Encourage them to Share Secrets

Both girls are lost in their own thoughts. Cherie is feeling neglected and Chloe is thinking about her friend Jessica. With a subtle nudge, you encourage them to share openly with each other.

Cherie sighs as she serves Chloe an omlette and takes a seat across from her. "What's wrong, Mom?" Chloe asks.

"It's nothing, Dear."

"Come on, Mom. Talk to me," she encourages. "I won't judge."

"Well, to be honest, sometimes I feel like I'm just... invisible. Like your dad doesn't even see me anymore. He's always at work, or tinkering with that damn car of his. I miss the days when he would look at me with that spark in his eyes, you know? When he would actually talk to me, not just grunt in response to my questions."

"I'm so sorry, Mom. That must be really hard. I can't imagine how frustrating that must be for you."

"I start to wonder if it's me. If I'm no longer attractive."

"Mom, that's just ridiculous. You are beautiful. Inside and out. I see the men looking at you every time we go out. Anyone would be lucky to have you. And Dad is an idiot if he can't see that. I can tell he cares about you. He just sucks at showing it sometimes."

"It's like he expects me to do everything, and he just... he just doesn't care. I'm tired of being taken for granted, Chloe. I'm tired of feeling like I'm not enough."

"I hear you. And you're right, it's not fair. You deserve to be appreciated. You deserve to feel seen and heard."

At that moment, Chad comes rushing into the kitchen throwing a tie around his neck. "I'm late!" he exclaims, snatching a piece of bacon. He gives Cherie a quick peck on the cheek and runs out as quickly as he came in.

They look at each other for a moment and Chloe rolls her eyes. "See?" Cherie says. "I've gotten more attention from the ghost than your father lately."

Chloe perks up at this. "Yeah? Well, that proves my point. Even the dead guy thinks you're beautiful!"

Cherie laughs. "That's um...that's...encouraging?"

"It's funny, but it's true," Chloe says. "If Dad won't pay attention to you, I'm sure Mack will."

"First of all, I'm not going to cheat on your father. Second, Mack is a ghost so I couldn't if I wanted to," she says.

"Yet," you whisper. Though neither one of them shows any expression, you know they both heard you in their minds.