Alexa's office
Alexa listened carefully to her patient while weighing available mechanism's that might help the woman to cope with the overbearing husband in question. There was little doubt in the therapist's mind that corrective action's existed with the challenge being how to help her patient select the right one to effectively alter her behavior that could then mitigate a better outcome in her domestic life.
Noting that there were but two minutes left before the session ended, Alexa left her patient with a two part question to ponder before next week's appointment, "How important is it to you to stand up to your spouse and are you willing to do whatever it takes to be on equal footing?" The patient's eyes glazed over a bit indicating to Alexa that she was probably not ready for the depth of confrontation that was required but she was encouraged that the patient seemed to be building up the necessary confidence that it may not be too much longer before 'hubby' might just have his empire rocked a bit. She offered encouragement to the patient, correctly citing how far she has come in the past six months. Alexa understood that this level of change was not experienced by a quick fix, rather it was a process that needed continual attention including adjustments to be made along the way.
Seconds after the patient left the room there was a soft rap on the door.
"Yes?" Alexa replied.
The door opened and a young woman with brown hair and glasses dressed in casual business attire spoke,"Dr., our last patient cancelled."
"Hmm. This was a first time patient, right?"
"Correct. He called in just after your last session started. He didn't sound too good citing that he was under the weather. He seemed sincerely sorry."
"OK. Did he reschedule?
"No, said he would call back later. Do you need anything before I go home for the day?"
"I'm all set, Samantha, see you Monday morning."
"Thanks, doctor, have a good weekend." Samantha always made it a point to be nice to her boss.
Alexa looked up and smiled, "You to, Samantha."
Alexa was about to shut off her work pad but out of curiosity she logged into the patient scheduling calendar and brought up the appropriate day and hour. When she saw the name that was highlighted in red, meaning a cancellation, her head cocked a little to the side as if to look even closer at the page to make sure what she was seeing was actually there. Could it be? She clicked on the patient name and brought up the personal data page for confirmation. Then it was true.
An hour later...
When she arrived at the coffee shop Alexa received a text from Tera, 'sorry can't make it today... traveling tonight on work business be back on Sunday.' She messaged her friend back indicating they would reschedule for next week.
Alexa ordered an espresso and biscotti and sat at a high table looking out on the busy boulevard. Enjoying the moment the doctor noted how good and full her life was. A thriving practice of which she loved, a luxury condo located downtown, an active an engaging sex life with no permanent partners, or kids, to compromise her free spirited lifestyle were some of the essential elements that framed her happy life.
Her mind shifted to Tera and her husband, Jim. Being in on the intimate details by way of her conversations with Tera she found herself getting excited at the dynamic that was playing out between them. The dynamic that she, in fact, had been the catalyst of for over two years sometimes in a subtle fashion, other times more overt. The effect on Tera was profound as the dominant woman inside her had been unleashed. Yet, at the same time, she knew the transformation of the couple was not yet complete, really only just beginning, and was now wondering what the appropriate next steps would be to push it forward. Yes, Tera had made great strides, and she was proud of her, but did her friend truly understand the complexity of the male mind? Did she have the expertise to find all the right buttons to push?
She sighed, and began looking at the elements very closely. Halfway through her espresso she got an idea. The effect of this idea and kick from the caffeine was the apparent elixir that put a slightly smug smile on her face. The idea quickly blossomed with additional thoughts and it wasn't but ten more minutes before she went from idea to plan. And the best thing? She could kick it off tomorrow.
She felt the buzz. Yes indeed, her life was good, very good. Could it get better?
The next morning
Jim had been up for a half hour having not slept well the night before, had his breakfast consisting of cereal and banana, and was now drinking his coffee while staring somewhat absently at a two day old newspaper sports page spread out in front of him. His hair was disheveled, he hadn't shaved, but more to the point he was feeling anxious and unsure of his life. The recent bedroom behavior perpetrated by his wife, Tera, left him unsettled. He loved Tera, but now she was becoming another kind of woman that he didn't understand. Worse, he wasn't sure he was up to accompanying her in the direction she was taking things. He felt overwhelmed. And, maybe a bit overmatched. His manliness, in fact, now in question. He didn't bother to admit to himself how turned on he had been instead focusing on his insecurities and how they made him feel. Jim felt the beginning of a headache starting at his temples. He rubbed them in an attempt to make it go away.
Tera was gone for two days and he welcomed the break to try and get a grip on things. Yet, that was the problem, whatever could he do restore the marital equilibrium? It seemed to him that their life was better before, when things were more equal, before Tera had started all the kinky stuff in the bedroom. They were more equal then, and isn't that how things should be in a good marriage? As he pondered the rhetorical question the door bell rang.
At first he wasn't going to answer it just because he didn't really feel like any company and it might just be someone looking for a donation or something because their friends didn't just drop in unannounced. He tried to ignore it and focus on the paper.
When the persistent door bell ringer didn't stop he finally grabbed his robe and went to investigate. Looking through the long rectangular window next to the door he was truly surprised at the guest. Their eyes locked briefly and then Jim looked downward noticing the tight fitting jeans and finally the strappy sandals encasing the woman's feet that revealed a pale red toe nail polish. Jim put on a smile belying the fact that a wave of anxiety surfaced in his gut. He suppressed that feeling and then opened the door.
"Hello, Jim, am I interrupting anything?"
He ran his hand through his hair as if to add some appearance to what he knew was rather a rough look and greeted his guest with the best smile he could muster and said, "Oh, no, I was just finishing breakfast and reading the paper. Um...Tera is out of town until Sunday evening..."feeling awkward he added, "but, um, do you want some coffee? Or something?"
"Are you sure you don't mind, Jim?" queried Alexa, her disarming smile keeping the mood light. "Some tea would be wonderful"
Jim gave a nervous smile, invited her in, and could faintly be heard under his breath to say, "let's see where do keep the tea?" They headed towards the kitchen where he tried a cupboard door that revealed baking goods but no tea.
Alexa wearing a bemused smile informed him, "Jim the tea is on this side of the kitchen" pointing in the opposite direction. She confidently walked to the cupboard door, opened it and picked up a tin with an eastern motif to it, opened it, measured out 2 T., and placed it in the tea steeper next to the stove. She then went to another cupboard, opened it and selected a mug, filled it with filtered water, and set the microwave for two minutes.
