by Darla Baker
“I’m sure you would. But you didn’t call to tease about my radio show.”
“True. I couldn’t resist. I have a friend in need of a therapist, and I think you’d be a good fit for her. Do you have room in your schedule to take on a new client?”
“Yes, I can fit her in. Can you give me an idea what’s going on with her?”
“Well, without betraying her confidence, she had an experience when she was younger that’s having an impact on her life in the present.”
“I should be able to take her on as a new client. Give her my number and we’ll get started as soon as possible.”
“Thanks, Lauren. I owe you. If you ever need someone to sub for you on that radio show, I’d be happy to help.”
“I’m sure you would. I’ll keep that in mind. Take care.”
“You too, bye.”
Relieved that Lauren has an opening for Sammy, she sends her an email with Lauren’s information.
With Sammy squared away, her thoughts turn to the woman she saw at the raft-up.
Long, straight, chestnut hair flows down her back nearly to her waist. Olive skin, begging to be caressed. And those eyes. My God, those brown eyes with little gold flecks sparkling just for me. She looked right into my soul. I have to talk to Janice about her. Geez, snap out of it, Thalia! She’s not the first or last beautiful woman you’ll see.
Thalia is startled out of her musings by the sound of a new chat message. Amara Liakos has arrived.
Thalia opens the door to her office. As soon as her eyes focus on her new client, she loses her balance and nearly falls to the floor. She grabs at the door handle to catch herself from falling and accidentally slams the door shut, making a terrible noise and an embarrassing spectacle of herself.
What the hell?
René, startled by the loud noise, rushes into Thalia’s office with Amara following close behind to make sure she’s okay.
“Is everything all right? What happened?”
“I don’t know. I lost my balance, and when I grabbed the door for support, I stumbled backward taking the door with me. I’m sorry I made such a racket.”
“Are you sure you’re all right? Did you have breakfast this morning? Maybe your sugar is low? Let me get you some orange juice out of the refrigerator.”
“No, no. I’m fine, really. Stop fussing over me. I ate breakfast. My sugar is fine. I’m just clumsy.”
Thalia and René turn to find Amara standing in the doorway, a concerned look on her face.
“Amara, I’m so sorry. I promise, I’m not usually such a klutz. Please come in and have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”
René walks out of the office closing the door behind her. Thalia hears her snicker on the way out.
“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
Thalia motions for Amara to sit and she takes a seat in her usual spot, shaking off the embarrassment.
“As I understand it, you’re here on behalf of a friend who is having difficulty with erectile dysfunction. I must tell you ,I don’t see how counseling you in therapy is going to have any effect on your friend’s condition. Perhaps you can enlighten me.”
Amara crosses her legs and folds her hands over her knees.
“Are you not going to mention seeing me at the raft-up?”
Thalia squirms and wiggles in her chair trying to find a more comfortable position. The discomfort is not coming from the chair.
“Excuse me?”
“The raft-up. You were on the Achilles Heal with your friends. One of them was in the hot tub making ‘friends’,” Amara says with air quotes, “with one of my employees.”
“Umm.”
Thalia is at a loss for words. What a freakin’ mess. Not only did I make a fool out of myself here in the office, she remembers me making a fool of myself on the houseboat, as well. And the icing on the cake—Janice seduced one of her employees.
“Thalia?”
“I’m sorry. You’ve taken me a bit off kilter here. You said my friend, Janice by the way, was making friends with one of your employees? What do you do?”
“My family has a horse farm just south of Lexington. It’s been in the family for several generations. My grandfather ran the business until about three years ago when he retired and turned it over to me. My father wasn’t interested in horses. He’s a podiatrist.”
“Ha! I was right about the doctor angle. Very clever. It caught my eye.” But I’m not going to admit here in my office that you caught my eye, as well.
“Yes, he gets a lot of compliments on the name.”
“So if you run a horse farm in Lexington, why come all the way to Somerset to see a therapist?”
“First, I’m not in need of a therapist, at least not directly. My friend—actually, my brother-in-law needs the help. And second, during the season, I live on the Achilles Heal. So seeing a therapist in Somerset this time of year is more convenient.”
“You said you don’t directly need therapy. Can you explain how you indirectly need therapy?”
“My brother Angelos and his husband Nikolas want to have a baby. I agreed to have the baby with Nikolas and then Angelos will adopt him or her. Unfortunately, Nikolas doesn’t want his child created ‘in a test tube,’ as he puts it. He wants to get me pregnant the traditional way.”
Thalia clears her throat. “I can see how this presents a challenge. And your brother is okay with the logistics?”
“My brother prefers the ‘test tube’ method. Not so much because he takes issue with his husband having sex with his sister, but because he, rightly so apparently, thinks it has a better chance of success. But he loves Nikolas, and he wants to make him happy, and he wants to have a child with him, so he’s on board.”
“And how do you feel about the logistics? Do you have a spouse or partner to consult?”
“Is that your way of asking if I’m single?”
Thalia is certain flames are shooting out of the top of her head. God, could I get any less professional with her? “Umm, no, sorry. I’m just trying to make sure I understand all of the players and all of the obstacles.”
“There are several, yes. But no, I don’t have either a wife or a girlfriend at the moment. We’re just trying to make a baby by putting a gay man and lesbian into bed and hope the hell all the equipment works, and we can figure out how to get the deed accomplished with the least amount of suffering and humiliation. Great plan, huh?”
Thalia laughs. “You took the words right out of my mouth. Do you think you can get Nikolas in here with you? Surely, he knows no actual test tube is involved. It’s just the more traditional turkey baster or the clinical insemination. Perhaps if I explain the mechanics, he may be open to a plan with a greater chance of success?”
“I’ve tried to get through to him without success. I run a horse farm, for heaven’s sake. Breeding is a big part of the job!”
Thalia roars with laughter. “I wasn’t expecting that angle.”
“It’s true!”
“Yes, I know it is. But did the argument work on Nikolas?”
“No.”
“Too bad. I think it’s rather compelling.” Thalia can’t help but smirk in amusement at Amara’s demeanor and self-confidence. “Do you think you can get Nikolas in here with you? If not, I don’t think I can help you.”
“Yes, I think I can. Having this baby is important to Angelos and Nikolas. Can I make an appointment for the same time next week, and I’ll call and cancel or reschedule if I can’t get him to come or we need a different time?”
“Yes.” Thalia tries not to sound too eager at the prospect of seeing Amara again. “Set it up with René on your way out, and I’ll see you next week.”
RENÉ WALKS INTO Thalia’s office following Amara’s appointment and finds Thalia sitting at her desk staring up at the ceiling. She takes a seat on the sofa. The jumbled thoughts in Thalia’s head are making her wish she could just lay down and take a nap.
“You have two appointments this aftern
oon, and then you have your lesbian coming out group this evening. You’re free until one o’clock. Do you have time to talk?”
“Sure. What’s going on?”
“You remember me telling everyone at the raft-up that Derrick got a promotion? He starts his new job today. I’m really proud of him. We haven’t talked about it yet, but this promotion will delay his relocation to be here with me.”
“I thought of that as soon as you made the announcement. Why haven’t you talked to him yet?”
“He was only here for a short time this weekend, and I wanted to celebrate with him and focus on the positive and not spoil his happiness. This is probably the best thing that’s ever happened in his career. And he deserves it. He’s a hard worker, and he has good ideas. The people love him. I can’t even think about asking him to give up his job to move here and be with me.”
Thalia gets up from her desk and takes a seat across from René. “Yeah, I can see that. So what are you thinking?”
“Well, the way I see it, I have three options. One, we continue as we have been with this long distance relationship. Two, I move back to Stone Creek. Three, we end our relationship.” René’s voice breaks and her eyes well up with tears as she speaks the last option.
“You forget about the fourth option.”
René looks at Thalia, confused.
“You could ask him to leave his new job and move here.”
“I can’t do that to him. He’s so happy.”
“I understand that. But hear me out. None of the options you presented would make you happy. Am I right?”
“You’re right.”
“I see this pattern in relationships all the time. You love Derrick so much that you’re willing to sacrifice your happiness for the sake of his. You’re playing the martyr. You’re going to nail yourself to the cross so Derrick can be happy. First of all, you’re not Jesus.”
Thalia and René both snicker at the lame attempt at humor.
“And since you’ve not had an open and honest conversation with Derrick, you’re robbing him of the opportunity to participate in arriving at a solution. This sort of conflict happens all of the time in fiction. But this isn’t fiction. This is real life. Talk to Derrick. Don’t act on assumptions, and don’t think for a minute that hanging on the cross will make either of you happy. As the saying goes, ‘Get off the cross. We need the wood.’”
“I get it. And you’re right. It’s just hard. What if we talk and he’s already decided that breaking up is the best option?”
“Then he’s probably playing the same martyr game you’re playing. Look, sis, I know each of the four options comes with a set of pros and cons. But only the two of you together can determine which option is best for both of you. I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, but I think Derrick is good for you, and I’d like to see you two make it work.”
“Thanks. That means a lot. I think I’ll take off Friday and head to Stone Creek and surprise him. I’ll let you know how it goes. And if we need some help sorting this out, I’m sure I can persuade Derrick to talk to you.”
“Good, I’m glad we talked.”
René stands up and takes a big, loud stretch. “What was up with you this morning with Amara? I’ve never seen you so flustered. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a crush on her. But you hadn’t even seen her before today.”
Thalia rises as well and heads back to her desk. “Well, actually, I have seen her before. I just didn’t know when I met her who she was.”
“What? Spill.”
“You remember when I went to find Janice and Sammy at the raft-up?”
René nods.
“Amara was on top of the houseboat with Janice. Well, not with Janice. Just in the same area as Janice. We just saw each other, though. We didn’t speak or introduce ourselves.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm, what?”
“Hmm, nothing. Just… hmm.”
“Your wheels are turning, I can tell. Don’t get any crazy ideas in that head of yours. Come on. Let’s go to lunch. My treat.”
“Okay. So long as you promise not to hook up with the waitress and leave me juggling your schedule again.”
“No promises on the hook-up. But I will promise not to play hooky this afternoon.”
“Fair enough.”
THALIA AND RENÉ return from lunch with little fanfare. They’d picked up some fried chicken at the grocery store and then ate outside at a picnic table overlooking the water at one of the nearby boat launches. Thankfully, René didn’t bring up the subject of Amara or the crush during lunch. René knows Thalia. The more she talks about Amara, the more likely René will figure out that something weird is going on between them. Thalia wouldn’t call it a crush, though. I’m not twelve. Geez! I think her confident demeanor and her impressive stature just intimidates me. That’s it. She intimidates me. I’m sure I can get over it. I may not be tall. But I’m confident.
She has about fifteen minutes before her next clients arrive. They’ve been married for thirty years and are facing the empty nest. Or rather, he wants an empty nest. She’s perfectly happy to continue to mother their twenty-five-year-old son for as long as he’ll allow her. And by the sound of it, he’s in no danger of willingly leaving the nest. Thalia’s hoping their son will join them so she can counsel the family. But regardless, they’re making some progress, just not fast enough for the husband.
Her last appointment for the afternoon is a new client. She, or rather he, is a female-to-male transgendered young adult. From the information that René gathered when she was setting up the appointment, it sounds like he’s not started the process of transition.
He’s not come out to his family or friends. He’s not dressing as a male. He’s not taken a male name. And he isn’t taking any drug therapy. They’re starting from scratch, which can be a good thing. He’s not been damaged by other professionals, well-intentioned or otherwise. Thalia gathers he does face some bullying at college and church, probably because he’s perceived as a lesbian or just different.
Thalia’s heart goes out to the transgendered, who so often become the disenfranchised. Their uniqueness leaves them open to cruelty from peers and adults alike. Celebrating diversity does not come naturally to the human animal—or to any animal, for that matter.
Her last work obligation for the day is her lesbian coming out group. The group consists of twelve women who spent the first part of their adult life in heterosexual relationships—either knowing they were lesbian or having no clue. For each of them, some catalyst led them to discover their homosexual orientation and, for a wide variety of reasons, the discovery wasn’t all unicorns and rainbows.
Hopefully, someday it will be no more difficult to be homosexual, transgendered or bisexual than it is to be heterosexual.
CHAPTER SEVEN
IT HAS BEEN an unusually long week for Thalia. The events of the past week should have been spread out over an entire month. But she’s not complaining, at least not much. Nurturing close friendships with friends and family means that you agree to a certain amount of drama in your life. At least she’s managed to avoid a romantic drama in her life. An image of Amara on top of the houseboat pops into her head. Thalia roughly shakes her head from side to side trying to jar the image loose.
I need to get laid. It’s been a whole week, for crying out loud. Since when do I go a week without sex?
With Thalia’s afternoon freed up thanks to Genevieve moving her appointment to Thursdays, she decides to head out early and go for a long ride to clear her head.
“Hey, Thalia”
“Hey. It won’t be too much longer, and you’ll be back in school. It’s your senior year, right?”
“Yep. I can’t wait to graduate. Do you want a lift?”
“No, I’m taking the jet ski out. I need the exercise anyway. Thanks, though.”
“No problem.”
Thalia gets the cover off and stowed and then heads out toward Pitman Creek. This time a
nd day of the week, she’ll be able to fly at full throttle down the lake. A little adrenalin is just what the doctor, er, therapist, ordered.
The rush of the wind on her face and the spray of water on her body is just what she needs to put her mind on pause. The serenity and beauty of this lake never gets old. Thalia checks the time. It only took fifteen minutes to reach her destination, so she has plenty of time for an evening swim before she has to get back and meet the gang.
Floating in the water, her mind turns to Sammy.
Sammy’s meeting with Lauren today. I hope they click. There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to raise children. Hell, I don’t want to either. I just hope Lauren can help her forgive herself and let go of the guilt.
And then, there’s my sister and her dilemma with Derrick. I’m glad she’s going home to talk to him. I just selfishly hope René doesn’t decide to move back to Stone Creek.
Despite the wealth of topics available to occupy her mind, Amara still manages to make an entrance.
I wonder if Amara persuaded Nikolas to come to therapy. Has she even talked to him yet? I wonder if she’s at work right now or on the houseboat. Stop it! What difference does it make where Amara, your client, is right now?
Thalia takes the ride back to the dock a little slower than the ride out. She’s wet, and the temperature has dropped so the rush of wind is almost painfully unpleasant.
Thalia is finishing up when she hears someone call her name. She looks around and finds Amara coming out of the store. She waves and walks over to where Thalia is finishing with the cover.
“Hello. It’s nice to see you again.” Amara reaches out to grab her hand and help her up onto the dock from the HydroPort. When their hands meet, a tingle of electricity flows up her spine and then, with laser precision, travels back down and lands directly between her legs.
Thalia clears her throat. “It’s nice to see you, too. What brings you to the store?”
Amara points to the Achilles Heal docked at the pumping station. “I had to empty the holding tank, and I thought I’d fill up with gas since I made the trip. I’ve just finished, so I’m heading back over to my slip.”