A PLEASANT INTERLUDE
In the last two stories the focus has been on Karen and her open marriage with Jonah. With this story I've abandoned the therapy session to bring Karen and her therapist together for a day just to see how things develop. There's more therapy to come as well as a resolution but I felt this story was necessary to give me a chance to step back and look at how things are developing. It's also a good chance to get to know a bit more about Valerie.
Robbie's ties hung from a tie rack and one caught her eye that morning as Valerie laid out the outfits, an old style bow tie he'd picked up at an historic home they'd visited a couple of years ago. She'd seen plenty of old photographs with men wearing this style of bowtie, the kind that had to be tied off with the ends left dangling. Her eyes shifted to a white pintuck detail, ruffled shirt.
Is this being flirtatious?
She thought of Karen sitting downstairs and her rather graphic account of undoing a woman's tie and managed a smirk.
Perhaps but she won't be undoing it.
She added the bowtie and shirt to the small assortment of clothes on the bed.
Now you're being flirtatious,
she contemplated the clothes. Jacqueline had asked her to pick out a variety of clothes, "about three or four outfits but we'll probably only use a couple."
Jacqueline, a former client had called her the other night while she was browsing a web forum that catered for the LGBT community. The call had startled and amused her, considering Jacqueline was an out and proud lesbian. It was almost as if the woman had some sort of sixth sense about her she mused later. The reason for the phone call however was a little more innocent. Jacqueline had been invited to submit photographs to a gallery part owned by her mother.
"The overall theme is restrained elegance and I thought of you."
Valerie laughed at that. The word restrained seemed more potent now than when she'd turned up at an old warehouse to pose for Jacqueline twelve months ago. Back then she'd been nearly half a stone heavier and the photo shoot had been her way of affirming herself as she worked to lose the last of the post pregnancy fat. Jacqueline had been only too willing to help her lose her clothes over the next hour or so, until she was stark naked and sitting on a chair with her legs pulled up in front of her to hide her genitals.
It had been the most frightening and exciting moment she'd experienced in years. Not even her wedding day, where she'd dilly dallied over her makeup and dress and fought the pre wedding nerves could compare. Robbie had seen her naked hundreds of times but Jacqueline had only ever seen her in office attire, the consummate professional guiding a troubled young woman struggling with her self esteem. Jacqueline was an extraordinarily beautiful young woman of mixed French and Lebanese parentage. Like her parents she was multilingual, speaking French, Arabic, Mandarin and English. She'd inherited her French father's height and eyes, and her mother's smouldering dark looks and intellect. Nevertheless, she struggled with chronic low self esteem that led to a botched suicide attempt in a Sydney hotel room and a referral to a therapist.
An unlikely outcome of the therapy had seen Jacqueline outing herself to her parents, something Valerie had actually cautioned her against, knowing that Amira's public profile as the host of a morning television show might have unforeseen consequences. Ultimately however, the outing had been a success, Amira actually wrote her a personal letter to thank her for being Jacqueline's guide. Valerie considered that letter one of her more important achievements. It was on the strength of that rather glowing letter that she'd agreed to that photo shoot.
Now she was agreeing to a second one but this particular session would be far different.
Restrained Elegance
seemed very sexual. Granted she could dress elegantly, it was something you learned once you reached thirty. Valerie turned to look at her profile in the mirror. The red pussybow blouse was the same one she'd worn for that first photo shoot, but the buttoned skirt in a tan houndstooth pattern was an older item.
This particular photo shoot was very nearly cancelled when Robbie and his mates decided to move their monthly boys weekend to this weekend at the last moment. It had caused an argument between them that night when he off handedly announced it in the same tone of voice he used when telling her he was going to have a shower.
The boys weekend was usually the first weekend in the month but the usual April one had been cancelled because of boat problems and put forward to April the 15th. She'd been tempted to argue the point but the thought of having him hanging around moping all weekend was more than she could stand and so she started going through the options. Aludra was quickly ruled out, she had a family thing on but profusely apologised and even offered to cancel it if she couldn't find anyone else. Her mother was also out of the question, along with her sister and sister in law, and so she moved down the list to girlfriends. It was while she was considering possibles that Karen rang to reschedule her regular Thursday session.
"I have to mark some student papers for a colleague in the morning."
Slotting Karen into another time was much simpler than finding a babysitter, a fact she casually mentioned as she gave her the new time.
"I'm so glad I don't have to do that again," Karen replied, "even my youngest has the front door key these days and sometimes she even stays in at the weekend. I was always trying to find decent babysitters for my girls."
"I wouldn't be doing this if he hadn't decided to move his boys weekend to this weekend. It's like working with children sometimes," she bit her lip. "So now you know, even marriage counsellors have marriage problems."
"Well that's kind of obvious," Karen chuckled, "look, how about I come around on Saturday instead of the Tuesday?"
"Saturday?" Valerie's eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, when is this photo session thingy happening?"
"Late morning, she'll be here for two hours, from ten till twelve."
"When does Damien go down for a nap?"
"About one or so."
"Well it's not a problem with me, unless you absolutely have to use the office."
"I don't," she blushed, "I've sometimes used the kitchen but I prefer the office because everything I need is right here."
"Well the offer is there. I've got nothing planned for Saturday apart from seizing a Third World country and setting myself up as President for Life."
"Okay," she chuckled, "let's do it, I'd hate to see you turn into a dictator."
The chiming of the doorbell interrupted her reverie as she contemplated the outfits laid out on the bed and with a sigh she headed for the bedroom door as she heard Damien call out.
"Ding dong!"
Jacqueline stood on the front porch with a camera bag slung over one shoulder and a Prada handbag over the other shoulder. She looked as fabulous as ever. Jacqueline never stepped out of the house without her hair and makeup in order, and wearing something that would catch the eye. Today she wore a tight red tee shirt that emphasized her plump breasts, barely constrained by a bra and skin tight white jeans matched with brown boots. The sunglasses were perched on top of her head and she greeted her with a smile as she stepped forward.
"Hi, you ready for me?"
"I'm always ready for you," Valerie stepped back to let her in.
"Ooh, promises, promises," Jacqueline grinned, "you look good enough to eat."
It was the kind of thing only she could get away with saying. There was a serious subtext to the light hearted comment, Jacqueline would come onto you at the drop of a hat. Her comments often bordered on the outrageous or overtly sexual, it was a ploy to gauge your reaction while she took stock of you. Behind the casual smile and devastating wit however lurked an innate intelligence and there were those who discovered that to their cost. Fortunately Karen had been forewarned but even so Valerie felt a slight nervousness when she introduced them. Jacqueline kissed her cheek and gave her the once over before coming out with another comment.
"You could teach me any time, any place, anywhere," her eyes shifted to Valerie, "did I say a bad thing?"
"Of course not, I'll take Damien outside and let you two get on with it."
"So, are you and Karen fucking?" Jacqueline asked some time later as she finished setting up her camera and equipment.
"No, she's my client."
