thinking about the Doctor's last words.

"Dad?" she called when she entered the house. She found her dad in his office going through the pile of files on his desk. "Dad," she said to announce her presence.

"Daughter."

She went over to hug him and flopped on the huge sofa beside his desk.

"You said you couldn't make it this weekend."

"Did I tell you about therapy?" Her dad shook his head and she continued. "I booked a therapy session with this doctor for I and Jamal and he didn't show up."

"Today?"

"Yes."

"Jamal is going on a five day business trip. Didn't he tell you? He should be leaving in the evening with the company's jet?"

"What?" Thea sat upright with her brows almost reaching her hairline.

"Don't you talk with your husband at all?"

"Dad, why are you surprised? Why do you think I booked us a therapy session? We don't communicate because my husband is every bit like you."

Her dad took off his reading glasses and looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. All you two care about is work, and I used to think it was something I could get used to but I can't. I'm exhausted."

Nothing made her dad speechless like this sort of conversation. He shut down like she expected and she sighed.

"Where's your wife, dad? Do you even have a girlfriend?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Just answer the question."

"Of course, I have a girlfriend."

Thea's mouth was left hanging and she closed it then asked, "You do?"

"Yes." He leaned in his chair and stared at the book shelf in the left corner.

"How long?"

"Five years. It's not a big deal really."

"How can you say that? You never said anything about her or brought her around."

"It's nothing serious."

Thea could tell her father was already irritated about the ongoing conversation. "It seems like it's something serious." She was beyond shocked. She wanted to know the woman who could put up with her father and all his issues. "I want to meet her."

"You can't meet her. I'm not bringing her around my daughter and that's final."

"Do you think she's a threat to me? Why are you with someone you don't trust around your adult daughter?"

"Because people change. You're not meeting her until I fully transfer ownership to you."

Her dad was talking about the shares and properties he had and Thea didn't care one bit about any of that. The distrust her father had in his head about everyone was the reason she had no mother. It was so illogical and unfounded and sometimes she just wanted to ask him who hurt him. No one was born this paranoid.

"I can wait," she finally said, so as to put him at ease.

"Do you want to go out for dinner later?" her father asked.

"No, I can cook for you." Thea flopped on the sofa again and watched her dad go back to his files. "Dad, can I tell you something that's been eating me up?" she asked much later.

"Tell me, baby."

"I've been sleeping with the driver." Thea had tried to hide Hank from her dad but he dropped her at his house on some Saturdays so that had been impossible. Her dad met him briefly one Saturday and no conversation had occured between them.

"Humans were not made to be monogamous," he said bluntly and went back to work.

"I have to go." Thea got up and took her bag. Her dad was the last person to confide in, but he was also the only one that rarely passed judgment.

"Now? What about dinner?" He looked at her squarely.

"You'll be fine. I love you, dad." She went over and hugged him.

"I love you too. Speak with your husband."

"Fill this house with babies," she said, since they were both talking about things that wouldn't happen.

Thea drove to Hank's house instead of going home on the pretense of bringing him a bracelet. He used to stop at his apartment to pick things while driving her so she knew his address. She called him when she arrived. Hank looked surprised to see her and Thea hoped she didn't seem desperate.

"You brought me something this late?" he asked when he got into the car.

"It's a bracelet." Thea didn't have the bracelet in the car and Hank was waiting for it. "I think I left it in the office." She sat there awkwardly waiting for him to invite her to his apartment.

"No problem. I'll get it when I come to work on Monday."

"Yes," she said in a giggle and focused on staring at the steering wheel.

Hank wasn't trying to start a conversation and Thea felt smaller in her seat. "I've been distant this past week because of work," she said, just in case he resented her.

"There's a bar on the other street, we could talk there."

"Your apartment is fine."

"My apartment?"

"If you have someone around we could go to the bar," she said in one breath.

"There's no one around. You can come up."

Thea smiled when Hank got out of the car and she joined him on the sidewalk. She engulfed her hand in his and smiled some more when Hank looked from their joined hands to her face.