Two Exes and a “Why?”  

When I met with them for the initial consultation, I asked what I could help them with. Pinny motioned with a hand gesture to Penina that she should start. But before she completed two sentences, Pinny interrupted her. And that is how it went for the first ten or fifteen minutes. Penina kept trying to continue where she left off with Pinny repeatedly interrupting her to contradict, correct, or criticize. Even after I pointed out to Pinny that he had deferred to Penina at the outset and I reassured him that he would have his turn, he continued his verbal assaults.

Finally, I turned to Pinny and asked him to describe the relationship between his parents.

“They didn’t get along too well,” Pinny confessed, as his combative deportment was replaced by a more sullen, contemplative demeanor.

“Try to be more specific,” I gently probed.