While Ronald fights for his life, his wife faces charges of attempted murder, or worse, if he doesn’t survive.
Prologue
The prior plot-twisting episodes left readers on the edge of their seats, wondering about the fate of Ronald with his long-held feelings for two women he didn’t know were sisters. To prevent plot spoilers, begin with the story Mixed Reality Therapy.
Recap: Ronald’s abrupt separation from Nichole left him aching for answers to his feelings. He enlisted the help of Dr. Beverly Richardson, who employed high-tech solutions to walk him through an alternative life outcome. That treatment led to tragedy, opening new feelings for his therapist.
In Augmented Life Therapy, when Nichole showed up on his doorstep, at Beverly’s invitation, Ronald chose his long-lost love. On their anniversary, he confessed to Beverly, who was present, that he’d made the wrong choice. Beverly admitted mutual feelings. Before Ronald could leave Nichole to pursue Beverly, Nichole shot him.
Anxious Hours
BEVERLY, waiting in the hotel for news about a successful breakup, learns of the tragic incident on a news channel. Her heart races with guilt mixed with empathy for her sister. She is uncertain whether to check on Ronald at the hospital or run to Nichole’s side as she is led away in handcuffs.
Involvement in a love tryst with such a newsworthy outcome is a career-ending event for a marriage counselor. Given the choice of catching a flight to her home state, she opts to visit Ronald.
Panic fills the emergency room as medical personnel patch and prep Ronald for surgery. Police officers standing by overhear Beverly inquire about the patient’s status at the reception counter.
Cautious of revealing confidential information, the nurse asks, “What is your relationship to the patient?”
Beverly responds, “I’m his… sister-in-law, Dr. Richardson. I’m family.”
The nurse remarks, “There’s no news other than he’s in surgery. I’ll have the doctor update you if you wait in the lobby.”
Officers descend on her for a statement. She clarifies that she came for their anniversary celebration and only heard about the shooting on television. When asked what may have prompted the assault, she is evasive.
Hours go by as the futures of three people hang tenuously from the outcome of surgical sutures. The hospital doors burst open with regularity as gurneys roll by with trauma victims, reminders of Ronald’s fate.
She endures the nauseating smell of disinfectants, mopping up blood stains, mixed with the sweat of families waiting long past the effectiveness of their deodorants. When the outlook becomes as bitter as the vending machine coffee, the surgeon finally enters.
“Dr. Richardson, your brother-in-law is not out of the woods, but he’s stable. The bullet missed vital organs, damaging his shoulder. He also sustained a head injury when he fell to the pavement. A neurologist will follow up when he comes to.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Can I see him?”
“He’s heavily sedated. It’s best if you return tomorrow afternoon for a neurological update.”
Difficult Departure
Since Beverly is at the very center of the investigation and the motivation for the shooting, she feels the police will eventually escort her from the hospital. So, even with strong feelings for both Ronald and Nichole, she catches a flight back to the West Coast to avoid a media frenzy.
Back home, with regrets about attending the anniversary celebration, she follows the news and phones the hospital regularly for updates. When she learns of Ronald’s recovery and Nichole’s arraignment, she tries to focus on the patients at her practice.
As weeks go by, she imagines that Ronald regrets their plan of sharing a new life. The prior therapy sessions suggest his true love has always been Nichole. So she doesn’t try to contact him. Eventually, the news of her sister’s sentence for attempted murder causes Beverly to tremble in despair.
During Ronald’s recovery, he replays the elation he felt after expressing his true feelings for Beverly, just before the crack of the bullet rang out. Uncertainties now ring in his head about his recovery. Will he be able to use his arm? What will the brain scan reveal?
Each time Beverly counsels a family going through a problem remotely related to her turmoil, she has flashbacks. Yet, she tries her best to conceal her troubling emotions. Sometimes that requires a soothing drink at the end of the day.
Unanticipated Visit
Months later, Beverly is sipping blackberry wine, recalling her romantic times with Ronald while listening to soft music. The sweet chill mimics the emotions felt when she released him into Nichole’s arms.
The doorbell interrupts her thoughts. She nervously peers through the peephole, fearful that police or news reporters want a statement. With gasping, she opens the door and sees Ronald standing with open arms.
“Ronald? Come in, come in. What? How?” she reacts without knowing how to respond.
They embrace and sit on the sofa. He declines the offer for a drink as they stare in amazement at each other.
“I wanted to stay. I really did, but… you know… with all the media.”
“There’s no need to explain. We made plans that hit a bump in the road.”
“It was much more than a bump. I feel so guilty.”
“Don’t. Before this happened, we expressed feelings that haven’t changed within my heart. What about you?”
“Ronald, this is so unexpected. Can we move on like nothing happened while my sister—your wife—sits behind bars?”
“I visited her in prison. She’s had time to process events and has agreed to a divorce. So the only question is whether you still want to marry me.”
“This is the fourth time you’ve asked me… and I haven’t always responded correctly. If I answered according to my heart the first time, none of this would have happened.”
“You still haven’t given me an answer.”
“I think you know the answer. Yes, Ronald, it may rustle some professional feathers, but I’ll marry you.”
After decades of harboring unrequited love for a former flame, and confessing such feelings to his therapist, Ronald learns the difference between love, infatuation, and obsession. He recognizes that true love is manifest when someone sticks with you despite your foibles and is willing to sacrifice all odds to remain together.
The End
Return twice weekly for miniseries. Use of this material for generative training or republication in any format without authorization is prohibited. Any relation to actual persons or events is coincidental. Login provides the most immersive experience. About 1100 total words.
