Julia is again sucking the integrity out of her extra large malt cup, "Mmmm, I remember you only used to give me these when you felt extra sad about me having to have a painful medical procedure."

"Well, pretty accurate... I made a gynecological exam appointment without your permission over a month ago with my doctor. That IUD device with the hormone release. I can tell you from experience, it is not a pleasant experience at all. You have an appointment tomorrow at 1 pm."

Julia walks over to the otherside of the picnic table outside the icecream shop and gives Laura a firm bear hug, "I love you, Mom. I was actually calling today, I had no idea it takes them a month to schedule a new patient. How can they stay in business doing that? It's like you are anticipating everything I need a month advance."

Laura rubs her lips as she looks deep into the sky, "So would you be open to hear my thoughts on this whole Eric situation?"

"Depends...As long as you respect that I do in fact love him and don't believe I am a love sick puppy like Daddy thinks."

"No, Sweetheart, I don't believe that. You two have geniune chemistry and have bonded in many mature ways."

"Many, Mom? Are you suggesting parts of our relationship are still immature?"

"Julia, Baby, I think you need to reconsider having the IUD put in. Up until last year, you had zero interest in boys. What if those are your true feelings and being with Eric is an exception to you being attracted to only women? What happens if Eric STILL doesn't want to have sex? Are you just gonna accept it or are you going to pressure him until he gives in?

"Are you suggesting I am pressuring him right now?

"Julia, I have walked in on you twice now. I apologize about this last one, by the way. The boy obviously is a willing servant to this fetish roleplay fantasy world you created for him. Don't get me wrong, you are both 18 and it is none of my business what you do behind closed doors. Just my opinion."

Julia races through her thoughts trying to counter her mom's point, but all her justifications for Eric and her perversions are too ridiculous to discuss. "Mom, do you think I am being cruel to him and putting him into a position he can't say no?"

"The boy loves you. He doesn't want to say no to you even when he knows he should. A mature woman's job in a relationship is to give a man honest feedback which allows him to be true to his true self."

"I asked Eric to go with me when I have the IUD put in. Do you think that makes me manipulative?"

Laura gently strokes her ear, "Depends, why are you doing it?"

Julia pinches her split ends, "At first, because of the pain. Eric always makes me feel safe and loved. Since last week I learned he has a pretty female doctor and I need to see this bi-...beauty for myself. I am hoping he will let me attend all his doctor visits in return."

Laura laughs freely like she is one of Julia's old school chums, "Sure, that is very manipulative, go ahead and do that as long as you realize he is under no obligation to have sex with you because of it. Be honest about the real reason you are wanting to get on birth control. You want protection in the very small, unlikely chance Eric changes his mind about having sex because he wants to try it. Maybe him running out of time may make him see things differently, and then again maybe not. "

Julia taps her fingers on the picnic table like it is a grand piano, "Do you really think Eric and I are some deeply disturbed perverts?"

Laura squints, "Welllllll, I have to admit I am a little curious about the whole thermometer thing from your end. I never did that to you, where did you get into that whole thing?"

"Girls from my class had moms who had it done. Still generational remnants left over, I guess. Same girls who talked about it loved to moon and let their butts hang out at the pool. I found the whole concept hilarious"

Laura nods, "I always heard strange snippets of stories when Beth and you had you little slumber parties. Makes more sense now."