Tessa's Escape to Athena's Ground(18)

                Paying re-scheduling fees wasn’t the only problem. Tessa didn’t have time to do a vacation with David and a field therapy ‘vacation.’ Her brand was beginning to blossom and Tessa needed to be back at the drawing table in January.

                “I’ll tell David we’ll have to meet another time.” Tessa looked ready to cry.

                “Have you told David anything about your therapy?”

                Tessa shook her head.

                “What are the two most important things you’ve learned so far, Tessa?”

                “Ask for what you need and give what you can.”



                             Carmen smiled. “So use this as an opportunity to practice both of those things.”

                Tessa thought about it. “I’ll tell David I’d forgotten I had an obligation that means a lot to me and that I have to reschedule our vacation. I’ll apologize, hell, I’ll grovel because I feel that bad. I really do value him and want to meet him, and I’ll tell him that.” Tessa considered her workload and schedules. “I can’t take a lot of time off this winter, because of work. But I’ll ask him what long weekend he’d like, and I’ll make that date work no matter what it is.”

                “Sound reasonable to me.” Carmen leaned forward, and touched Tessa’s hand softly. “If you want to create a genuine relationship with David, you’re going to have to open up to him. That means telling him at least a little bit about your issues, and your commitment to therapy. You owe him a glimpse of the real Tessa.”

                “The brave, the bold, the damaged and the scared shitless.”

                Carmen laughed. Up until that moment, she would have sworn Tessa’s lips couldn’t even pronounce the word shitless.





-9-





                DECEMBER 19





                Three bathing suits. Two pairs of jeans. Several pairs of shorts. A day dress. An evening dress. A light jacket. Tessa eyed her suitcase and the pile of clothes on her bed. A thick stack of tee shirts. Underwear. Bras. Socks. Sandals. Tessa began to wonder how she could manage with just one checked bag. Day cream. Night cream. Sun cream. And a bright orange G String, just for luck. She was wondering if there was room in the suitcase for Lelo when the phone rang.

                “How’s the packing going?”

                Tessa smiled at the sound of David’s voice, and at the fact he’d forgiven her for breaking their Christmas and New Year’s date.

                “It’s amazing how much stuff I think I need. I’ll be lucky to squeeze it all in, and even luckier if it doesn’t weigh over fifty pounds.”

                “I’ve been checking out New York hotels on line. Before I book one, can I just have that cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die promise that you’ll be mine over the President’s Day weekend?”

                “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night could keep me from spending that weekend with you David.”

                “I’d feel a lot more assured if the Post Office wasn’t going out of business.”

                “Hmm. Try this then: Yes.”

                “Sounding good. But there’s still room for improvement.”

                “How about, I’m crazy about you and, unless you turn out to be a serial killer, I can’t think of a better way to spend a long February weekend.”