In numb disbelief Darlene followed the young nurse in the crisp uniform from the white room. She was taken to a well-furnished suite of rooms and shown the washroom and shower. While she bathed and washed her hair she smelled food cooking and was greeted with a delicious meal afterward.
Finally the laundered jeans and sweater she wore on that day so long ago when she met Chuck at the beach were handed to her. She dressed, looked at herself in the mirror, still wondered what was happening, where she was. The nurse refused to answer any of her frequent questions by saying, "You'll learn everything very soon."
When? Why was she here? For what reason other than the insistent pleasures of the many men? What was this white-walled chamber of tortures and fulfillment? How were her children? The people she missed and loved? Ken? Dear, Ken, her husband?
"He's fine," answered the bearded Dr. August after she was ushered into his office. The questions blurted from her mouth and he listened with an understanding smile. Darlene liked him for some reason, trusted him, knew he meant her no harm. In a funny way he reminded her of Ken but didn't look at all like him.
"And your children are happy, they miss you and look forward to your return."
"You mean I can go?" she asked.
"In a little while. First, I feel obliged to explain what you've been through. I know your interests are now concerned with leaving more than anything else, but once you're away from here the questions will eventually return," he said.
She nodded, relaxed, there was no hurry. "Yes, please tell me why I was brought here."
The doctor explained everything. As he came to the part about Ken's realizing she was having an affair, about his concern and contact of the institute she started to cry.
"Why are you crying?" August asked.
"Because I wronged him so… I was so stupid to take such risks with everything I cherish, my home, my kids, my lovely husband."
"Then you understand why he resorted to our experimental therapy? Why he wanted you cured more than punished?" he quietly asked.
"Yes," she replied.
He then explained the therapy. "We use very thorough methods to induce a rather simple form of retraining. Re-identification, if you like. The pattern of events you went through was designed to make you realize the values of momentary indiscretions as opposed to the obligatory values of marriage."
"You mean the foolish risks involved for a few minutes of pleasure with someone you really don't care for?" she asked.
"Precisely. But at the time you believe you care for this person because he answers a need in you. What we try to make you see is that your husband has everything necessary to meet those needs, the shortcomings are yours, not his."
She nodded with understanding. Then she smiled. "I don't know how to thank you. I guess I put up a hell of a fight to keep from realizing I was wrong… but you've set me straight. There's nothing I want more than to go home and hug my husband and never let him go."
August cleared his throat and looked Darlene square in the eye. "We have a problem there… "
"What? You did say he was all right, didn't you?" she asked with alarm.
"Yes. He's in excellent physical condition. The problem is of another sort, a problem like the one we just cured you of. Unfortunately, it seems that infidelity is a contagious disease. Whether you caught it from him or he from you is of little concern. But what does concern me is sending you back to an environment that isn't sterile. "
Darlene blinked, he could see she understood precisely what he meant. "Are you sure?" she asked.
August opened a new portfolio on his desk and pushed it to her. The glossy photographs were living proof of his assertions. "We have a very complete program here, Mrs. Williams. It isn't solely concerned with the patient, we also monitor her home and working environment. Needless to say this sometimes overlaps into the privacy of the mate who originally contacts us…"
"That's Betty," she whispered. "The little girl from next door… "
"We also have a financial plan available for this kind of occurrence, we call it the family plan… "