perfect for me and I think I was perfect for Charlie, too.
The following morning the three of us made breakfast in a smooth exchange of tasks that left us with a great meal. Tut joined us to say good morning and to tell me that he loved me and to screech at Charlie. Tut was polite to Michael.
“Good morning Michael,” Tut said using my voice.
Michael responded and gave Tut a pet. They were friends but Tut still spread his wings and made the march to me and wrapped his wings around me in a possessive hug. Tut graced us with this little sound of pleasure when I squeezed back.
If there was tension between Charlie and Michael, they kept it from me. Before Charlie went to work we talked about the travel and the fact that Charlie would be monitoring the progress from where ever he happened to be for his job that day. I told him that I’d call just before we made the jump to make sure that he knew what we were doing.
Michael and I spent a short stint in the garden.
“Baby, it’s kind of strange to be the odd man out, which has been your lot every time you’re with Lu and me. I prefer direct access to you and that’s probably why I never wanted you to have another man in your life. I’m sorry about that.”
“Charlie is a good guy and I’m so happy that he’s my man. You see how he treats me, like I’m a treasure. I’ll never take that for granted.”
“I’m happy for you baby.”
“Michael while we are in my room you know that we can not wrap up because Charlie will be monitoring us and I don’t want him to feel bad or to be jealous in any way.”
“Ok,” Michael said.
“Hello Woman,” Charlie answered my call.
“Hey Lover, can you see us, we’re ready. Tut’s taking his nap.”
“Yeah, everything is working. Begin when ever you want, I’ll be with you.”
“Thanks lover. See you later.”
Michael and I aligned ourselves on either side of the giant bed in a position that would be comfortable for hours as I knew that it took that long to return from a trip with the red sparks.
We laid there for sometime before Ricky showed any particles at all but eventually she sent her invitation and even graced us with a couple of her red sparks. Michael and I glanced at each other and then we jumped.
I’d made that jump so many times that the red sparks seemed like old friends and not the menacing premonition they felt like to me in the beginning.
The redness presented quickly but the decent had more of a floating feel to it instead of the frightening falling sensation that I’d experienced before. As the decent was slower I could make out the ‘ledges’ on the way down. I’d only passed a couple of the ledges before I made the decision to stop. And wouldn’t you just know it; I stopped at the ledge that was only a bit of a decent, right where I wanted to.
When the darkness lifted, I found myself with Charlie but he was with someone else. He was with the physical therapist with the funny name – who should have been called Colleen.
Charlie wasn’t speaking but I could hear him talking to himself.
“What the hell am I doing here? God, I want my crazy woman back.”
The sad look on Charlie’s face nearly broke my heart. I didn’t hear what the ‘Colleen’ girl said to him but I heard his non verbal response.
“This bitch is mean, I’m done.”
All went dark. When I woke up Michael was sitting on the edge of the bed and so was Charlie. I heard them talking and I didn’t open my eyes. I was bad, I eavesdropped on their conversation.
“How long does it take for her to come out of it?”
Michael was asking Charlie.
“It’s different every time.”
Charlie answered.
“This is nerve wracking. Is it like this every time? Do you think she’s ok? She’s been out for quite awhile.”
Michael was showing his nervousness.
“Yeah, it’s difficult.”
Charlie agreed.
“She’s going to travel whether we like it or not.”
“She’s a handful; isn’t she Charlie?”
“Yeah, but she’s my handful, my woman, crazy or not. I love her.”
“She feels the same about you. She’s told me often enough.” Michael reported.
“Yeah, she loves you, too.” Charlie said flatly.
“Not because she wants to, but because of our connection. There’s a big difference you know. She’d probably give me up in a heart beat if she could.”
I opened my eyes and looked at Charlie. He was looking at me. I smiled. He drew me into his arms and cradled me the same way he did every time until I got my strength back. Showing him that my strength was back I wrapped my arms around his neck and put my hands in his hair and then kissed him soundly on the lips. He squeezed me tight into him. It was so nice to be in his arms.
“Thank you lover, can I have you now?”
I whispered in his ear.
“Michael’s here.”
Charlie whispered back.
“What time is it?”
I was trying to gauge how much time the travel took from me.
“2:30.”
Charlie answered.
“You were out for 3.5 hours.”
It suddenly dawned on me that Michael was supposed to take that trip with me but I didn’t remember him being there.
“Michael, what happened? Where did you go?”
The fog was beginning to clear and I needed to be in the know.
“Baby, I ended up on the current but not with the red sparks. Do you do something special to be able to ride the red sparks?”
“The only thing I do is aim for the red; I think that Ricky kind of does the rest.”
“You should have told me that before we got started. Do you think we can try it again tomorrow?”
I looked at Charlie before I answered.
“Sure.”
“Maybe next time we should be holding hands because I’d hate for you to get lost on the red current and I think I have a bit of control now. If I stop in the decent, I’d
