At the next session Bette and Angelica were back to square one. Hector didn’t need to be told that after the last appointmnet, things were a bit uncomfortable between them. It was normal though, being so honest one day then retracting those feelings to “should i have said that?” Nobody felt this more than Bette. Sitting in her small arm chair trying not to look at either person, she felt like she put herself out there. Angelica shouldn’t have heard her say those things, Bette should be strong for her daughter not weak. But deep inside Bette knew it was all for the better, she just didn’t like it. Bette had always been strong for her family, and this admission of weakness made her queasy. This manifested itself by her being even more aloof than ever. Oh she took care of Angie for sure, driving her to painting classes, going shopping with her for school supplies, cooking for her, cleaning the house, even accepting Angie’s help in revitalizing the yard’s dying garden, eating with her and carrying on amiable conversations. But not once letting Angelica in on Bette’s feelings since the last session, she didn’t know why…it just felt easier doing that. In truth Bette didn’t trust things to go smoothly if she did without Hector mediating. She didn’t trust things but really she didn’t trust herself, she was afraid that she would snap at Angelica. Her daughter was important to her, and Bette didn’t want to ***** up their rocky truce by giving in to feelings of inadequecy. She felt inadequete. Didn’t know why though.

 The session started out terribly. Bette was looking forward to getting to know what her daughter was thinking and feeling but did not stop to realize that was exactly what Angie wanted from her. Unfortunetly Bette had since the last session effectively isolated herself emotionally for all the wrong reasons. Angelica felt like Bette was expecting her to do stuff but not do it herself. Deep inside Angelica knew that her mother feared vulnerability as much as she did. They both did. And that was where had Tina balanced things out.

Cut to: 15 minutes into session.

“  im just saying it’s like your a piece of driftwood, deadwood actually, like a stepford wife or something”