Ted and Miranda called Roman and Roxy next. They hoped their session went better than Randy and Jill's.
"Okay, Roxy yesterday was Roman's side. Now it's your turn. Tell us your thoughts about the affair."
"The affair hurt me so much." She started. "I knew we were both working so much. But I thought we were making time for each other. I really did."
"Roman?"
"We weren't really. It was more we were both there but each occupied with other things."
"Roxy, tell us your feelings when you got the DVD."
"I came home after work and the DVD was in the mail. I thought it was something someone was selling and I wanted to see what it was. I put it in the DVD player and I was shocked by what came on the screen. It was obviously taken in Noelle's condo. It started with her and Roman in her bed. It didn't start with anything else. It was just him and her having sex. I knew it wasn't a onetime thing." She looked at Roman. "I was heartbroken when I saw you. How could you do that to me?"
"What happened next?"
"He walked in and found me looking at. He said he was so sorry."
"Roman, do you have something to say?"
"I am really sorry about the affair and how she found out. I never wanted that." He sighed. "I'm sorry about the affair and everything."
"Alright. I think we did a lot today. So we will have another one later. Group therapy will be in a few hours." Miranda replied. They nodded and headed out.
Once they had left, Ted turned to Miranda. "So, what are your thoughts on things?"
"I think we made progress today but we also had some setbacks." She said sitting down. "Randy and Jill's is a marriage I'm not sure can be saved. I know you wanted to try but I really think it's a losing battle. Jill isn't sorry she cheated and regretting it and feeling remorse is the key to working through it."
"Yeah." He said sitting by her. "I agree with that. What about the others?"
"I think they have a chance. Roman regrets his affair but he admitted he had feelings for Noelle. So that complicates it. But the fact that he regrets it and he is willing to listen to Roxy means they have a good chance provided she can forgive him for it."
"Seth and Kaylee?"
"I think they have a chance. Seth regrets the affair and admitted he doesn't have feelings for Laurel. So that's a big thing. Kaylee regretted hers immediately. So since they both regret the affairs, I think they have a chance. Seth just has to let go of the anger he feels about who she was with. If he doesn't, it can possibly destroy the marriage. She can't change it and she needs him to not bring it up all the time."
"Yeah. We have more work to do."
"Yes and we will. We just have to take it one thing at a time." Ted nodded and kissed her.
An hour later, the group met up in the main area for group therapy. Ted and Miranda had a trust exercise for them. It was one that was used in most therapy.
"Alright. We are going to try a trust exercise. The individual sessions today went alright. There is still work to do." Ted replied. "But I want us to do the trust exercise right now. And later, there will be an assignment for you."
"Let's have our first couple up here." Miranda said to them. "Roman and Roxy." Roman and Roxy got up and went to the center of the circle.
"Okay, Roman stand behind Roxy." Ted said as Roman moved behind her. "Roxy, I want you to look straight ahead and clear your mind. When I say go, you will let yourself fall back. Roman will catch you, so don't tense up or put your hands out to catch you. He will do that."
Roxy got in position and cleared her mind of everything. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She let herself relax and fell back as instructed. She was relieved when Roman did in fact catch her. He helped her up and she turned to face him. Noticing for the first time, in a long time, how perfect his eyes were.
"Alright. That was very good." Ted said. "Now switch positions and Roman, you fall."
They repeated as instructed and Roman fell back and Roxy caught him.
"Alright. That was very good." Ted said to them. "Alright. Now, Seth and Kaylee."
Seth and Kaylee headed to the center where Roman and Roxy had been earlier. They took the positions as instructed and Kaylee fell first and then Seth.
"Excellent. So far so good." Miranda smiled. "Now, last couple Randy and Jill."
Both Miranda and Ted were wondering how this would go for Randy and Jill with all of the issues they'd had. Randy and Jill took the place where Seth and Kaylee had been. Jill fell as instructed and Randy caught her. Randy did next but Jill mistimed it and he fell to the floor.
"Ow." He said when he hit. Seth and Roman helped him up.
"I'm sorry. I mistimed it." Jill said to him.
"Sure." He said getting up and taking a seat. He wasn't sure he believed that.
"Alright, that was an interesting exercise. We have an assignment for you guys tonight. You will go on a date."
"What?" Roxy asked.
"You will go on a date with your husband. A nice, quiet date just the two of you." Ted replied. "Now let's break for lunch and then we will have another group session."
They headed to the dining room for lunch. They wondered what the next group session would hold. Lunch ended and they headed back to the main room.
"Alright. In this session, we thought we would try something different." Ted said to them. "What we want is for each of you to get in the center of the circle and tell your spouse what you think will fix your marriage. This is an exercise so no judgment or comments. We normally don't do this in the group session but I feel that it will help. Randy, why don't you go first?"
Randy sighed and got up and walked to the center. He turned to look at Jill. "I honestly don't know if our marriage can be saved."
"Randy, please just say what you think will fix it." Miranda added. She knew that their marriage was the hardest to save.
"Okay." He said. "The thing that will fix our marriage is for her to quit working at the school and stop seeing Chris. If she continues to work with him, then she will be tempted to be with him again. In fact, I'm sure she is still sleeping with him."
"Jill, do you have a response?"
"I love my job at the school. I can't quit." She replied.
"See this is the problem. She wants to continue to work with him. She is still sleeping with him."
"I just love my job. I don't want to leave the school. I love it too much."
"Randy, what if she promised to not be alone with Chris?"
"I guess that would be something." He said.
"Alright. Jill, now you tell us what you think will fix your marriage."
Jill took the spot where Randy had been. "I think the only way to fix our marriage is for Randy to spend more time at home and not get jealous over things. And let me stay at a job I love."
"Randy?"
"I can try to be home more." He replied. "I don't want her to leave a job she loves. But why can't she get a job at another school? Where he isn't."
"Jill?"
"I love the school I'm at. I have a great relationship with my students. I don't want to lose that."
"Randy?"
"If she promises to not have any alone time with Chris, I think that would work."
"Alright. That is something. We will work on that." Miranda said. She looked at Randy and Jill. "Jill, is not spending time with Chris something you will do?"
"I don't know." She replied and sat down. She was being truthful. She didn't know if she could stay away from Chris or if she even wanted to.
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