Chapter 105: Jean Broody vs. Bradley Jackson ~ When desires explode… Monkeys play by size!

***

“I told her what my problem was,” Bradley said quietly. “My dad and…Wendell.” Jean didn’t interrupt, and his knuckles never faltered in their soothing rubbing. “She made us do a simple exercise. You’re right…she’s firm and really good.” Bradley laughed softly. “She made me write down all the traits I think my father had, on a flipchart. After I was done, we both concluded that the man was an arrogant bastard who didn’t really care about anyone. Then she asked me a simple question. Would such a monster give a fuck about what I think? Her words, not mine.” Bradley chuckled. “My answer was a swift emphatic, no. Then she pointed out to me that my father’s letter was not to please me then. He was simply stating how he felt. Which makes what he wrote, the truth.” Bradley stared at Jean.

“He was just telling it as it is.” Jean finally said, quietly.

“She said I should run with that.” Bradley shrugged. “I should accept that the man truly thinks that what he did to me was wrong. If I’m able to grasp that, everything will fall into place. So that’s what we’re going to work on.”

“Good.” Jean nodded. “And Wendell?”

“We will tackle that in our third session she says.”

Jean nodded. He knew that the Wendell session was going to be good too because Bradley had admitted that he was ready to let himself see the issue for what it really was. The first step he’d taken, to Jean’s delight, was to give away that guitar in his room. Jean had promised to get him one after his therapy.

“Are you happy with her?” Jean asked.

“Hell, yeah. She put everything into perspective.” Bradley sounded impressed. “For a moment I felt like I was in a classroom, and we were solving a math question. She wasn’t telling me what she thought. We were solving a problem together. It was interesting and…fun. She guided me to arrive at answers that made a lot of sense. By the end of the session, I had a better understanding and felt sorta…less burdened. It was good. And she’s so easy to talk to. I can’t believe I’ve wasted all this time…”

“Hey, everything happens in its own time.” Jean rubbed a thumb along Bradley’s lower lip.

“Are all shrinks like that?” Bradley asked.

“Each person has their own style.”

“Well, I love her style. Thanks for recommending her.”

“I’m glad you’ve clicked with her,” Jean said. “That was very important.”

“Well, we spent about ten minutes discussing Ty’s surprise wedding and having a good laugh. I almost didn’t even notice when she got serious. I felt so comfortable I was ready to spill everything. She just allowed me to talk. It was when I finished that she asked what I thought my problem was. She didn’t even take notes. When I watch movies I always see the shrinks taking notes.”

“Well, this is real. And like I said, she has her own style.” Jean didn’t bother pointing out to Bradley that Mary had everything she needed for her notes later, on that flipchart they’d used. “I’m glad you’re…” The phone rang. “It’s yours,” Jean said in a dry tone, guessing who it was.

“Wendy?” Bradley threw a teasing grin at Jean. “Thank you, Wendy. We’re on our way.” He hung up and leaned down to give Jean a quick kiss. “Come on.”

***

“But both of you will be at work. What do you want her to do in your absence?” Lucy Broody glared at Jean and Bradley. “I don’t have to go to the hospital every day. And even when I have to, I can go with her. She will enjoy seeing all those babies. Please think about it.” She pouted.

“Aw come on, mum.” Jean groaned. “No one pouts these days.”

“Jean Esau…”

“I didn’t name him Esau, Lulu.” Michael Broody said as he entered the garden with two tall, chilled glasses of cocktail.

“Aw thank you, dad.” Jean threw up his hands in a wide arc. “Esau…” He muttered, not missing his mother’s smile.

“There you go, Bradley.” Michael handed one of the glasses to Bradley and relaxed into a seat and sipped at the second glass.”

“You brought it for only him?” Jean spluttered.

“Go get your own drink, boy. Bradley keeps the country safe.” Michael then turned to Bradley, who was trying very hard not to laugh. “Frankie is bringing you some Bacon-wrapped scallops and mini crab cakes, son.” He told Bradley. “They go very well with that cocktail.”

“Thank you, Michael.” Bradley beamed, but as soon as his gaze fell on Jean’s facial expression, he burst into laughter. “Here, drink some of my cocktail, baby.” He thrust his glass at Jean, ignoring Michael’s snort.

“Thanks, darling.” Jean took the glass from Bradley as he threw his scowling father a smug look.

As Lucy and Bradley laughed, Michael turned to Bradley. “Now listen, son. Monkeys play by size. What kind of fun do you expect someone your mother’s age to have with you?”

“Oh, I get what Lucy is saying, Michael,” Bradley said. “I just don’t want my mother to impose…”

“What do you mean impose?” Michael snorted. “Look at this huge house. There are people to cater to her every need. How can she be imposing if she stays here? The two old bones will have the best time in…”

“Michael Broody…” Lucy’s growl of indignation would have made a wrestler proud.

“You know in my eyes, you’ll always be young, honey.” Michael grinned as Jean and Bradley laughed. “As Lucy said, you’re going to be at work anyway so wouldn’t have much time for…Yolanda, right?”

“That’s her name.” Jean nodded as he took the plate of Bacon-wrapped scallops and mini crab cakes from Frankie. “Thanks, Frankie."

“That’s not yours.” Michael snapped.

“You should know by now that we share everything, Dad.” Jean chuckled as he bit into a mini crab cake to the amusement of his mother and boyfriend and annoyance of his father.

“As I was saying, allow Yolanda to be here, where she can hang out with someone her age. Someone who’s fun to be around, someone who can show her some good time, someone who she can relate to better…you get me? I mean what fun is there in hanging out with you two boys? You really think she wants to see you two ogling each other and staring at each other’s penises all the frigging time?”

“I’ll tell her, Michael,” Bradley said quickly to stop the retort that had clearly been about to fall out of Jean.

“Why don’t we do it this way?” Jean took a sip of Bradley’s cocktail. “We pick her up, take her to Bradley’s to rest, take her to the hospital for her checkup, then take her out for lunch…I mean Bradley, mum, and I. Then depending on how well you two hit it off, you can invite her to be here during her stay in LA. How about that?”

“Perfect.” Lucy beamed. “Oh, and if she’s anything like her sweet son here, we’re going to more than hit it off.”

“Actually, I know you’re going to because her sense of humour is absolutely crazy.” Jean chuckled.

“My kind of girl.” Michael grinned. “What do you say I make reservations at ‘King King’ for Saturday, Lulu?” He asked his wife excitedly. “I could ask Teddy and Danny to come with us. It will be fun.”

“Err…Uncle Danny is a perv, Dad.” Jean drawled. “And trust me, Yolanda is a babe. He’s going to be all over her.”

“Not when I’m there.” Michael chuckled. “Both he and Teddy are fun to hang out with so Yolanda will have a blast.”

“She can take care of herself, Jean.” Bradley laughed.

“Make that reservation, darling.” Lucy grinned. “We’re going to paint the town red on Saturday.” She shouted delightfully. “I better let them get her room ready.” Lucy stood up to leave.

“Your mother might not want to leave LA again, baby,” Jean muttered to Bradley under his breath. “Poor Saul.”

Bradley burst into laughter.