Theresa slowly made her way through the waiting area of California Center for Mental Health main offices.  It had been almost a year since she had last seen Rosanna.  This was the longest period of time that they had been separated.  Theresa would periodically end her relationship with Rosanna determined to be the wife and mother that she believed that was right.  As much as she hated that what other people thought of her mattered it did. Particularly her father.  If she was honest what she wanted and needed was her forbidden love of Rosanna. She struggled endlessly with what she wanted, needed and what was right.  In her mind the three were incompatible. 

            This last separation had been at her instigation again. Only this time when she was crazed with need that only Rosanna could fill, Rosanna did not come to her. Rosanna told her that she was done with the back and forth and if Theresa could not commit to her she was moving on. Theresa could not bring herself to commit and tried to negotiate. Rosanna had taken this posture before and with time and persistence Theresa was able to wear her down.  In the few telephone conversations that Rosanna accepted she made it clear that she was done with being a secret lover, more than that she was done. 

            Theresa was here for a long as it took to get her woman back. She was ready to do whatever Rosanna asked.  

            Some things remained the same; Fran was still Rosanna’s secretary and smiled upon seeing her.  Fran was a feisty fifty year old Italian-American woman from Brooklyn who had relocated to the West Coast.  She bore her Brooklyn accent with pride. Fran pulled no punches as was quite outspoken.  Theresa noticed that Fran looked a little uncomfortable, due no doubt to the fact that she screened Rosanna’s calls and often had to tell her one lie or another as to why Rosanna was not available to take her calls.  At first, Fran would hesitate over the excuse.  I’m sorry she is in session and can’t be disturbed, or she’s out of the office, or whatever she could come up with at the moment.  Eventually she just settled for she is unavailable I will give her the message that you called.