Shit, Bette thought. She had planned on jumping into the pool right after their call. 

“Part 2: go to the gallery. Meet in the spot where Candace kissed Bette.”

They both looked horrified.

“Bring a yoga mat or something comfortable for you to sit on. Bette, I want you to take the lead. I am going to send you some questions for you and Tina to answer. Be as honest as possible. After the questions, I want you to stare into each other’s eyes for four minutes. Then, Bette, I want you to guide Tina through some tantric breathing. Have you heard of this?” 

Bette nodded. They both flashed back to the time they went on a silent couple’s retreat in Bali. They weren’t so silent during their stay. Tina blushed. 

“Great. Tina, I want you to allow Bette to lead you. DO NOT CHARGE!”

Tina rolled her eyes and nodded. 

“Oh and no…”

“Sex,” Tina and Bette said simultaneously.

“That’s right. No sex.” 

They both rolled their eyes and nodded. 

“Bette, I am going to send you a couple of helpful tantric videos. But this is your session. Go with the flow. Alright. Great work.”

Tina stole a glance at Bette. 

“Before you go, would you mind if I gave you some advice?”

“Please,” Tina said.

Julia looked at Bette. 

“Isn’t that what we are paying you for?” 

Tina cleared her throat. Julia shook her head. 

“No, Bette. You pay me to listen and to help you dig deeper and to help you understand how past traumas show up for you today and how to work through them instead of putting up walls and keeping people from the truest part of you. And when I say “people”, I specifically mean Tina.” 

“She had access to the truest part of me,” Bette said plainly.

Tina looked down.

“Had. As in past tense. Do you want her to have access again? Because if you don’t, why are we here?”

Silence.

Julia waited.

“I do,” Bette finally said.

Tina exhaled. She didn’t realize she had been holding her breath until her lungs started to burn. 

“Good. So, do you want my advice?” Julia asked again. 

Bette nodded. 

“Get out of your own way. Talk to each other. That’s the only way you are going to be able to move forward. But if you keep holding things in, you might as well call it quits now.”

They both looked fucking flabbergasted.

“Have a great weekend. I’ll talk to you on Monday. Goodbye.”

Julia ended the call before either of them could say anything. 

***