June 30, 1982: I Should Tell You
They were already ten minutes into their session and, as had become the custom, Arnold was once more talking of his work at the Ministry, his opinions on Obliviations, the other Obliviators. At the moment, he was describing in vague detail the latest Obliviation incident he’d had to carry out-quite superficial and somewhat distracted, really.
This had been going on for the past several weeks. It was plain to Charlotte that Arnold was deliberately skimming the surface of events in his life, his thoughts, his concerns.
She, as was her way, was simply allowing him to proceed at his own pace. She was not pushing or delving. If this continued much longer, however, she would be forced to do so. These sessions were not accomplishing anything further for him. And if he honestly had nothing more to address than his latest Obliviation, then perhaps it was time to either cut back even more on his every-other-week sessions or agree that he no longer needed to continue.
“So they removed the faulty sofa, replaced it with a Muggle one, and I sent the entire lot home. All within a reasonable amount of time,” Arnold finished. His arms were sprawled against the back cushion. “Though, if truth be told, quite a few had to locate their clothing and redress.”
Charlotte nodded. “Well, then. Congratulations. It seems you again successfully resolved a very delicate situation.”
“Yes. It seems so,” he said and then brushed off an invisible bit of lint from his left shoulder.
Charlotte paused for a moment, considering, then leaned forward slightly. “Actually, Mr. Peasgood, I’m quite pleased with how well you seem to be doing now. Your work sounds as if it brings you satisfaction. Your life seems to be finally settling into a comfortable routine. You appear to be quite happy. Wouldn’t you agree?”
He linked his hands and placed them in his lap. “Yes. For the most part.”
“Yes,” she said, sitting back once more. “You do realize that lately you’ve been spending all your time telling me of your work; or of a lunch you might have had with Mafalda and the amusing thing she said; perhaps a grumble here or there about Mr. Crouch or Mr. Fudge, of course.” She laughed slightly. “So actually, what you are doing now is essentially chatting with me. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“A bit like a chat, yes,” Arnold said, rubbing his palms together.
“Seems rather silly to pay for a chat, don’t you think?” she asked.
His eyes met hers. “I wouldn’t think you’d complain of such a thing,” he answered.
She smiled and shook her head. “This is about you, Mr. Peasgood. And what is best for you,” she told him. “There seem to be no issues crushing you these days, no doubts and anxieties-no more than anyone else, that is,” she said. “So perhaps the time has come for us to take another look at our scheduling. What do you think?”
“Well,” he began after clearing his throat, “there might be a thing or two I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“Is there?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. “And why do you only bring this up now?”
His hands rubbed against his thighs. “I wasn’t sure how to say them. Or if I should.”
“What have you decided, then?” she asked.
He cleared his throat once more. “That I should tell you.”
“All right,” she said, crossing her legs.
“Right.” Arnold inched towards the edge of the cushion and placed his linked hands between his knees. “Things have progressed a bit with Elaine.”
“Have they?” Charlotte asked.
He nodded. “A bit, yes.”
“I remember you thought you might have feelings for her but were concerned about it being too soon for the both of you. You had not actually spoken to her about your feelings or concerns at that point,” Charlotte said. “I assume you now have?”
He nodded more slowly this time. “Yes. One could say that.”
“And since you used the word ‘progressed,’ I also assume that things went well,” Charlotte said.
“That could also be said,” Arnold agreed. “She tried to bake bread for me.”
Charlotte smiled. “Tried?”
“She managed to toss more flour on the floor and herself and Abigail than anything. But I appreciated the effort. I very much appreciated the effort,” he told Charlotte as he refocused on his hands. “I couldn’t help myself, and she couldn’t either.”
“Are you saying choices were made that were beyond the control of either of you?” she asked.
“No. I’m saying we both made a choice. Something we both agreed upon,” he said.
“Ah,” Charlotte said. “And how do you feel about that choice now?”
“I feel,” Arnold stated, “very good about it.”
“Then why did you avoid the topic, not want to speak of this with me?” she asked. “Is there something about it that troubles you?”
“I didn’t want to cause her harm. I thought, perhaps, you wouldn’t be able to continue therapy with her,” he said.
“Oh, I see,” Charlotte said. “Well, yes. Generally, it is best to not see people who are involved-unless it’s specifically about their relationship, of course. In this case, however, you were both my patients before this began. I really would find it difficult to simply demand one of you leave now.”
“Right,” Arnold said. “A bit silly of me, wasn’t it?” He began to laugh. “I’m very happy with her, Dr. Spencer. Very happy. Except for one thing, and it’s not as if it’s her fault.”
“Oh?” Charlotte asked. “What is that?”
“The former Dr. Brown. He seems unable to leave her alone,” Arnold replied.
Although only barely, Charlotte’s expression did tense. Still, she nodded. “Does this make you uncomfortable, cause trouble between you?”
“I had to smash his teeth out, Doctor.” Arnold shrugged. “But no, it caused no problems between Elaine and I.”
“I’m pleased to hear that,” Charlotte said.
“The bit about the teeth or the bit about Elaine and I?” Arnold asked.
Charlotte only smiled. “So what is your opinion now?” she asked. “Do you feel you made the right decision, that the time was right, that it was not too soon?”
Arnold, too, smiled. “The time was absolutely right. She was covered in flour.”
“Oh, yes,” Charlotte said, still smiling. “I see your point.”
Her expression grew more serious before she continued, however. “Still,” she said, “the past has not changed. As you pointed out before, both of you have been through so very much-only recently.”
“Yes. I know. But it is working. Although I’m concerned about Brown,” Arnold said. “Perhaps he’s received the message now.”
“Perhaps he has,” Charlotte said.
“And perhaps he hasn’t. He was quite drunk when I last saw him,” Arnold explained.
“I imagine it would be quite difficult to ignore several missing teeth, however,” she said.
Arnold’s gave her a half-smile. “Especially if one were to try to whistle. Or to eat certain things. But that didn’t cause him to harass her in the first place.”
“No,” Charlotte agreed. “But now that he’s seen the two of you together, sees that Elaine’s not alone, not vulnerable to him and his lies, he might finally leave her alone.”
“I don’t know, Doctor. What does he have to lose either way?” He took a breath and then added, “Besides more teeth, that is.”
“Well, perhaps that in itself will act as a deterrent,” she suggested.
“There are dentures.”
“True. And teeth are much easier to replace than a shredded mind,” she said. “You chose not to use your wand. Why?”
“I couldn’t. I thought about the boots. The ones in my dream. I knew it was wrong, Doctor, and I stopped myself. I hit him instead. Seemed the best thing to do.”
“Well, it’s not as if I condone violence,” she said, “but you did make the right decision. You chose not to be as your father was.”
“So those have been the interesting bits,” Arnold told her. “I’m sorry I bored you for a few weeks.”
She laughed. “I don’t mind being bored. It simply means there are no turbulent issues overwhelming you-which is a good thing.” She paused. “Or, as in this case, that you’re not being completely open with me. One or the other.”
“I swear that’s all to tell. And I was protecting Elaine. Or thought I was. Not that little bastard,” Arnold said.
“Yes,” Charlotte said. “I understand. Not him.”
“‘That little bastard,’” Arnold corrected.
By between__worlds and obliviator