1745

"I did say thank you, yes, I did say thank you", and he sounds like a little boy pleased to know that he has finally mastered a difficult lesson. "I have never before heard you speak those words, Caspar", she says tenderly. "This is the first time", he says, "The first time ever. Well the second time.", and he starts to laugh as though he has never ever  laughed before.  And it is the innocent, boisterous and unrestrained laughter of a happy child. As Lawrence returns with Caspar's cappuccino, he says, "What is this, is everyone suddenly on happy pills?"  For Caspar's joy is contagious and we are all sharing in his mirth. "Famous last words coming from a mental health professional", quips Carl. "Caspar just said "thank you", beams Stella, as though bragging about her own little child. "First time, ever, well second time, because this morning I said thank you to Carl when he gave me a glass of water.", says Caspar, still unable to contain his mirth. "Where are you from, Caspar",  says Lawrence, fixing his eyes on him as he samples his cappuccino. "India.  This drink is delicious.  Thank you so much", and he bursts out again in innocent laughter.  "Oh, those words, thank you, they feel so good, so good to say.  What did you say it's called." "Cappuccino.  Don't they serve it in india?" "I was there such a very long time ago.  And I remember so little.  Thank you, Lawrence, this is so lovely..." "Where else have you lived?"  says Lawrence.  "Mostly Sweden.  For a while in England." "That's why you have an accent.  I hear a bit of Swedish and English when you speak.  Not sure about Indian. "It was so long ago." "How long exactly?" "Long enough for Casper to have gotten into a sizable amount of trouble", interrupts Stella. "How do you two know each other?" He was stepfather to my twin sibling and I.  Mostly my brother, but we also spent summers together in England..."

1743

Lawrence has returned with a takeout cup of coffee in his hand that he places on the table. "that was a close one", he says, glancing at his now half finished cappuccino. "You have Caspar to thank for this", says Stella. "He noticed Zaheed looking at your unattended beverage, and then started drinking it in order to cover your ass for you." "Thank you so much, Caspar", he says. "Please, you don't have to finish it, you dont need my germs, especially during covid. Here let me get you a new one." "Caspar, for the first time smiles. And his face is lighting up in a way that I can only describe as sublimely beautiful. "Thank you, Lawrence. That is so kind of you." The first words he has spoken since we left New Westminster today.

1742

Lawrence has suddenly stopped laughing, and now he is staring at a middle aged South Asian man with a shaved head. He is at the serving counter, flirting very ostentatiously with the the young woman barista. "Oh my God, talk about timing", he mutters under his breath. "Who is that", say I. "My adorable boss", he hisses. "Fortunately, I have to pee, and if I move fast enough, I can get to the can without being noticed." He makes his exit from the table, but, too late. His boss has cornered him and they appear to be having rather an animated conversation. Lawrence makes a quick escape and now, take out cup in hand, his boss makes his way to our table. His face is painted with a big shit-eating smile, and he comes straight toward me, his hand outstretched. "You must be Christopher", he says, standing over the table between Carl and Erik. "And who might you be", says Stella, her voice a compromise between a purr and a growl. "My name is Zaheed", he says in the booming over confident voice of a Youtube self-help guru. "And I am the new team lead." "Pleased to meet you", I reply. Apparently not noticing Lawrence's barely begun cappuccino holding vigil over his empty chair. Suddenly, his eye seems to catch the betraying beverage, then Caspar, who ordered nothing, suddenly reaches for Lawrence's cappuccino and takes from it a hearty draught. And now Lawrence's boss is really noticing. "Anytime you need support from us, always feel free to reach out, Christopher", he says, the smile again pasted all over him. Very glad to meet you", and without so much as even noticing any of my companions, Zaheed the boss walks out of the café, bearing his takeout coffee like a faltering torch...

1751

"It is hard for me to imagine Hans Vanderkamp actually paying to get spanked", says Lawrence. "Oh, his kind are the most typical cases for anything kinky. They especially love being dominated, and punished. The higher and more prestigious in society, the more twisted and kinky. And they love it." "It is hard for me to visualize." "For which you should thank your lucky stars darling, otherwise you will be carrying that image in your head for the rest of your life, and trust me when I say this, there is nothing at all pretty about it." "How did you get into sex work" says Lawrence. "It is rather a long and tiresome story, but I got my start in Copenhagen." "But where else?" says Erik, giggling. "Words spoken by an true Swede", say I. And now Lawrence cannot appear to stop his convulsive laughing.

1740

"Are we still having a therapeutic appointment" say I. "That would depend on whose therapy we are referring to", reples Lawrence. "Do you feel that you have said everything you need to for now" "I would say so. Yes." "Your turn", says Stella, fixing on Lawrence a most impaling gaze. He stammers a bit, and wriggles in his seat, adjusting his shirt collar as though to keep it from falling off his torso. He is wearing a pale lime green golf shirt, that rather becomes him. And faded black jeans, rather a darkish slate colour. "That was a nice job you did on my colleague, Hans." "Think nothing of it, dear", says Stella. "He had it coming." "The guy's a pompous blowhard. Seems to think that being from Europe he knows everything and the rest of us are dumb amateurs." "Which is why", she says with care and precision, "He used to come to me for his weekly spanking.

1739

As in the Waves coffeeshop in New West, here there is also an abundance of comfy chairs, belying the similarly sterile, office worker lack of ambience. But it is a place to sit in and the coffee is rather decent, plus with everyone on their laptops here it is easy to enjoy quiet conversation with friends. We are just starting on our Americanos and lattes when Lawrence walks in. He places his order at the counter, then swoops down to fill an empty chair between me and Stella. I ask, "Do they know at the team that you are currently fraternizing with one of your clients." "They know nothing, and should any of those nosy parkers try anything, Carl and I are cousins, so this is a family arrangement. There is nothing they can do." "You are most welcome", says Carl, smiling. "Yes, thank you indeed."

1738

"I would like to know more, but they are monitoring this meeting, and I will have to justify whatever extra time this is going to take. Listen, I am about to sign off for the day, for the next several weeks, actually, because I am about to go on vacation. There is a coffee shop across the street and one block left from here on Broadway. Waves. Do you know it?" "We were sitting in a Waves this morning in new West", say I, "When we were talking on the phone." "I'll need about fifteen minutes to finish up the paperwork, then I can join you there in less than half an hour..."