As always, if concerns or strong emotions arise during the week, please make note of them so we can address them together in the session.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Q. Long, LMFT
By the time I finished reading the email and looked up at Tim, he had the same expression on his face that I felt inside.Damn.Quentin was digging deep, and I felt like a lot of these would be some uncomfortable conversations, but ones we would have to have.
“I don’t know if date night is the place to start, but we definitely have homework for tonight,” I laughed as I shook my head, feeling a little overwhelmed already.
“It’s cool, baby, at least he started out easy. What was the question again?” He reassured me, laughing.
I unlocked the phone again and read tonight’s exercise back to him.
“I’ll answer that. One thing that was uncomfortable for me was kissing and being affectionate. What I missed about youwas really just comfort. Shit felt like a new performance.” He shrugged, then finally picked up his brush to continue painting.
I started to paint again, and I exhaled.
“I underestimated how uncomfortable it would be at first. But that happened. I almost felt guilty about it. So being touched by someone else other than you felt foreign. And what I missed about you was the emotional connection, not just physical attraction.”
I relaxed as I said it. Half the reason why I agreed not to talk about the fantasies and our arrangement was that it’s so awkward discuss what another man has done to my body with my husband. But I guess if we were going to be open, we had to commit to it 100%.
Tim didn’t say anything, just abandoned his work and came over to me and slid me between his legs as I continued to paint. He was always so patient with me. Always knowing what I need in the moments when I didn’t say it. I love that so bad. I melted into his arms as he rocked me from side to side.
“This is really going to be a long week,” I said barely above a whisper.
“No, it’s not, baby. I told you, it’s whatever you want, B.” He responded.
My body tensed before I registered what was happening. This was the last thing that I needed tonight. For Tim to call me what Quentin calls me. I had always been Breeze, baby, ma, but never B. I closed my eyes and tried to regain my composure. After a mere twenty-four hours, Quentin had found himself lingering on my skin, and I didn’t like it one bit. Tonight, I was going to focus on my husband, but in a week’s time, I’d be left to decide whether he would be embedded there.
Dr. Quentin Long
Shareese 8:11 a.m.: How are you doing a no-call, no-show at your own practice? What do you want me to do with your clients?
Shareese 8:47 a.m.: Well, I just rescheduled your first client of the day and gave her the next session free. This is insane.
Shareese 9:05 a.m.: WTF, Q? You better not be trying to go off the grid nigga. I promise you, I will find you by the time it’s time to pay for college.
Shareese 9:23 a.m.: I’m about to send the cops for a wellness check. And if the FEDS are watching, I have an alibi.
Me: Sha, I overslept. If my 9 o’clock client is still there, cancel them too and give them the next session free as well. I’ll try to be there by 10. Appreciate you.
“Good morning,” I said to Shareese as I walked through the office doors and looked around at the waiting room, which had three patients. Being late wasn’t my thing, but I don’t knowhow the hell I managed to turn my alarm off and oversleep this morning.
“Morning, Dr. Long,” she said with a bright smile that I knew she only had plastered on her face because we weren’t there alone. Like she hadn’t just sent me the craziest messages this morning when she couldn’t reach me.
I walked into my office, flicked on the light, and took a deep breath with four minutes to prepare for the 10 o’clock session. After I woke up and realized what time it was, I was showered, dressed, and out of the house in less than twenty minutes. I had been busying myself with work these last couple of months, and for the first time, I started to feel it. Not only had I been working at my own practice, but one of my colleagues worked in crisis prevention, and I agreed to help him with his business until he found a permanent replacement for the doctor who had resigned.
Last night marked the beginning of my first week on call, and I underestimated the responsibility it would be. Somehow, I wound up being on the phone for two hours before the caller accepted my safety plan and agreed to a follow-up call tonight.
Although I was qualified, I had never handled a crisis. After last night though, he would need to find a replacement for me, too.
After putting my things down, I made my way over to the computer to check the schedule. Two 30-minute sessions came first, followed by Breeze and her husband at 11.
Going to their case file, I pulled their case notes and sent Shareese a message to send the couple waiting in the reception area back.
The first two sessions were smooth. The first was normal marriage counseling, no major issues, just a couple who prefer to have someone guide them. The second was a woman going through issues with her mother. I was thankful for the transitionfrom chaotic to smooth sailing. But I knew things would be shaking up the moment that Breeze walked through the door.
Eleven rolled in, making an hour feel like five minutes. The doorknob turned, and Breeze entered with her husband. She wore a purple pants set and black heels, looking like a fine ass grape.
