new project? Hmmm.....
October 3, 2008
l'intermède
The light in this room was always fine. Fine, as in delicate, pleasant, satisfactory. Fine like silk, or a fine gold chain. This is why she chose it as an office. Four windows stretched long and narrow on the south wall. Outside these windows, a spreading elm and two pines. None of her patients had ever mentioned the light but she knew it had an effect. Even in the darkest days of winter, the light was vast and kind. In the summer, with the Venetians pulled, the light was perfect.
Dr. Claire Musica, looks over at her patient. He always chose the black leather Hemingway chair – his name for it – the one with the armrests wide enough to support an espresso demitasse and saucer. There were other options but he preferred this chair.
She clears her throat. “What does your wife think about this?”
“My wife?”
“Yes, what does she think about your hanging out in a hotel rooms smoking cigars with a prostitute?”
“My wife doesn’t smoke cigars.”
“I gather by your evasion that she doesn’t know.”
“That’s right.”
Dr. Musica leans forward. Wallace holds his eye contact with her. He doesn’t waver. Is that a smile? Perhaps just a hint of bemusement. I’m not here to judge, she tells herself. But she’d love to ask him how he’d feel if his wife was secretly meeting a man in a hotel room every two weeks, to talk.
“What do you talk about?”
“Last week we talked about women. We smoked a nice little Romeo y Julieta Robusto and talked at some length about women.”
“And this prostitute…”
“…her name is Dolly. Dolly Varden.”
“So, Dolly is able to carry her side of the conversation?”
“It’s not her real name. Dolly Varden is a type of fish – a trout. She’s not stupid. But of course, I had no way of knowing this the first time…”
“…the first time?”
“Yes, the first time was difficult. Once I let her know I was not interested in sex, it took a bit of talking to convince her I was not with the police. Once we cleared that hurdle, I had three questions that would tell me if she was the one...”
5 Comments
1. Winifred Brewer had this to say: Oct 04, 2008 ~ 09:51 ~ #
MORE.....................
2. thomas had this to say: Oct 04, 2008 ~ 14:53 ~ #
Wini,
You are a sweetheart. I’ve got a few months of research (I’ve never been in therapy, let along Jungian therapy) and so I’m going to try and go to a therapist with problems of my character and a list of questions, and my own fear of death….But I really like this idea…
Namaste
3. mary had this to say: Oct 06, 2008 ~ 09:13 ~ #
dolly varden! yes!!
4. Claire Musica had this to say: Oct 07, 2008 ~ 08:40 ~ #
I find this eerie. How did you pick my name for you fiction? As far as I know I’m the only Claire Musica in the US and Canada.
5. Thomas had this to say: Oct 07, 2008 ~ 09:43 ~ #
Ah Claire, Stop doing those vanity searches on your own name!!! (ha!) I love the name Claire. And I knew a Liz Musica (though, I’m not sure it was spelled like this) 30 years ago…worked with her…Not sure how those two names came together…but no worries, it will likely change by the time the book is written. Though, Claire Musica is a nice combination of sounds…and when you add the Dr. Claire Musica, it rings true doesn’t it?
Thanks for dropping by…