"Genevieve O'Hare The Series"

INSTALLMENT #2:

“Genevieve! Listen to me, I need you to calm down and speak to me slowly and tell me exactly what happened. What do you mean they were in it?” asked Dr. Hendricks trying hard to suppress the sudden nervousness that had come over her. Genevieve continued to sob but eventually calmed a bit and exhaled loudly as if a huge boulder had been lifted from her shoulders. “Go ahead Genevieve, you can tell me, please remember that what you tell me here is strictly kept just between the two of us…” said the doctor. Genevieve looked up at the doctor and began to laugh awkwardly in the midst of her breakdown, “Oh come on now Doctor, are you telling me that if I admitted to burning up two people in a house fire, you wouldn’t turn me in just as soon as my check was cashed?” “Not unless I wanted to risk losing my license, as crazy as it sounds, and even still I would have a hard time trying to prove your ‘confession’ with no evidence seeing as though it is only you and I here talking. But, I would like to know exactly what took place. My job is to help you but I cannot do that unless you are completely honest with me.” urged Dr. Hendricks.
With another sigh, Genevieve began to give her account of what happened that day, “It was noontime on a Thursday, I’d gone out that day to have brunch with friends. After leaving the bistro, I decided I would get in a workout before heading to the market to buy groceries and make dinner later that evening for Gavin…” “Gavin?” asked Dr. Hendricks interrupting, “Is that your husband.” “Yes.” said Genevieve. The doctor sat back in her chair disregarding the clock on the wall indicating that their hour long session would soon be over. At this point, she was no longer as passive as she had been when the discussion first started; she was now very actively listening to her patient. “Go ahead.” said the doctor.
Genevieve continued, “Well I got to the gym, changed and got on the elliptical. I did that for about 20 minutes and then decided that I just wasn’t up for it that day, I just wanted to go home and curl up with a nice book and maybe spend some special time with my husband after dinner, you know, have a romantic night. So I decided I’d go home and begin planning the evening. Maybe it was naïve of me to think I could trust him. Late nights at the office were normal but I thought nothing of it because we would periodically call to check in during the day. I was SO stupid! I thought he actually loved me!” Dr. Hendricks interjected, “Genevieve there is nothing ‘stupid’ about you loving your husband or about him loving you. He was your husband and I want you to stop beating yourself up for that and not speak negatively about a normal emotion you had and/or have as a wife.”
She gave a half smile, at peace with having her emotions finally validated and continued on, “I called him up and asked about his schedule for the afternoon, I told him I’d gone to the gym and that I was going to make my stop at the market before coming home. I told him I had something special for him. He seemed excited and I told him I’d be home sometime after lunch and we hung up. I didn’t mention however that I’d already left the gym. As I said before I thought nothing of it. I went to the market as I’d planned and came home. I was coming up the drive and I saw his car. I thought it was weird and that should’ve been my first indication that something was wrong. I shrugged it off and just thought maybe his plans had changed and he’d decided to come home for lunch.”
Genevieve paused for a moment and took a deep breath with her eyes closed. Reliving the scene was difficult for her and Dr. Hendricks could see it in her face and in the tense movements off her body, but she had to know what happened and urged her to continue on. “Go ahead Genevieve, what happened next?”
She continued, “I opened the door and found it strange that he hadn’t set the alarm behind him. I spotted his briefcase on the table. But the sight that took my breath away was the purse lying next to it. I believe my heart stopped for a moment, and I was frozen in my steps. Then I realized the purse looked very familiar. It was my purse, a Valentino bag I’d let my sister borrow a week before. The confusion was racking my brain until I heard the sounds. They were sounds of moaning and groaning. I began walking up the stairs and although my feet were moving, I felt as though I were gliding along the corridor in a very bad dream. I walked up to the door of the bedroom and the door was slightly cracked. I pushed it open and right before my eyes; Gavin and my own sister were in the midst of making love. I think that maybe the worst part of it all was that it actually took them a moment to realize I was even standing there. Imagine that. It was that good to them. But, when they saw me, the look on their faces combined with shock said that it had obviously been too good for too long. I began to back out of the room, without a word as my sister laid there in awe in her nakedness. I turned to run and Gavin ran after me with hesitance to go any further than the back door so as not to make a scene and show his. I left and was gone for about 3 or 4 days, I can’t remember how long. It’s all a blur at this point.”
“Did he try to contact you at all during the time you had gone?” asked the doctor. “He tried.” said Genevieve “But of course I was not open to answering any of his calls. My mother and father also called saying that they were very worried. Gavin told them I’d left but of course he didn’t give them a reason as to why. I haven’t made an effort to contact any of them. I just wanted to be left alone.”
“Well you spoke of a fire. Let’s get to that. Tell me, what happened.” said Dr. Hendricks. “Dr. Gavin is looking for me. I know he is. He and my family both are. I just don’t know what to do or where to go!” As the tears once again began to well up in her eyes, the doctor noticed that she’d began the nervous fidgeting again and she wanted Genevieve to remain composed long enough to tell her what else had occurred before their last 10 minutes were up. Just then the receptionist came in. “Dr. Hendricks.” “Yes” said the doctor “What is it?” “I’m so sorry to interrupt but there are two police officers in the waiting area. They are looking for Ms. O’Hare.” Dr. Hendricks turned around just in time to see the blood drain out of Genevieve’s face as she turned pale with fear. There was only one way out of the office and she had no where else to turn….

Tune in again next Sunday and EVERY Sunday for another post from Dose of Drama for the series, Genevieve O’Hare…

Dose of Drama: Genevieve O'Hare - The Series

Dose of Drama: Genevieve O'Hare - The Series

Genevieve O'Hare - The Series

“Good afternoon, I’m here to see Dr. Hendricks.” “Can I have your name please?” asked the receptionist. “Genevieve, Genevieve O’Hare” she said wringing her hands together from the nervous feelings that consumed her. She had never been to a therapist before, but hey, it was a first time for everything, and this was a good thing. Besides she thought to herself, she needed to get the monkey off of her back. But then again maybe this was more like a gorilla…
“Okay, have a seat, she’s in with another patient at the moment, she will be right with you.” said the receptionist kindly. “Thank you.” said Genevieve as she turned to take her seat in the waiting room. The room was small and intimate. It was dimly lit with neutral colored sofas and chairs along with a few potted plants and a full stock of literary magazines spread out on the end tables. She assumed this was all to get people relaxed and lull them into a state of comfort so that they’d spill their guts once they got into the doctor’s office. Although Genevieve was never too fond of the idea of seeing a therapist, it was all the rave with the other wives at the gym. But then again, it was L.A. They would sit in the sauna after games of tennis or sessions with Ricardo (personal trainer to almost all of the desperate female gym members) and quietly discuss the advice their therapists had given them concerning one of their many shallow and insignificant issues as if it were some sort of “Aha Moment” or religious epiphany! Genevieve thought it was all just a complete waste of time and money. She would oftentimes think to herself, “Isn’t that what you have girlfriends for?”
But this time she was wrong.
This time she managed to put her judgments aside. This time she needed a good ear and sound advice. But most of all, she needed someone who wouldn’t violate doctor-patient confidentiality. Genevieve sat patiently in the waiting room as each minute ticked by on the clock on the wall. She went back and forth with herself about what she would say or better yet, how she would say it.
After driving for quite some time, she finally stopped and decided to get a room at a little bed and breakfast up the coastline in Monterey and it was there that she’d found a listing for Dr. Hendricks in the local phone directory. She left her family with no clue as to where she could’ve possibly gone and was sure they had put an APB out on her by now. However, not wanting to have any contact with anyone, she had thrown her cell phone out of the window on the side of the freeway and was certain it had become tire dust. The money in the secret account that she had saved up over the past 5 years should have been enough to regain a brand new start for herself she thought. Somewhere away from L.A. where she could be alone and leave the past behind and Monterey seemed so peaceful. Although, she didn’t rule out the fact that what happened might eventually force her to drive a lot farther.
After about 30 minutes, the office door opened and out walked Dr. Hendricks and a very worried looking man. All of a sudden she was plagued by indecisiveness about whether or not she should actually be going through with this. Genevieve felt the urge to run but her legs wouldn’t move. As the troubled man walked out of the door, she heard her name being called, “Genevieve, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Hendricks.” Genevieve stood up and smiled weakly and shook the doctor’s hand, “Nice to meet you as well.” she said. “Come in” said the doctor “have a seat on the sofa.” The room’s décor matched that of the waiting room but the furniture looked a bit more comfortable, the reason behind that, Genevieve thought to herself, was an obvious one. “Okay” began Dr. Hendricks, “Let’s get started. First of all let me say that I in no way want you to feel nervous or judged. People see therapists everyday for a variety of issues and concerns. Sometimes those issues are more severe than others. Nevertheless, whatever the problem or however serious, most people just need a more defined and unbiased outlet to work out those issues. I try to provide room for positive growth and insight through discussion. Of course as you know, nothing said between us leaves this room. Is that okay, do you understand?” asked Dr. Hendricks. “Yes.” said Genevieve. “Okay so why don’t we start with a little introduction, tell me about yourself and a little bit about why you decided to come and see a therapist.” said the doctor.
“My name is Genevieve O’Hare, I’m from L.A. and I’m a 30 year old soon to be divorcee.” Looking down at her notepad and preparing for a normal one hour discussion, Dr. Hendricks, situated herself in the huge armchair and although listening intently, she responded to Genevieve in the same manner that she oftentimes did with so many of her other patients, “I’m sorry to hear that.” She looks up from her notepad, noticing the uneasiness in Genevieve’s sitting position and the fidgeting of her hands. “You want to talk about what happened? Is this situation what brought you here to Monterey perhaps?” asked the doctor. Without so much as a sigh or a pause, Genevieve began to sob uncontrollably.
A bit startled by the immediate overflow of Genevieve’s emotion, the doctor reached for a handful of tissues strategically placed on the table to the right of her and handed them to her distraught patient. “You know, a divorce can be a very emotionally trying experience. So much is put into a relationship and then all of a sudden it seems as though everything you’ve built with a person is going in a direction that is totally opposite of what you wanted for your life. It’s okay to be hurt, to let it out.” said Dr. Hendricks as she tried unconvincingly to console Genevieve.
“I could give a damn about a divorce!” responded Genevieve firmly.
“I’m sorry…” said the doctor with great confusion.
A cold minute went by as Genevieve, staring at the floor, pondered what she was about to say. “I can’t say I understand what you mean Genevieve. I can’t imagine that you don’t care at all about the divorce. But, I must ask, if it isn’t the divorce that’s bothering you, then what is it? You can talk to me, that’s why you’re here. What has you so feeling so broken at this moment?” asked Dr. Hendricks, sitting on the edge of her chair, now seeming very worried. Genevieve looked up at the doctor with tears in her eyes and in a voice that was suddenly void of all emotion she finally revealed to the doctor why she had really come to see her that day.
“I set it on fire. The house, I set it on fire. My husband and my sister, they were in it…”


Tune in next Sunday and EVERY Sunday for a new post from Dose of Drama for the series, Genevieve O’Hare…