Page 79 of The In-Laws

‘You promised one hour.’

‘Yes, but I’m waiting to hear –’

‘It can wait one hour.’ Frank was firm.

It was like her fingernails were being pulled out, but Melanie dug deep and nodded. She had agreed to give one hour of full focus to this – her relationship and Frank deserved it. Frank switched off her phone and they turned back to Helena.

She played some kind of New Age music and told them to stand up and let go. She started shaking and swaying on the spot with her eyes closed, asking them, ‘What is your pelvis saying?’ She began to moan and grunt. Melanie was paralysed by mortification, but Frank, well, Frank was grunting and moaning like a crazy person.

If this was supposed to release sexual chemistry or increase intimacy, it was doing the polar opposite. Melanie had never found Frank less attractive than seeing him bent over, grunting like a gorilla in heat.

Helena encouraged Melanie to let go, but after ten minutes she turned off the music. Melanie snuck a look at her watch. God, half an hour still to go. It was the longest hour of her life.

‘Now we are going to have you face each other. Sit on these big cushions, cross your legs and sit opposite each other.’

Melanie hated sitting cross-legged. It felt unnatural and uncomfortable and it was making her suit trousers crease. Frank sat opposite her, his legs crossed like a yogi’s, looking extremely comfortable.

‘I want you to hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes. Lose yourselves in each other’s windows to the soul.’

At first it felt really fake and embarrassing, but slowly, Melanie began to relax. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually looked into Frank’s eyes. She’d forgotten how lovely they were, navy blue, with a hint of grey. They radiated kindness and love. Fondness for him came flooding back. Frank, her Frank, the man she had fallen in love with, married and had children with. Frank, who encouraged her to be the best agent. Frank, who enabled her to work long hours. Frank, who was always proud of her. Frank, who had made her feel seen and safe when she’d met him. Melanie’s breathing slowed and she felt her body sink into the cushion.

‘Wonderful, I could really feel the connection there,’ Helena enthused.

Melanie smiled at Frank. Okay, that wasn’t so bad. Now she could get back to work. She stood up and moved towards her coat, but Helena stopped her.

‘Now that you have established a meaningful connection through the eyes, we will do full-body, non-sexual hugs that will awaken emotions and sensation in surprising ways.’

What? Really? Okay, hugs, and then that was it. She’d done her bit.

Frank pulled her towards him and wrapped her in his arms. Like the eyes, Melanie took a minute to lean into the exercise, but then she did. She hugged Frank back, inhaling his comforting Frank smell. But as he pressed against her, holding her tightly, she became aware he had an erection. She jumped back.

‘It’s perfectly normal and healthy for Frank to feel aroused at being close to you,’ Helena said. ‘Feel free to add more physical foreplay to increase this sexual arousal. Why don’t you try some deep, slow kissing?’

‘No.’ Enough was enough. Melanie was not standing in a brightly lit room in front of a stranger with her husband’s erection digging into her thigh while snogging.

She grabbed her coat before anyone could stop her.

Pulling it on, she said, ‘Thank you, it was better than I expected, but I have to go now.’

‘Do you feel a closer connection to Frank? A more intimate union?’

‘Yes, I do,’ Melanie admitted, and she did. But what did it mean and what would it bring them as a couple? It had reminded her that she loved him, or at least had loved him. But did she want to rip his clothes off? No. Did she want to lie down and have long-drawn-out sex? No.

She walked out with Frank. She felt bad about what had just happened, but there was no way she could have kept going with it. She hoped she hadn’t embarrassed him.

Frank glanced at her and smiled. ‘Thanks for doing it. I know it was miles out of your comfort zone.’

Melanie laughed. ‘It certainly was, but it was good. I’d forgotten how nice your eyes are.’

‘It made me realize just how much we’ve drifted,’ Frank admitted.

Melanie said nothing. Frank reached for her hand. ‘I love you, Melanie, always have, always will.’

‘I love you too, Frank.’

But I’m not in love with you and I don’t want to have sex with you even if you have the loveliest eyes.

The realization washed over her in a wave of grief – their love had died. Her lovely Frank wasn’t really hers any more. And she was no longer his. She had skirted around the edges of her thoughts and emotions for so long, but now the truth had pushed its way to the surface.

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