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Clio
Chance was not looking happy to be in the waiting room of Janice’s office. He wriggled in his seat, trying to get comfortable and, several times, sent searching glances at me. He’d argued with me this morning about coming until I out and out blackmailed him. He was sulking, and there was a frown on his face that would terrify anyone.
There was a buzz, and Janice’s receptionist looked up.
“You may go in now, Mr and Mrs Michaelson,” she said, ignoring Chance’s scowl and smiling.
I got to my feet and stared down at Chance.
“Do I need to do this?” he muttered.
“Yes. Get up off your ass before I kick it,” I replied and began walking towards the room.
Chance followed behind like a naughty schoolboy. I could feel the vibes coming off him as we entered Janet’s office.
Janet looked up from her usual armchair opposite a comfortable couch and smiled.
“Hello, good to see you again, Clio. And Chance, thank you for joining us today,” she said.
“Don’t think I had much choice to be here,” Chance complained as I sat on the sofa, and Chance lowered his frame next to me.
“Possibly not, knowing how determined Clio has become. However, the fact remains you are here, and that means something.”
“I’m worried sick about my wife,” Chance retorted.
“Okay, what worries you?” Janet asked, settling. I recognised that sign. Janet was getting ready to delve deep.
“Everything. How she shut down, ignored me and the youngsters. Refused to talk to anybody and yet woke up when I brought home two kids that weren’t ours. Now Clio’s running around organising an event and refuses to share the plans with anyone,” Chance stated.
“Would Clio usually share plans?” Janet asked.
“No, she’d tell people what to do, but they’d trust she was in control,” Chance replied.
“So, what’s different this time?” Janet pried.
“Clio had a complete breakdown. One so bad I thought we might’ve to institutionalise her,” Chance answered with a glower at me.
“You thought or others?” Janet inquired.
“Does it matter?” Chance demanded.
“Yes.”
“Phoe and her sister approached me. I was hoping Clio would come out of it herself,” Chance replied honestly.
“And when she didn’t?”
“I asked Phoe to have a word with her.”
“But Phoe didn’t, did she? She threatened Clio with being locked up,” Janet said.
“We were at our wits’ end. Nothing got through to her,” Chance exclaimed, and his frustration hit the room.
“PTSD works in many ways, but Clio had the classic signs of it. The depression, shutting down, ignoring her loved ones, they are all part of PTSD,” Janet replied calmly, and Chance stilled next to me.
Moments ticked past, and Chance turned his head to study me and then looked back at Janet.
“Clio had PTSD?”
