Secrets in A Small Town

17

They wake up the next morning, feeling relinquished as can be. The late night soak in the hot tub had done wonders for their stressed out bodies.

Cade slides on a new pair of pull ups and then jeans over top. Brooke goes with a more subtle approach today, simply tying her hair up and slipping on a pair of booty shorts with a tank top.

It's not exactly what most people would wear to a psychiatrist, but in this 100° weather, she could care less.

Brooke wordlessly goes over to Cade's bag, pulling out three extra pull ups, tucking them in her bag. Cade pretends not to notice but he is silently thankful.

The office is empty yet again today. Gina buzzes them in.

"I hope yesterday wasn't too much on you." She starts.

"I know emotions can run high in situations like this.

Neither of them really respond, because they can't exactly argue.

"Today we are going to do things a little different, if you don't mind. I would like to speak with you each individually. Cade, starting with you."

Cade looks to Brooke.

"I don't know if I'm---" Cade starts, but Brooke cuts him off.

"Honey, go."

Cade looks nervous but he goes in with her. Brooke sits outside, scrolling though her phone.

"So, Cade." Gina starts.

"Tell me about the first time Brooke found out about the accidents."

"Uhm...Brooke and I went to school together since first grade. I would have assumed she saw it in class at some point."

"No, no, I mean in your relationship."

"Oh..." Cade thinks back.

"We had fallen asleep watching a movie and I woke up and realized I had wet myself."

"How did she react?"

"She said it wasn't a big deal and helped me clean it up."

"We're you embarrassed?"

"I was mortified." Cade says, but his face isn't embarassed, it's soft and relaxed.

"She helped me shower and clean the sheets. I thought she was going to be grossed out but she wasn't." He has to bite back a smile.

"And I understand now you're wearing some kind of protection, can you tell me what that is?"

Cade looks down.

"It's uh---" he blushes.

"A diaper, really."

"Did Brooke make you start wearing those?"

Cade shakes his head.

"No...we had gone out on a date a few weeks before. I wet myself in the Applebees. I just knew after that point I never wanted that to happen again. I was nervous to tell her, but she has been really supportive in helping me."

Gina takes a long, long time, jotting what seems to be a short novel down.

"When you have an an accident, what does Brooke do?"

"She usually helps me clean up and shower, or put lotion on me. It's kind of embarrassing sometimes but she just wants to help, I guess. It's really nice having that for the first time."

They continue talking for another 45 minutes. Cade is surprised that the entire conversation gravitates around Brooke.

She excuses him, asking for Brooke to come in the room now. She pecks Cade on the cheek before entering.

"Man, that boy is absolutely crazy about you." She laughs.

"I'm pretty crazy about him too." She smiles.

"Brooke, I am going to keep this simple." She says getting serious.

"There is a lot riding on you."

"Okay..." Brooke responds, unsure what she means.

"I think the root of Cade's bladder issues is, you see, he is craving that attention from you. You know, when you were younger and your parents would change your diapers and help you learn the toilet. They were caring and understanding. You developed normal bathroom habits because of that. Cade on the other hand, he never got that love and attention. So suconsciously, he has never been able to be potty trained, because no one has ever been there to help him."

Brooke looks at her. Lost and confused.

"You see, when he has accident, you come over and nurture him, you help him clean up. He is so desperately needing that attention from someone. I think after you two got together he resorted back to wearing diapers because he knew you would change him."

Brooke stops her.

"Why then if that's the case, does he only pee in his pants, not poop in them?"

"It's a lot more uncomfortable to walk around with poop in your pants than it is with pee. This is all in his head. Think about it. Sometimes he can hold it until his bladder is full, sometimes he can't go twenty minutes. This is the same as a toddler in that sense. He is not aware he can control this, because he was never taught how."

"So what does that mean?" Brooke questions.

"Well, Cade needs someone to take care of him."

"I already do that." Brooke argues.

"No, I mean take care of him. Deal with this as if he was a toddler, not an adult."

Brooke looks at her, beginning to think she is crazy and this was a big mistake.

"You let him go in his diapers and you change them. He is craving this interaction and this bonding, and like a toddler, when he is ready, he will express his desire to use the potty like everyone else."

Brooke looks around. It does make sense.

"So he wants to be babied because he never was?"

"Exactly."

"That explains so much..." Brooke says to herself, but loudly enough for Gina to hear it.

"In terms of?" She responds.

Brooke shurgs.

"He cries a lot, when he is scared or hurt, and all he ever wants me to do is hold him. He likes to rest his head on my shoulder and hold my hand. Stuff like that." She looks up.

Gina is just nodding.

"What am I supposed to do then?" She asks.

"Have you ever babysat before?" Gina asks.

"Sure, in highschool."

She nods sternly.

"If a toddler you were babysitting was crying, what would you do?"

"Figure out what they want."

"What might that be?"

"If they're hungry or tired or---" then she catches on.

"Oh..." she exassperates.

"You train him like you would a two year old. Coddle him. If he needs to go, you find a bathroom immedietly. You wouldn't tell a toddler to wait, because you know they can't, and neither can Cade. If he has an accident, clean him up. Tell him it's okay. If he wants to use his diaper, let him, all he wants is that attention you provide for him."

"What about work?"

"I think once he realizes the attention he will receive at home, he will eventually start being able to gradually control himself.

It must be clear that Brooke is nervous about the whole ordeal, because Gina stands up.

"I know this is a lot on your shoulders, but you can turn this boy around. All he needs is a little bit of love. Now that he trusts you, you're the only one who can help him."

Brooke suddenly feels sick to her stomach.

"I will fly you back in every month to check on your progress. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to call me."

She nods, not really knowing what else to say. Gina opens the door for her.

"Well, it was so lovely to meet you two. Best of luck and keep in touch." She ushers them out the door.

They walk out into the mall, hearing the door close behind them.

"That's it?" Cade asks.

"Yeah." Brooke says, spacey.

"She didn't even tell me anything to help me. She just talked about you."

"Don't worry about it. I think she was just trying to get to know us this trip."

Cade looks suspicious but lets it go. He never expected the whole shrink thing to work anyway.

"Well, its only noon, what do you wanna do?" Cade asks.

Brooke is still pretty lost in thought. She simply says "I don't know."

Cade keeps walking for a while until they reach bus station. He leads her onto the bus. She is hardly paying attention when they stop, all the way across town.

She must have most of her thoughts collected by this point because she finally starts talking.

"The zoo?" She laughs.

"Why not?

She can't really think of a good reason.

"I haven't been to a zoo since I was like 10." She says, looking at the sign.

"I haven't been to a zoo since ever." Cade says.

"Oh my gosh."

They wonder up to the ticket line. They buy two adult day passes, totalling $24.

"Holy shit." Cade says as they walk in.

"What?"

"That's outrageous."

"You think lions and tigers and elephants are cheap?" Brooke jokes.

Cade laughs. "I guess that's a good point."

It doesn't take long for Brooke to realize Care must have grown up under a rock. He gets excited about every little exhibit. From lizards, to owls, and small exotic cats. Stuff Brooke has seen a million times. They haven't even gotten to the cool stuff yet.

Cade is standing in the aquarium area when Brooke notices he is turning one leg in slightly. He is so awestruck by all the rainbow colors of fish he doesn't even seem to notice.

Suddenly Gina's voice is in her head. 'Ask him if he needs to go, you wouldn't let a toddler squirm like that.'

A tingle goes up her spine as she walks up behind Cade's back.

She notices he has one hand caressing his crotch as well, potty dancing like a child.

"Babe, do you need to go to the bathroom?" She asks only loud enough for him to hear. He looks down at his crotch and then back up.

He nods, suddenly looking much more desperate than before, like he hasn't even noticed, being so intrigued by the fish.

She takes his hand, guiding him through the fish tanks and into a lobby area. She walks Cade up to the restrooms, lightly pushing him toward the door. He waddles in. He doesn't take too long before he comes out, with a smirk on his face.

"All good?" She asks.

"Yeah, I didn't even wet at all." He says.

She laughs.

As they're walking to the next exhibit, she wonders how much she has missed before. It's not like you look at an adult and look for signs that they have to pee. He probably did that dance in front of her a hundred times and she never noticed. She can't help but feel slightly guilty. Sometimes if they're busy, Cade gets scared to tell her he needs the bathroom.

They decide to take a break at the food court. They each get a tall bottle of water to break the heat. As well as a popsicle. Brooke had gone with a white pina colada flavor, while Cade got a deep Blue Raspberry that looks like it could turn your lips blue just looking at it. She laughs when he finishes.

"Looks like you ate a smurf." She giggles.

Cade sticks out his tongue in response to that. They both laugh. They finish thier waters to avoid carrying them. They will probably sweat most of it off anyway.

When they stand up, Cade slips his hand immedietly into Brooke's. She guides him to the Rainforest exhibit. He doesn't let go, swimming through the crowd of people. She takes note of how much more comfortable he is when she is holding his hand, letting her guide him.

They walk the dirt trails, through the jungle area.

"See the monkeys?" Brooke points up.

Cade looks up. There are at least a dozen monkeys swinging from vine to vine above their heads. Cade smiles. They spend a long time scoping out the different animals hiding in the trees.

After they walk out, she notices Cade's pace has gotten much slower behind her.

"Are you ready to go?" She asks.

Cade nods, yawning.

They find the way back to the entrance where they came to wait for the bus. Cade is nodding off right there on her shoulder. When the bus arrives she shakes him into a semi-conscience state, enough to load him onto the bus. She leans against the window, opening her arms. Cade falls into them, head on her shoulder.

She waits until the closest stop to thier hotel to get off. It's still two blocks away, but it will have to do. She nudges him as they approach. Cade wakes up.

"I think I had an accident." He says, pulling at his crotch.

"All that water is catching up with you. That's okay, were back now." She kisses him on the forehead.

They walk back through the hotel, clammy and exhausted. Cade tries his hardest not to waddle.

Once they get to thier bedroom, Brooke throws her bag on the bed and starts stripping. She only gets as far as her tank top before she remembers what Gina had said.

Cade is standing by the bathroom, fumbling with the botton on his pants. Brooke walks over, unbuttoning them and then sliding them down his waist. She pulls his shirt off, leaving him in just the puffy underwear. She walks ove, turning the shower on, lukewarm.

Cade doesn't move. He looks confused, but content, like he doesn't mind being undressed in the slightest.

"I have to go again." He says.

Brooke leads him toward the toilet, where he lets out a little stream before letting her get back to changing him.

She slides it off. There are a couple hives, nothing compared to yesterday. She takes care of the wet undies and pulls him into the shower. He looks incredibly at ease, with her being in control. She decides to carry on with it.

She lathers his hair up, running her fingers through it with suds. He closes his eyes, letting her message his scalp. She tilts his head back. She brushes the water off, keeping it away from his eyes, but rinsing it thoroughly.

She moves onto the body wash. She lathers his body up and down. She is especially gentle washing his private area. She messages his soapy back. He rests his head on her shoulder.

She is surprised how naturally this is coming to her. She pushes him to the side of the shower, now cleaning herself off. She shuts off the water, first towel drying herself and then Cade.

She slides a t shirt over his head and then takes out the cream to put on. She rubs it on his legs and butt and then pulls him over to the bed. He lays down, pliant. Before she even has a shirt on he is asleep in the same place she had laid him.

"No way..." she says outloud in a whisper.