The Misadventures of the Laundry Hag 00 - Swept Under the Rug

been willing to forgo another round with Dr. Bob, but Neil had insisted. Marty and Penny had gone to Boston, to consult with the attorney and the boys were in school. Since the Laundry Hag’s services weren’t required, I had nothing better to do.
    Dr. Bob clucked at the mystified expression on Neil’s face. “Maggie, we all need to start off on the same page here. Your husband obviously didn’t know about the assignment, did you Neil?”
    “This is the first I’ve heard about any homework.”
    “Well, next time, I’ll be sure to relay all after-session work to both of you. For now, would you like to tell me about some of the difficulties the two of you have been encountering lately?”
    Neil and I looked at each other. “Not particularly,” We said in unison.
    “Come, come, you two are obviously in marital counseling for a reason. Tell me what brought you here.”
    I figured he wasn’t referring to Neil’s Ford Escort. I cleared my throat, wondering what to say. Neil took the ball and ran.
    “Well, I guess we’re here because we need to communicate better.”
    Give the man a gold star.
    Dr. Bob crossed one leg over the other, and I saw one shiny penny glinting in its loafer prison. I’d bet my left arm it was a 2009 vintage coin and the other was an exact match. Heads up, of course.
    “In what area, Neil?”
    Yeah, in what area, Neil?
    Watching my husband flounder was a new experience for me. He waved his hands in little circles and shot me a helpless look. I commiserated with a mental, Yeah, this sucks doesn’t it, slick?
    I rather have another round with the FBI.
    “Well, Maggie, um… she’s great and all, it just that…” Neil gestured helplessly as he ran down. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
    “Just, what?” Dr. Bob prompted, leaning in, clearly scenting a weakness. “Well, she uh, hides stuff.” He smiled in triumph.
    “Me!” I exploded out of my seat. “I hide stuff?” What about you Mr. I’m working overtime ? Where have you been sneaking off to?”
    Dr. Bob patted the air in a classic settle down motion. “You’ll get your turn, Maggie. Remember, we’re attempting to create a safe, nurturing environment here. Outbursts will only undermine our work.”
    Yeah it’d be a real shame to lose this gem. I gazed heavenward, but sat.
    Neil frowned at me. “What do you mean sneaking?”
    “It’s not my turn,”” I seethed from between clenched teeth.
    “I’ll give you my turn. Just answer the damn question.”
    “You can’t give me your turn, you have to finish. Besides, I like to know what you meant about me hiding stuff. I assume you’re not talking about your car keys.”
    “Answer my question and I’ll answer yours.”
    “Oh that’s mature, Neil. What are you, five?” We were both on out feet, noses less than an inch apart, me on my tiptoes so not to be loomed over.
    “Folks, folks. You are communicating a bit too loudly. If we could all just reclaim our seats…?”
    Smoke practically billowed out of my nostrils. By God, I was the one in the right here. We sat in unison and I had to fight not to cross my arms over my chest.
    “Perhaps we ought to follow this path a little further. Now Maggie, what you said about the overtime—”
    “Hey! It’s his turn, you said so.”
    Neil rolled his eyes. “Now who’s being mature?”
    I growled at him.
    “Maggie, it’s your turn now. Please say what’s on your mind.”
    I was pretty sure he didn’t really mean that. “Neil has been going into work a lot more often than usual. Earlier days, longer nights. He claims it’s because he’s logging overtime on this project which he can’t tell me about, but when I called his desk last week…” Was I really going to say it?
    “Do go on, Maggie.” Dr. Bob said. The man was practically drooling. I ignored him and turned to face my husband.
    “You weren’t there. The man who answered told me Intel had shelved all overtime, due to the economy. Then I saw you, at that house down the road.” Tears stung, demanding release, but I curled my fingers into my palms, digging my nails into flesh. I was not going to cry.
    “Shit,” Neil said. He scrubbed one hand over his face. “Shit.”
    My heart stopped mid thump and died in my chest cavity. Only sheer force of will kept me from curling into the fetal position by the loafers, to brace for the hit that was coming.
    “God, Maggie, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry”
    No, no, no, no. NO!
    Detached from my feeling center,