More than the Sum by Fran Riedemann Read Free Book Online

help her process what she was going through. 
     
     
    While the counseling had served to help her better understand her complicated relationship with her mother, in hindsight she recognized a clear trail of how she had found denial a comfortable place to exist, rather than standing up for herself by addressing issues when they happened.  Am I in denial now?   She wondered, thinking it unlikely in light of his brutal exit.
    Remembering some of the exercises from her previous therapy, she decided to examine what their life was like during the two years before Craig left. Reviving those memories helped her identify some subtle changes in their habits that, had she been watching for them then, might have been red flags. She could also identify patterns of behavior that had crept in so stealthily neither of them seemed to noticed.
    Most notably, they had fallen out of the habit of calling each other during the day to check in, and simultaneously, their interactive dinner times had all but disappeared.  For at least the last calendar year television had replaced conversation during their meals, or Craig was distracted by work he brought home from the office.  She, similarly, would be flipping through magazines or working. 
    It had happened so gradually neither of them had noticed that their one deliberated vow to claim that part of the day to focus on each other had disappeared.  Sadly, neither of them apparently missed it.
    ***
     
    While she was contemplating shades of green, Jeanne called to invite her to join them for dinner the following weekend, insisting they would not take “No” for an answer.  Brittany knew they were concerned she was spending too much time alone and concluded they were probably right. What gene did I inherit that makes me prefer to seal myself away from outside input? She wondered, consoling herself that everyone processed things differently and this was normal for her. Plus, the role modeling from either of her parents was to keep the messy parts of life private.  So, because of that, she refused to consider her choices as unhealthy, despite how it might look to some of her friends, and in particular, some friends from work who in similar circumstances, had immediately rushed out to regain the social life they felt entitled to. 
    The weekend came all too quickly. While she was dressing for dinner, the phone rang.  It was Jeanne. “Brittany, we didn’t want to surprise you, or have you think we manipulated you, but the dinner plans have changed somewhat. Someone else is joining us for dinner tonight, also—and, no, it isn’t a man.”
    “ Well who is it then?” Brittany asked her, a little too crisply, fighting the impulse to be annoyed at the change in plans. Jeanne ignored her tone, going on to explain, “A good friend has been in the area for the last few days doing a seminar. I’m sure we’ve mentioned her to you before; her name is Gloria Zachery.  Anyway, she wasn’t sure she would have time to see us and we had given up on it, but she just called and asked if we wanted to join her for dinner. I told her we had a dinner guest coming over and asked her to join us here instead.  I will understand if you don’t feel like coming, and either way you will get dinner.”  Jeanne added in a pleading tone, “But, please, please come!”
    After, what seemed like a very significant pause, Brittany spoke, “Yes, of course I’m coming. She’s your friend and I remember you mentioning her to me in the past.” She added, “I’m coming, but I wouldn’t if she was a he!” 
    Jeanne quickly responded, “I hear you, and there’s no fear of that happening, so not to worry.  Matchmaking is way more responsibility than either Randy or I am willing to take on. I’ll stick with food.”  They both laughed, leaving Jeanne greatly relieved that Brittany hadn’t taken offense to the sudden change in plans.
     
    When the call ended, Brittany did have second thoughts. After a brief