Brian sighed patiently. ‘This isn’t about Terry’s wifeat all, Kate. It’s about Terry’sexperienceof the relationship – how his wife’s behaviour makes him feel.’ He looked as if he was regretting having asked her to stay. She wondered if anyone had ever been thrown out of a sharing circle for being disruptive.
‘Okay, carry on, Terry,’ Brian said.
Thrown by the interruption, Terry took a deep breath to gather his thoughts. He was soon in his stride again. ‘You take the children to McDonald’s,’ he whined. ‘You buy them toys you know I don’t approve of. You undermine the values I’m trying to instil in our children.’
‘When?’ Kate exploded.
‘Sorry?’ Terry looked confused.
‘Whendo you try to give your children these values?’
‘Kate—’ Brian began.
‘No, it’s okay, Brian. I’m interested in hearing what Kate has tosay.’ Terry turned to Kate. ‘What do you mean, Kate?’ he asked earnestly.
‘Well, today is Sunday and instead of being with your kids instilling your values in them, you’re here slagging off your wife to a bunch of strangers who won’t answer back. And you have the nerve to callherunsupportive!’
‘Well, yes, I suppose you do have a point.’ Terry deflated like a punctured balloon.
‘They’re probably at McDonald’s as we speak! I’m sure your wife would be delighted if you offered to do something else with them for the day.’
‘Kate, please!’ Brian threw Terry an apologetic look. ‘You have a right to your feelings, Terry,’ he said. ‘You don’t have to apologise for them.’
‘No, it’s okay, Brian,’ Terry said. ‘I value Kate’s input.’
‘Well, carry on,’ Brian said softly. ‘What else would you like to say to your wife?’
Terry cleared his throat. ‘Well, I realise I’ve been a bit selfish,’ he said, shamefaced. ‘I’ve left you to cope with the kids on your own far too often lately and I don’t appreciate how difficult your role is. I complain that you don’t listen to me, but I see now that I haven’t listened to you either, when you’ve tried to tell me what you need. But I’m going to be more supportive from now on, and I’m going to try to be a better father. So, basically, I want to say sorry – sorry for not being there, sorry for not listening, sorry for not understanding. Just – sorry,’ he finished quietly.
There was a stunned silence followed by muted applause as Terry rejoined the circle, sheepishly.
‘Okay!’ Brian said. ‘Who’d like to go next?’
‘Me!’ Kate volunteered, jumping to her feet.
‘Kate! Okay. Who would you like to confront?’
‘My boyfriend,’ she said innocently.
If this is the way you want to play it, fine,she thought.If you won’t talk to me in private, we’ll just have to do it in public.
Brian struggled to look neutral. ‘Your boyfriend, okay. Please, go ahead.’
Standing in the middle of the circle, all eyes on her, Kate took a deep breath. ‘I want to break up with you. I know you’ve been unfaithful to me all along. There was that girl at Rachel’s wedding, but I know now that that wasn’t the only?—’
‘We don’t mention specifics,’ Suzanne interrupted helpfully, prompting her in a stage whisper.
‘Suzanne’s right,’ Brian quavered. ‘We don’t need to know the circumstances. It’s about your experience of the relationship. Just stick to talking about your feelings – how your boyfriend’s behaviour makes youfeel.’
‘Oh – okay.’ Kate was quite enjoying herself now. ‘Well, last night when I heard you making out with Liz on the landing, it made mefeelvery angry.’
Suzanne’s face crumpled, and she looked accusingly at Liz, who had blushed to the roots of her hair.
‘When I heard you arranging to go to her room to spend the night with her, it made mefeelvery stupid for ever believing you. I felt such an idiot for not realising what you were like all along. And I really resented you for making me feel that way.’
Brian’s caring smile was slipping, and the group were shifting and mumbling among themselves, casting suspicious glances at each other.
‘I guess deep down I suspected it all along,’ she continued, ‘but I thought now that we’re engaged?—’
