“It’s okay,” Bette whispered.  “It’s okay.”

* * * * *

Surprising, but true, Bette actually liked Suzanne O’Brien.  She didn’t have that smug, ‘aren’t you lucky to be getting my advice’ smirk that Foxworthy had in the couple’s counseling she did with Tina. 

Suzanne was perky with clear skin the color of fresh cream and reddish-blonde hair that hung freely, but not necessarily fashionably to her shoulders.  She had a new mom look to her—slightly overwhelmed, completely overjoyed.  Her ***** were full from having just given birth and her top seemed to cling uncomfortably and tightly to her skin.  She wore slacks and hard-soled clogs.  When they first talked on the phone, Bette ended the call with a new sense of hope.

What Bette liked about her was that she was smart, confident, and a good listener.  Their first session had gone well.  Suzanne had asked her a simple question, “Tell me the story of you and Tina.”  Bette bubbled over as she recounted their first meeting, their dating, their first intimacy.  Bette laughed when she said, “Tina was a virgin with women, but she got the hang of it quickly.”  Bette talked about when they both declared their love at exactly the same time while watching the sun set into the ocean off of Point Magu one evening.  She explained how they found a house together, loved together, and planned for a family.  The fifty-minute session ended just when Bette was recounting that fateful visit to the doctor’s office when she learned that they had lost the baby.

Now she was seated in the waiting room.  The waiting room was decorated with small ornamental objects from developing countries.  Nice art that could be picked up at Pier One, Bette thought.  The art on the walls were of goddesses in their many incarnations—Greek and Roman goddesses, Celtic goddesses, and Chinese ones.  There was also a four-panel work of the earth goddess in various positions.  The room was definitely woman-centered. 

Bette was anticipating her second session.  Today, she had come with an agenda.  She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life in therapy.  Her goal was to work out the issues that caused her to do what she did, fix whatever the problem was, and get her life back the way it had been.