“And Russell is Mr. Drastic?”
Well, at least he’s talking to me now, Tessa thought.
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Call him.” Tessa pulled out her cell phone. “Ask him what his relationship is to me.” She held her phone out to David.
He hesitated, and then took the phone.
“Contact list, under Russell.”
David found the list and tapped the contact.
“Tessa?” Russell’s voice. “Is something wrong?”
Tessa leaned close to the phone and spoke loudly and clearly. “I’m okay Russell. I give you permission to answer truthfully and fully every question you’re about to be asked. In fact, I beg you to.” She nodded at David and said, “Ask whatever you like.”
David looked uncomfortable but determined. When he spoke, he sounded like one alpha male growling at another.
“How do you know Tessa?”
“She is a client.”
“What kind of client?”
“I am a professional sex therapist. She is my client in that regard.”
“So you’ve had sex with her?”
“That is the goal of a sex therapist, among other things.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
Russell hesitated. Tessa leaned into the phone and, again, waived her right to confidentiality. When Russell remained silent, she pleaded, “Please tell David everything he wants to know.”
Russell cleared his throat. “Yes, we’ve had sex.”
“What personal connection do you have with her?”
“None. She is a client.”
“When she leaves Australia, will you see her again?”
“Only if her counselor in New York believes it is therapeutic and only if Tessa wishes it. If that were to happen, Tessa would come to Australia for a limited number of sessions, as appropriate.”
David stared at the phone, temporarily out of questions. Suddenly his eyes lost their fire and his face softened. “Did you help her?” he asked.
“That’s a question best answered by her. I think it would be an excellent one for you to ask.”
David ended the call and handed Tessa her phone. “That could have been a setup, something your lover agreed to do to get you out of trouble with me.” His words were serious, but did not sound harsh.
“It could have been. But it wasn’t.” Tessa held out the envelope in her hand. “I spent hours last night on this. Between crying and writing, it was quite the evening.”
David didn’t say anything.
“After last night, you owe me nothing, except a chance for me to tell you the truth. I wrote down everything—my truth—and I ask you, I beg you, to at least read this. You can rip it to shreds and set it on fire when you’re finished, if you want to. But please, if I’ve meant anything at all to you, please, just read it.”