Page 16 of We Wish You a Messy Christmas

“What sort of problem?” Justin asked. “And don’t worry, I do a lot of couples counseling, and everything you say will stay between us.”

“That’s not exactly it,” Rob confessed. “But I’ll admit what I’m about to explain has taken a toll on our marriage.” And then Rob opened up about the changes he’d been seeing in Jane, feeling like he was literally spilling his guts. “I really love her, but she is a royal pain. She’s ruining relationships all around her.” He felt his eyes misting up and used a napkin to blow his nose. “Including our own.”

“You mentioned OCD,” Justin said carefully. “I assume she’s never been diagnosed?”

“Are you kidding? She thinks she’s perfectly normal. It’s the rest of the world that’s a great big mess.”

Justin nodded. “So, I’m curious . . . what do you want your next steps to be? I can understand how you needed to get that off your chest and talk to someone, and I’m totally fine with just that. But is there more I can do to help? Should I try to talk to her?”

Rob explained the intervention idea. “Do you think that sounds nuts?”

Justin chuckled. “I don’t know. I mean, intervention from loving family and friends often helps addicts to choose to get help. I suppose it couldn’t really hurt. Especially if things are as bad as you say. And if Jane can see and admit she has a serious problem, she might be willing to get help.”

Rob told him about the idea to invite his mother-in-law for Christmas and to help with the intervention. “Most guys don’t get along with their wife’s mother, but Lulu is great. I mean, she’s a little wacky, but she’s lighthearted and fun, kind of an old hippie, and the polar opposite of Jane.”

“Might be just the ticket. Anyone else?”

“Our neighbors, the McEntires.”

“Good people.” Justin nodded.

“We’ve known them forever, but Jane can’t stand them.” He explained a bit about the Hatfields and McCoys and that Olivia was now dating Malcolm. “Which is probably why this intervention suddenly feels imperative.” Rob made an uneasy smile. “I’d like it if you could come too. Jane respects you, and your perspective would be helpful. Plus, if she’s willing to talk about her problem, you seem a good resource.”

“I can tell you’ve given this a lot of thought, Rob. And I’d be honored to help.”

They talked a bit more, nailing down possible dates and times, and Justin suggested it might be better to tackle this sooner than later. “To give Jane time to process this and consider what she’s heard. We don’t want to pull it off right before Christmas and spoil the holidays for everyone involved.”

“I agree completely,” Rob said as they both stood. “And I can’t tell you how relieved I feel to have a plan. I’m going to call Lulu before I go home.”

“And I’m going to be praying this goes as well as possible.” Justin shook Rob’s hand again. “You’re a good man, Rob.”

“I’m glad you think so. I’m pretty sure my name will be mud when I tell Jane I’ve invited her mother for Christmas.”

Justin chuckled as he pulled on his coat. “I hear we might get snow by next week. Think having a white Christmas will help? It always puts my wife in a jollier mood.”

“I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

Still, as Rob returned to his office down the street, he didn’t think the prospect of a white Christmas would lighten the dark cloud hanging over his house right now. Jane had been in a serious funk since Sunday. Whether it was due to the broken porcelain angel, the news that her daughter was dating Malcolm, or life in general, he wasn’t sure. But the vibes at home were not good. His wife had stopped decorating midstream, asking him to return the plastic bins to the garage and spending most of her time cleaning and brooding.

Back at the accounting firm, Rob told his receptionist not to disturb him, and, securely tucked into his private and somewhat messy but comfy office, his home away from home, he called his mother-in-law.

“Robbie?” she squealed happily when she picked up. “Is that really you?”

He confirmed his identity, inquired about her health, and then admitted this call was about Jane. “I might need your help.”

“Oh, no, is she ill? She’s been on my heart lately—”

“No, her health is good. At least physically.”

“What’s going on, Robbie? Tell me everything.”

And so he did, and by the time he finished explaining about the intervention, she burst out laughing.

“Oh, Robbie, that’s just rich.”

“So you’ll come?”

“Of course, I’ll come. I’ve wanted to pull an intervention on my straitlaced daughter for years now. My heart always goes out to the poor girl—and to all of you. You know she’s her own worst enemy. To be honest, it was getting hard on me too. Not just her persnickety ways either—although I admit that seeing how stressed my visits made her has kept me from visiting more often—but seeing my own flesh and blood trapped in her glass castle of perfection. Such a sad little life. I felt bad for you and Olivia too. I suppose you’ve been trapped with her.”