Beyond The Corner Office: Essays By Nine Women
by Judith Scheffler
Category: Fiction

Emilie is forty-six and rather self-conscious. She meets Alex. The similarities between the two women's life experiences and tastes are glaringly obvious, at least to the casual observer. But Emilie hasn't figured out, yet, that she is attracted to Alex's conversations and charismatic personality. They have so much in common that Alex could, at times, pass for Emilie's alter ego. However, Emilie also meets Tamara, one of Alex's ex-lovers. Tamara is intelligent and sensual but, at twenty-eight, she might be here one day and gone the next. Despite this, Emilie is attracted to the young woman's physicality and to her youthful wisdom. Risking-me is about triggers As the candles flickered on the nightstands, as their glow danced sensuously across her face, her collarbone, over the immature creases of her stomach, over the length of her thighs, and the dark patch of springy hair, I knew that if I could draw I would've drawn her. Not on the spot, no, but later. I would've drawn her during a re-enactment of sorts. She would have let me draw her if I had told her of the dance of light across the valleys and planes of her strong and healthy body. If I had known how to, I would have told her about illusions, as well. About illusions of light and illusions of my own making as I delighted in the aestheticism of her naked body. I would have drawn her as she was. At ease inside her body. Her body at ease with itself and with her. Just as she was, watching me. (Emilie) Risking-me, unlike the 'average' lesbian romance, looks at the everyday realities of women. C.C. Saint-Clair explores issues such as domestic violence, ageing and age difference between lovers, as well as the universal fears of rejection and impermanence. Within the context of these everyday realities, there are also fun times and moments of exquisite connection between women. Will Emilie's self-reflexive musings lead to insights which might gradually allow her to 'let go' and to risk becoming involved with Tamara, who is many years younger? Layer upon delicate layer of erotic sensation and desire between Emilie and Tamara is portrayed subtly and passionately through Saint-Clair's sensuous language and imagery. This subtle, sensuous, slow spiraling of stimulation and sensation reminds me of the French confection 'mille-feuilles' (literally, a thousand leaves) – multi-layered, simultaneously rich and light, creamily textured and delicious. J. Dougherty, PhD