The Therapist Pt. 02

Valerie: Tell me about the rules.

Karen: They were pretty common sense to be honest. We had to conduct our sexual activity away from the home, there was no using the marital bed for our liaisons. We had to keep the girls from finding out. We had to meet the other person first. Another rule was what Jonah called the safety valve law. We had to tell each other how things were with the other party. This was not so much to snoop or get a cheap thrill but more to gauge things like a deepening relationship, which could interfere with the marriage. Jonah agreed it was a possibility and we drew up a nuptial agreement for just such an occasion. It was given to a mutual friend who was a divorce lawyer and he would then give our subsequent divorce lawyers a copy. It all seemed quite bizarre and if you'd told me a few years previously I'd be signing up to this I'd have said you were out of your tree, but a lot had changed. If this marriage was going to last, we had to take radical steps.

Valerie: I'm open minded about that but it does strike me as being an odd way to deal with the fact you were no longer compatible. Why not decide there and then on a divorce? You'd drawn up a nuptial agreement, why not go all the way?

Karen: That's one of the reasons I'm here, I still can't fathom why I let it go on so long. It was like I was outside myself watching me do and say things I wouldn't normally do. I can almost compare it to watching a horror movie. You know the pretty young virgin shouldn't go down into the basement, you've seen the murderer hiding there, the music tells you something is about to happen but you're powerless to stop her descending to her death.

Valerie: So who moved first? You or Jonah?

Karen: Jonah, he told me about Natalia, an intern at work and a few days later we met up. Okay, I had to admit he'd scored big because she ticked all the boxes for me. I joined up with a few forums and started prowling the chat lines and I found a willing woman pretty much straight away. In fact I had three approaches in the one night, it must have been my lucky night.

I picked out Shobi and we arranged to meet on the Thursday but when I turned up at this café in Rose Bay she wasn't there. I waited for nearly an hour and decided she was a no show and headed on home but I'd just driven over the bridge when I got a phone call from Shobi. She'd been crying and apologised profusely for not meeting me, she made some excuse about working later and offered to meet me at her house in Homebush. I nearly said no but then I suggested I go back home first and change. It was quite warm that day and I needed to change.

When I finally got to her house she confessed she'd been there all along but hadn't told me she was nearby. Apparently she thought it was some trap set up by her ex husband and when I left alone she called him to accuse him of trying to set her up but he appeared completely perplexed. It was only then she realised she'd blown her chance and raced home to see if she could get me online. I wasn't but she'd saved the chat history and my phone number was there and so she called me.

Valerie: Tell me what happened next, between you and Shobi?

Karen: Maybe next time?

Valerie: The client after you cancelled when I had to put everything forward so you're getting an extra session for free.

Karen sat up and looked at the clock. She still had plenty of time but there were still things she'd planned to do before her afternoon lectures. Valerie looked almost amused, she was playing with the collar tie absently and Karen restrained a smile.

"I sure hope this is confidential."

"Trust me, it's all strictly confidential, so don't hold back."

Karen: Okay, you asked for it. I had to go home as I mentioned and I got changed into something a little cooler, an ivory-coloured sleeveless blouse, pale, patterned button through skirt and I ditched the stockings. Shobi lived in a quaint house not far from the market, I go there quite regularly for fresh fruit and vegetables. I tossed that remark out as a way of putting her at ease.

Shobi was Sri Lankan and brought here as a baby in 1979. Her parents found themselves caught between the Tamil Tigers and government forces, they wanted to stay neutral but no one stays neutral in a civil war and so they fled. She'd been in trouble with the law as a teenager, minor shop lifting and drug charges but turned her life around when a more enlightened social worker took matters into her own hands and took her in, literally. After that she settled down and at the age of twenty two got married to a guy from her community. It turned out to be a disaster. Because Shobi had lived for a year and a half with her social worker, she'd become far more acclimatised to Australian culture than her husband and even her family.

"He had only been in the country for twelve months, he wanted a traditional woman, I am proud of my heritage but I'm Australian as well, we live differently here. It was never going to work but I tried for a year and then I walked out and left him," she fiddled with her rings.

"It's been harder on me because of the shame, my father still sees me but my mother says I have brought shame to the family."

"And now you're thinking of having sex with a woman," I looked at her, "won't that just make your situation worse?"

"Don't even go there," her brown eyes widened, "my mother is always homesick but my father will not return. He says why should we go back when everything we want is here?"

She had recently enrolled in Teacher's College at the University of Sydney but was working part time as a waitress in a restaurant out in Rose Bay. She was still wearing her uniform, a white blouse and black tie, and tight black pants.

"This arrangement you talked about," she loosened the tie and undid the top button, "your husband knows about it?"

"He does," I nodded.

"And he won't want to join in?"

"No, it's one of our rules, we don't share the same person."

"It is a strange way of doing things," she looked down at her hands, "but I have been curious about women for some time now, more now that I am at college. I got married to please my mother but in the end I just made things worse between us."

"I've got four daughters," I replied, "the oldest has just turned fourteen and has just discovered boys and I know eventually I'll have to do the mother daughter talk about contraception."

"My mother thinks we should have many children," she sighed, "it's like a competition I think, I've got three sisters and two brothers."

"How are you with them?"

"They're fine," she fiddled with her cuff, "we're all Aussies but mum just hangs onto her old ways like it's a security blanket."

Karen: You're going to make me tell it all, aren't you?

Valerie: Yes, I think it's healthy to let it out.

Karen: We were just sitting on the couch talking about our families, work, study and even the weather but I got the feeling she was just picking subjects at random and so I picked one at random and grabbed her tie.

"It's a nice tie," I ran my fingers up and down it, "I've scored a couple of Jonah's old ties just recently, one's an old striped tie I bought him for an important court case and the other is red, he thought it was too bold and so I decided to wear it instead."

I stopped as she put her hand on my wrist. For a few moments neither of us did anything and then she put my hand against her cheek and held it there. I turned towards her and started stroking her hair, just gently because I got the feeling she really was nervous. She seemed to like that because she closed her eyes and her hand dropped to her lap. I started tickling her throat with my other hand and she opened her eyes for a moment and then closed them again.

I took a chance and started sliding the tie out of the knot and it was only then her eyes opened wide and I hesitated for a moment but she didn't do anything to stop me. She was breathing slowly and was staring at my hands as I undid the tie. It felt so erotic I deliberately slowed my movements down as much as possible.

When the tie was dangling around her neck I grabbed both ends and slid the tie back and forth around her neck, pulling her slowly towards me and then we were almost touching. She swallowed and tried to look away but when she looked back I was even closer. I kissed her gently on the lips and she pulled back instantly but when I released the tie she moved forward and kissed me firmly on the lips. I opened my mouth and let her take the lead, she needed to do some exploring of her own and we were soon kissing quite passionately. I was beginning to get more turned on and I could tell she was too because she started moving her hands up and down my front, finding my breasts and pushing against them. I was sliding my fingers up and down her placket with one hand and manipulating a breast with the other.

The pace quickened not long after, her kissing became more intense, longer, and more drawn out. In between kisses, her breath was becoming shorter and I moved her around so that her back was against the couch and straddled her. Shobi looked a little nervous then as she was now trapped beneath me. Our eyes locked onto each other as I started unbuttoning her blouse, when I reached her white bra she did look down briefly and then brought her hands up to my face.

"This is not so bad, I like going slowly."

"So do I," I reassured her.

I undid the next couple of buttons so that her blouse was now open to the waistband of her pants and began kissing her mouth first and worked my way down her front, she closed her eyes and just let me go to work. She had beautiful brown skin, I pulled her blouse out of her waistband and undid the last button and spreading it out, pinned her arms against the back of the couch and kissed my way up and down her. She pushed herself into me and I reached around behind her to unclip the bra, her breasts were large and I started sucking her nipples. Shobi's breath was becoming ragged now, she sighed often but didn't try to undress me.

I moved further down to unbuckle the belt and undo her pants. I was on my knees before her and she leaned forward to discard the blouse and bra. Her arms moved down my back as I started easing the pants over her hips and sliding them over her thighs and down her legs. There was a moment of hesitation as I looked up and then I removed her pants and pulled off her panties.

"We need to change position," I murmured, "on your back."

Shobi complied, one foot was planted firmly on the floor and the other was pushing against the arm of the couch. I was still fully dressed, which seemed to puzzle her until I explained.

"You go first."

That seemed to satisfy her and I began a serious investigation of her genitals, tickling her pubic hairs and perineum, it got a reaction all right, a deep sigh and I began sliding my finger between her moist lips. I found her opening but didn't penetrate her at first, she was tight down there so maybe it had been a while for her. But gradually I opened her up, inserting my finger a digit at at time while I bathed her genitals and clitoris with my tongue. Her groans became grunts, she pushed against me and I went harder, sliding my finger in and out in a way designed to maximise the pleasure. I felt her tightening around my finger as the first spasm started and then she was yelling at me to go harder. Her groans became squeals and I just kept going until finally she let go. I can't recall how long it lasted. I was still pushing and she was covered in sweat and shaking. Her eyes were wet with tears and I knew then that something had changed for me.

Karen: Are you listening?

Valerie: Something had changed for you. What changed?

Karen: I knew I had gone too far. It was supposed to be just sex, an arrangement between two willing people and we did do it again that afternoon, although we had to make it quick because I was running out of time. I had awakened Shobi and more importantly I'd reconnected with a part of me I thought was just part of my misspent youth. I'd taken the initiative, found a woman and practically seduced her. Don't get me wrong, we kept to our agreement. Shobi understood that instinctively, we were involved for about eleven months before she eventually told me she wanted to move on.

"To other women, it's not you so much, it's that I want something permanent."

I know she threw that out in the hopes I would respond and perhaps leave Jonah but by then I had come to accept that she was much younger and it wasn't fair on her. I would always be the older woman. It hurt to say no, it hurt to say go and do what you need to do, but I said it. I wanted the best for her even if that meant leaving me.

Valerie: How was Jonah during all this?

Karen: Jonah was curious, he wanted to know more but I found I was lying to him, telling him it was just a fuck when in reality it was much more than just a fuck. I was making love but Jonah was definitely just fucking because he'd been with four more women over that period.

Valerie: Okay, I think that concludes our double session for today but I'd like to know more though about other women.

Karen: Curious yourself?

Valerie: Intrigued would be the word I'd use.

"Intrigued," Karen shifted slightly and sat up, "I have to admit that word does fit."

She looked at the clock on the wall.

"So, same time next week?"

"Sure," Valerie rose and stretched, "it's certainly been an illuminating session for me."

"There is more to tell," Karen eyed her handbag, "there's a forum I skulk around from time to time, it has a section for open marriages."

"I might check it out," Valerie replied a moment later, "I must confess I'm at a loss with this kind of thing but if I can do a bit of research I might come to a better understanding."

Karen wrote down the web address and handed it over.

Valerie stared at it, "why have you given me your user name and password?"

"It's one of those subscription websites, if you use my details you'll get in without paying. It's not like I use it much these days."

Valerie hesitated for a few moments.

"Look, I trust you, let's just leave it at that."

"Okay, I'll check it out."

"No worries," Karen smiled, "stay intrigued."

***

Valerie stared at her monitor as she saved the case notes. Aludra was still here but she'd just heard Robbie's car pulling into the driveway. She listened to the familiar routine, the double beep as the remote control activated the door, followed by the whine and creaking as the roller shutter started opening. She loosened her collar tie and undid the top button as the car moved forward and into the garage.

What was I thinking? Valerie slipped a hand behind her collar. Did I really need to know?

Why had she invited a client to go into such detail? The answer troubled her because she hadn't expected Karen to go into such lurid detail. It was almost as if she was flirting with her, there were moments during that description of her sexual encounter when she'd paused, almost waiting for her prompt before continuing.

Karen was flirting with her, Valerie looked at the photograph on the wall. She'd purposely pointed out the painting first, a classic foil before moving onto the main attraction. It had obviously drawn her and Valerie felt a slight loosening as if something had been dislodged. She recalled in an instant the photo session Jacqueline had set up in an old office block used by students at university. The building had been bought and developed into a salon downstairs and law offices upstairs. A news item had once claimed that organised crime figures could get their cases fixed upstairs while their wives and girlfriends got their hair fixed downstairs.

The memory became more vivid. She remembered the smell of bleach mingled with air freshener because some squatters had been evicted recently but left their residue behind in the form of urine and vomit. Jacqueline smelled of apple blossom perfume and spent time doing her makeup and rearranging her wardrobe.

"I'm going to make you just as beautiful as you made me, just stay with me."

It was the last four words that hung in the air like an invitation. Jacqueline was bisexual but with an obvious preference towards women. She too had flirted openly with her but always laughed it off with her classic line. "Don't worry about me, I'm always flirting."

Her request for a photo session had taken her aback but she'd gone along with it. Why? Valerie turned to the door as she heard footfalls, Aludra was coming towards the office. I wanted to help her was the answer she'd given previously but was that the real reason or just an excuse? Jacqueline had been a client and there were rules about getting involved with clients, but the session had been an opportunity to observe Jacqueline in her natural environment. She was messy, disorganised, her love life a patchwork of torrid affairs and yet she exhibited an innate confidence in her ability to seduce any woman, any time.

If she had come onto me, what would I have done? Valerie frowned as Aludra opened the door and stepped into the office.

"You are busy?"

"No, not too busy for you," she smiled.

"Robert is here now," she always used his proper name instead of 'Robbie.'

"Do you need a ride to the station?"

"No, but thank you," she was leaning on the door jamb and Valerie read her look in an instant as she got to her feet.

"Okay, I'll go get your money," she moved to the door.

They passed Robbie and Damien in the doorway to the living room. Husband and wife looked at each other and he smiled as he nodded at her.

"Good day?"

"It was interesting," she paused by him and a moment later brushed her lips against his lips, "I've got to pay the piper, be back soon."

"Take your time," he juggled Damien on his hip, "we'll be checking out the beer situation, you want one?"

"I'm fine," she moved towards the stairs and Aludra stopped at the bottom, Valerie inclined her head, summoning her up the stairs.

The master bedroom looked out onto the back yard, an unusual feature for this neighbourhood but Aludra stayed at the door, not daring to cross the threshold while Valerie counted out the money. A few moments later she held the money out.

"Here, I've paid you the full amount."

"You don't have to," Aludra stayed where she was and Valerie realised that she was looking past her right shoulder instead of right at her, a moment later she lowered her eyes and Valerie turned to look at the wall. She must have been looking at the picture on the wall. This one was more suggestive. She was wearing the same pussybow blouse and pleated skirt, kneeling on a chair with its back to the camera. The ties were hanging loosely about her and the top three buttons were undone, giving a view of her skin and the hint of more to come, the look she had on her face could only be described as soulful.

"Does that picture offend you?" Valerie turned back to her.

"It is not my bedroom but no, it does not offend me. I have not seen it before," she looked around the room, "I don't come in here."

Valerie's face softened slightly, she genuinely liked the young Palestinian woman who wanted only to become a lawyer. She had impeccable manners and her honesty was almost painful.

"Well if you want a good portrait taken for your website or Facebook let me know. The woman who did that can also do professional portraits, she wouldn't do one like that for you."

"Maybe," she advanced a little into the room, "I can pay."

"So can I," she handed her the money, "if you decide to do it then let me know and I'll dip into my budget for a good cause."