The Sex Shrink of Seattle VOL. 5 (Sessions #5) Read online

  I walked into the club, seeing Sergio right away and telling him that Maxwell Tennebaum and his wife Adina would be joining me. Then I went to organize our caddy and golf cart for four. I was looking forward to the adventure and had to smile, remembering how Lina had knocked me down a peg or two by beating me when we’d golfed the course. That was the first time of many that I’d underestimated her, assuming that I’d be a better golfer.

  “Simon, hello,” a deep voice called out.

  I turned around and saw Maxwell there, standing next to a very attractive woman who looked like a slightly older Lina. That must have been her mother, the beauty and grace didn’t fall far from the tree.

  “Hello, it’s a pleasure to see you again, Maxwell,” I said, extending my hand and shaking his. Then I turned to the woman. “And you must be Adina. It’s truly an honor to meet you, and I must say, you’re every bit as beautiful as your daughter.”

  She laughed and waved her hand playfully and then said, “And you’re every bit as charming as I’ve heard you are, too, Simon. I’m excited to golf this course, it’s one of my favorites.”

  “Do you get out on the course much?” I asked.

  “Not nearly as much as I’d like to. There’s just too much going on that takes precedent over it, right Max,” she said, affectionately squeezing her husband’s hand.

  “You are always on the go, which is why I’m thankful to Simon for this invite…it’ll get you out and having some fun,” Max replied.

  She laughed. “I always have fun, even when it’s business, it’s still fun, darling.”

  I watched the two closely and immediately liked them, and in particular, the way they interacted with each other. It was so engaging and quite intimate…most pleasant to see. My parents were amazing and always tried and true with each other, staying by each other’s side at outings and I realized just how rare that was. The playboy and playgirl were more prevalent in the circles we ran in than were the dedicated couples. It was part of the reason that the thought of marriage had been a rather big turn-off to me. One spouse always working and the other always playing; at least that’s the way it looked.

  I smiled, glancing at the two of them, very genuine people, from first impressions, anyway, and said, “Well, let’s go have a great round of golf. I’m looking forward to it myself, it’s been a few months.”

  “Let the games begin. Any wagers?” Max asked.

  “Max, we don’t always need to wager,” Adina said to him, laughing merrily. Her laugh was so light and festive that it reminded me of a wind chime and how that one note that resonated out seemed to travel forever, slowly fading out of ear range.

  We were out on the course and talking casually, not about Lina, but everything besides that. It was like the social banter before the meeting started in a way, but I was having a great time. They seemed to be a really decent couple, one that lived up to the reputation they had for being good people to do business with and socialize with.

  “I see that Lina and you are both considerably better than average with a club,” I said to Adina.

  “Both of us spent some time on the circuit, but Lina did better than me,” Adina said casually. It was no big deal to her.

  “But Lina didn’t win a title like you did,” Max added. Then he shot and it hooked to the right. “And obviously, I haven’t won any titles,” he added laughing and then shaking his head.

  “The game lives up to its reputation for being frustrating, doesn’t it, Max?” I commented.

  “It sure does. I’d swear I hit that shot the same way as I’d hit the previous one, which landed just shy of the green.”

  Just before we were going to start the tenth hole, an unexpected burst of rain came down, reminding us that Seattle had a will of her own when it came to weather. “Maybe we should forgo the back nine,” I said.

  “Good plan,” Adina said.

  The caddy drove the cart back up toward the clubhouse to let us out and said that our clubs would be upfront waiting at check-out for when we were ready to leave.

  Once inside, we found a table to eat at and just in a knick of time, as the rain poured down faster, more golfers abandoned the course in place of the comfort of the warm, inviting clubhouse.

  “That was just in time,” Adina said. “I’ll look like a disaster before the banquet tonight.”

  “What for?” I asked.

  “Oh, it’s nothing really. Winning Wings, the jet company that Lina and I own, sponsored a fashion show to help raise awareness for a really great cause about young women and their body image. They’re honoring me with something, but it’s really everyone that should receive the honor. It surely wasn’t just me alone that made it all happen.”

  “That’s right, I recall hearing about that in the news. Some of the most amazing models of the past two decades were there. It raised a lot of money,” I said. “I didn’t realize you were a part of that and I didn’t realize that you owned Quick Jet, either. That company is doing quite well, isn’t it?”

  “It is,” Max said quickly. “The fastest growing one in the Tannebaum basket. Wish I could get my other businesses to grow at the same rate that Adina and Lina’s does.”

  Again, I was learning something else about Lina that I had previously had no idea about. Secret after secret with her. “So, Lina and you own Winning Wings. I detect an interesting story there.”

  “Lina has always been so determined. When she was fourteen she wanted to get her pilot’s license. The child couldn’t even drive for heaven’s sake. I reluctantly agreed, hoping that I could use it as something to bring us closer together now that I was at home more, less busy traveling than I’d previously been. Well, leave it to Lina to not only be naturally great at it, but determined to get it done quickly. She came home one day with a huge smile on her face and said, ‘I have a plan…’ Well, did she ever. She’d laid out a complete plan for Winning Wings with financial information, trends, etc. This report was worthy of a Wall Street guru’s attention. The only problem was that she was seventeen, so that’s where I came in and it’s been a true joy ever since, although I grow busier with it solo now that her acting career has taken off.”

  “It must help to have Lina’s acting connections for potential clients,” I commented.

  Adina leaned forward and assessed me for a second and it made me feel slightly awkward, and then she leaned back in the chair. “The business has grown exponentially since she’s begun acting and getting these roles. It’s growing impossible to keep up with, Simon, but I do what I can do.”

  “It’s a lot of work, but you’re quite splendid with it, darling,” Max said.

  “Lina’s determination to get what she wants has always shown through in everything, a quality that she gets from her mother, I fear,” Max commented. “How could I help but not be drawn to her when I finally got a chance to meet her.”

  “So you two met after all this was already started?” I asked. This was an interesting modern romance, not merely because of my interest in Lina, either.

  Max shook his head and Adina looked at him and smiled, gently touching her hand on top of his. “And every day has been a world better ever since.”

  “That’s quite the story,” I commented. “Model, golfer, jet setter, business woman, and now you’re on the cusp of mother-in-law.”

  Adina looked at Max briefly and then at me and smiled. “Ah, yes, that is in the all too near future.”

  “And now is the time when I must expose a bit of myself to you,” I said. It was now or never. While I’d enjoyed the conversation, this meeting did have a purpose. “Lina does have a confidentiality agreement with me so I can’t share everything, but I am really concerned about this engagement to Ralph Bixby, about why it’s something she’s pursuing. I was hoping you could shed some light on it for me or indulge me with your thoughts on it.”

  The two glanced at each other and Adina took a sip of her water and then looked at me to begin talking. It would have to wait. The waitress ca
me over and took our orders. Then she left and I looked back to Adina, looking like I was patiently waiting for her to answer. I was feeling rather impatient, though.

  “I have always let her decide what she wanted in life, partly because of her nature and partly for my sanity, I’ll admit. Lina’s so independent, like a hurricane on course once she sets her mind to something,” Adina said.

  Max stepped in. “Lina’s a powerhouse, and Adina and I pretty much lets her run with whatever’s on her mind.”

  “But marrying Ralph Bixby? Do you think she’s doing this for herself? It seems like she thinks it’ll protect or help others, but not really her. Maybe the jet business can grow even more, but she doesn’t really need Bixby to do that, does she?” I asked.

  Adina’s face took on an expression of warmth and empathy. She put a hand on my arm and said, “I can tell that you care about Lina a lot to meet with us and to tell us about your concerns about her marrying Bixby. I do understand them, Simon, but I must say, knowing Lina, she has her reasons. Whether or not she loves him is something we can’t answer for her. Love is strange like that, it sometimes happens between the two most unlikely people. So…I hate to sound like I’m giving a non-answer, but we trust what Lina’s doing. If she didn’t want to marry the guy, she wouldn’t.”

  “Okay then, at least I stated my mind about it,” I said. It was so hard to choke out the words. I felt slammed by the possibility that Lina really was in love with Ralph and wanted to be his wife. I couldn’t grasp it.

  The remainder of our conversation went back to the idle chatter that it had started with. It was pleasant, but for me, it was all a façade because I was being eaten up internally.

  When it was time to go and we all walked up front, waiting for our clubs and cars so we could leave, Adina turned to me and said, “This has been a really nice day, Simon. I hope that we’ll see you at the wedding.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  They drove off first and then I left afterward. I had never felt so low in my entire life. Why was Lina affecting me so much? It was so damn irritating and frustrating, but most of all, at this moment, it was heartbreaking.

  Chapter 5

  Pamela and I were standing by the receptionist desk, having to brainstorm an effective way to handle the crazy abundance of new potential clients that were calling the office, wanting to get consultations from me for their sexual problems. Honestly, it was like a sexual pandemic had taken over Seattle, and even some cities up to a few hours away. It was quite ridiculous.

  “Has it always been this way, Simon?” Pamela asked.

  I looked at her, sensing someone that I could count on, someone thankful for the opportunity this position gave her. I smiled and said, “Well, ever since those suggestive Tweets went out, people are approaching their need for help a different way. That’s why we have to figure out a logical way to screen them for appointments and find out who the ones are that really need help. That’s what I have to focus on,” I said. My voice trailed off a bit as I stared at one hundred slips for new calls. It seemed like a daunting task.

  “Perhaps I could call and ask them a few select questions, ones that you believe would show if they were fan or legitimate client. It would be a start,” Pamela offered.

  “That’s a really good idea,” I said. “I can use the same few questions that I use for a preliminary assessment.”

  “Wonderful, and if they make it through that process, then we can get them in for a consultation. Have you ever thought of bringing an intern in,” Pamela said.

  “What for?” I asked.

  “Well, it would make sense to have an intern there and if someone just wanted intimacy, not real therapy, they’d likely trip up if someone else was there. If they didn’t, then you could excuse that person. Just an idea…you’re the expert but it seems like you need some out of the box thinking to control this,” Pamela said, pointing to all the messages and then to her computer screen, which was filled with them, as well.

  “That’s an excellent idea. I love it,” I said. “I’m going to go into my office and make some calls and make a list of questions for you.”

  Once in my office, I sat in my chair and tried to grasp all of the madness that had ensued. Bixby had wanted to bring me down with what he’d done; instead, he’d brought an onslaught of women who seemed quite content to see me just so we could have sex. I’d begun changing though because at one time, I would have found the entire thing entertaining and good for me. Now, it seemed embarrassing and it brought down my perceived value. I did not want to be the guy who was good for nothing other than sex. Despite my admitted arrogance and my sexual likes, there was a huge part of me that genuinely did want to help women who were sexually dysfunctional in some way. Basically, I didn’t want to be the hot guy they shared on social media and in magazines that women thought about in a Christian Grey Fifty Shades of Grey type fantasy. I wanted to be taken more seriously. It would be a tough image to change, but I had to find a way to do it.

  For what? That nasty voice in me countered. For me, and for Lina, I thought. I wanted to be the type of man she was really proud of and admired. And regardless of what emotion it stemmed from, I found it impossible to believe that Bixby could be that type of man over me.

  My cellphone buzzed. I glanced down. Lina. Think of the devil and the devil calls. “Hey, how are you?”

  “Great, I was craving some donuts so I’m down at Pike’s Place, The Daily Dozen. Want to meet me?”

  I briefly thought no, but I said, “Yes. Give me ten.”

  Ten minutes later, I was walking into The Daily Dozen and saw Lina sitting in the corner. She smiled and waved me over, already having coffee and a box filled with donuts.

  I walked over and smiled, glancing down. “If you eat all of those, you’ll go into sugar shock,” I commented, laughing.

  “They’re just too irresistible. Have one,” she said, moving the box toward me.

  “What kind are these?” I asked, glancing down at them. “Is that bacon?”

  “So observant, Dr. Sessions. They are maple minis with bacon on top, a variation of a Voodoo Doughnut.” I must have looked confused because she added, “In Portland.”

  “I’ll pass,” I said. I couldn’t imagine.

  “Come on, just one. Where’s your sense of adventure,” Lina pressed, smiling at me in a wicked seductive way.

  “Okay, one,” I said. I grabbed the small donut and put it into my mouth, thinking that it would be absolutely horrible. Okay, I was wrong. It was really good.

  “Well,” Lina said.

  “Well, it’s deceivingly delicious. Tricky little donut.”

  “Tricks are kind of fun, don’t you think?” Lina asked.

  “What kind of tricks are we talking about?” I answered. Some serious double talk was taking place.

  “The kind where you go golfing with my parents and try to get them to talk me out of getting married to Ralph Bixby,” she said bluntly.

  I stared at her, feeling a bit foolish for being called out on it so bluntly, but she didn’t say anything else. Instead she took another donut and put it in her mouth, chewing it with a smile on her face that was quite similar to the one a chocoholic might have when diving into that perfect piece of chocolate.

  “I was—actually am—worried about you Lina. I’m trying to understand, but…”

  “But you don’t. I get it, Simon. I really should be mad at you, but I’m not,” she said. She took another donut and I thought she was going to pop it into her mouth but she surprised me and placed it on my lips, not moving her fingers until I opened up and ate it.

  Now my mouth was filled with a mini donut and Lina was talking. “You really don’t have to worry about me. I should be angry with you, but I’m not. It’s really kind of sweet, I guess. I think I get it. You just can’t accept Ralph as being someone whom I would want to marry, but the truth is, I do.”

  I began to say something back and found another donut being delivered to my m
outh. Message received—listen.

  “I’ve had a crush on him since the first time I met him though Gloria, when I didn’t even have any idea who he was. I was taking an acting class at some local theater for something to do aside from my college courses and this handsome young man walked in. He was older than me, of course, but still very young and he was put together so well, wearing the nicest suit and he had the most charming smile. He noticed me, too, and we started to date casually. I loved how he had the nicest car, gave me flowers all the time, wrote me messages, and treated me like I was the only woman in the world.” She paused briefly and gave a soft snort to her last sentence. “Anyway, he also took me to parties and I got to meet so many amazing people and everything sort of fell into place. It made sense and I also had something to offer Ralph with the jet service business that Mom and I have. It was so wildly romantic, a dream come true, really.”