Читать книгу Exploring Connections - DH Steppler - Страница 3

Before I even opened my eyes, I knew that I was in trouble. Just by the sounds that Charlie made while he waited for me to wake up; I could hear the worry in his movement, walking from one side of the bed to the other slowly then quickly and then sitting on the side of the bed next to me. He didn’t wait for me to open my eyes to know whether or not I was conscious, it didn’t matter. He pulled me into his arms and cradled me in his lap while whispering.

“Please wake up Woman, please Helen.”

Charlie kissed me tenderly over and over, on my forehead, my eyes, and my nose while repeatedly asking me quietly to wake up. My eyes opened to seeing him kiss my nose. When I got a good look at his face, I saw how distressed he was.

To try and relieve some of his concerns I smiled at him, the only thing I could do for a matter of a couple of minutes. It would take another moment until I’d be able to talk and then another moment or more before voluntary movement was possible.

Since nothing else was at all possible, I just looked at Charlie. His physical presence was and is commanding just by the amount of space he takes up. He is a big man and handsome. He stands tall so he seems even taller than 6 feet, 4 inches. His health, fitness, and strength were all used to do his best to please me as my lover, my partner, my man, and my protector.

With speech available to me, I still didn’t speak. I saw the fear that was still there in Charlie’s eyes while he brought his large lovely lips to mine to kiss me for real, a kiss that I could participate in. With that kiss, the strength began to return to my body and I could, once again, move and control my own limbs. With that control, I moved to get even closer to Charlie. The side effect from that kind of ‘out of body’ experience was uncontrolled passion and sexual desire after the initial five minute paralysis.

Feeling the relief in Charlie’s demeanor for my consciousness was sweet. He got involved in the passion part of the routine and removed my clothes, not an easy task while I was working to get more and more of him. Knowing that I was a handful for Charlie had no bearing on the need that had become urgent within me. Through the frenzy that I presented, he masterfully and gracefully joined our bodies assuaging my intense need of him. Even though most of my ‘out of body’ travel worried Charlie, he enjoyed the way I needed him upon my return.

His quiet, high pitched moan was sweet music to me and the feel of him inside of me brought me balance. Charlie wasn’t a passive lover; he made an event out of most of our sexual experiences. Right then his aim was to sooth me; he never missed that mark and met my need for him every time.

After our lovemaking, or should I say, after the sex, because we made love in everything we did. We were all about loving each other. We lay cradled in each other’s arms still kissing and touching and caressing.

As was the routine for us I started with my questions.

“How long?”

“Nearly 24 hours.”

Charlie answered with a touch of emotion still in his voice.

“Anything unusual?”

The questions were routine but Charlie waited for me to ask every time.

“I’d say that 24 hours is unusual.”

His voice still carried a quiet anxiety.

“I’m glad your voice is back; though you sound a bit hoarse,” Charlie said.

Charlie was referring to the fact that he’d not heard me speak for many weeks due to an injury to my vocal chords. In order to heal properly I didn’t use my voice and we had gotten used to communicating without speech. Charlie wasn’t a talker so the quiet wasn’t unusual for us anyway.

For a matter of minutes we were quiet. I was trying to piece together the events of the previous 24 hours and Charlie was waiting for me.

Other physical needs became urgent and I dashed to the bathroom. Charlie joined me when I turned on the shower. Having a shower with Charlie was a rich experience and always involved another coupling event.

As we were leaving the bedroom, I felt the presence of our best friends, a connected couple, and turned to Charlie with a question on my face.

‘What’s going on?’ was the question and he fully understood my expression and need to know.

“When you didn’t come round in 10 hours I got nervous and called Michael and Lu. They got here about 4 hours ago.”

He explained while pointing in the direction of the guest room.

“We spent the first couple of hours talking about how reckless you are; just to let you know.” Charlie warned me.

His arm around me, we took our coffee to the table in the middle of the vegetable garden to start the day because the greenery nurtured us and added to the richness that blessed our lives. Even though the sun was already up, we toasted its arrival as is our custom every day.

“To the great orb in the sky, may you shine on us your warmth and light and may we use this day in the service of one another, cheers, thanks a lot, eh?”

Charlie liked to give the toast and begin the day on a positive note. That worked for me.

My stomach growled and so did Charlie’s. With a quick look at me and a raised eye brow he posed his question without words. ‘Are you going to sing to the garden today?’

I didn’t sing but I left them with a promise of a song later. We filled the produce basket and headed for the kitchen and a morning meal.

Both Charlie and I liked to cook so we always made an affair of our meals. The preparation was like a dance that we were good at. Moving around each other in the kitchen but coming together to kiss or touch often was more of the richness that we shared in our life together.

Michael and Lu joined us for breakfast. As they came into the dining room we felt their presence due to the fingers of the reconnect reaching out ahead of them. The four of us were connected in a cosmic bond that was a puzzle to us but also a blessing. The great feelings we shared due to that cosmic connection were the sanction. Our togetherness brought us peace and balance, replete with a tender softness that tempered everything we did. The counter balance that offsets the good was the fact that when we were not together the rigors of everyday life were amplified and depending on the length of our separation those rigors could become physically painful and for me sometimes debilitating.

We collided into our 4-person full-body hug. The rush of pleasure at the release of all tension, pain, and worry was welcomed before the peace and balance came to us in a warm soft calm. Our conversations were more focused and productive while calm.

Eager to debrief, Michael was the first to speak and he didn’t waste any time getting to the point.

“24 hours is a great deal of time; when and where were you that you were gone for so long Helen?”

All of their eyes were on me but I took my time in answering his question because the importance of what I’d discovered called for the proper drama.

Charlie put his hand on mine for support. Lu watched me but said nothing while she waited.

“I went much farther back in time than I’d intended. I couldn’t think of the date that I wanted right off the top of my head so my request was for the situation that I wanted to see. I’d wanted to go back to when Tut first spread his wings for me and walked to me in that strut of his. You know what I’m talking about?”

Waiting until I got a nod from each of them before I would continue, of course they understood; they’d seen that incredible move of his at least a dozen times.

Tut is my amazing Baby Blue Amazon parrot. He was over one hundred years old when I first met him the previous year. Our meeting was the highlight of a trip to London. He was the property of one Mr. Miles K. Henley. When Miles died, he left Tut to me in his will. He also left me the rest of his possessions which included more money than I know what to do with and the burden of running his businesses. From his vast estate and from all that he left me, Tut was the most prized of his possessions, Tut, King Tut, Tut for short loved me and Miles was impressed by that.

I’d forged a lasting bond with Tut from the get go. Even though he was a vulgar bird whose disposition was dreadfully nasty I fell in love with him immediately. I saw that he was smart and funny and wanted a connection to me. Our connection was due mainly to my persistence in visiting and talking to him even though he called me names and was rude to me. He eventually looked forward to my visits and developed more talents while we were together. He could play the guitar with assistance and he could sing some lyrics using just about any voice that he’d heard. He could have a ‘catch’ with me or a group of people and even though his pitches were pretty wild it was clear that he understood the game.

It was my aim to learn to communicate with Tut using his own language. The language of head bobs, body struts, and whistles and screeches. It was a need that I was sure that I could meet because I’d learned to communicate with the gardens both in the States and in London and, well, all the greenery of the world.

In order to understand Tut completely I employed ‘Red Travel’ to go into the past.

“The reason that I wanted to visit Tut on that day was because I wanted to re-observe that first day that Tut performed his walk for me, showing me his beautiful plumage. Knowing will help me figure out what’s bothering him and why he’s pulling out his feathers again; I’m just sure of it.”

Again I looked at each one of them to get the go ahead. Each nodded for me to continue.

“I saw Tut and he was magnificent. He was in an old Victorian house. I watched him open his wings to reveal the gorgeous colors of the feathers on his under-wing and keep them open while he began his strut and seductive move. I turned my attention to the recipient of that sexy bird walk and was surprised to see another parrot. The parrot seemed familiar to me though I’d never seen her before.”

“Frantic I began to look for clues as to where I was and when I was. On an old fashioned ‘roll-top’ desk I saw a newspaper and it registered to me that I’d gone much farther into the past than I’d meant to. The newspaper had a date that was more than 50 years old possibly when Tut was showing off for his mate.”

“My attention was drawn to the other parrot, also a Baby Blue Amazon. She didn’t have Tut’s beauty but there was something about her that drew me in. As Tut walked to her, I focused my attention on her to see how she received him. She made no sound but she bobbed her head and walked around in a standing circle and then repeated the head bobbing multiple times.”

“When Tut reached her, his approach was respectful as he eased himself up close to her with his wings still expanded. She stood very still at that point and allowed him to encase her in his wings.”

“For an instant I was wrapped up with the two of them and could feel Tut’s love directed to the both of us. The last thing before the lights went out I heard the thoughts of the female bird. ‘I always said that if I was a bird, I’d come looking for you, Tut’.”

“How could it be? Those were my thoughts; those were my words; that was my promise.”

The three of them just looked at me and waited for the rest of what I had to report about the travel. We’d learned not to make assumptions or jump to conclusions when it came to the experiments and research we conducted. We knew that we were observers and needed all of the pieces of a puzzle to actually put it together correctly.

“The portal took me more than 50 years into the past, before I was even born, to see Tut walk that walk. I was specific that I needed to go to the first time Tut marched to me like that. I ended up with Tut while he walked to another parrot with his feathers on display. You guys hear this, I heard the thoughts of the female bird and her thoughts were my thoughts.”

They all carried blank looks on their faces while they were trying to understand what it all meant in the big picture.

The four of us sat at the table and were wrapped in our own heads thinking about what it all meant when Tut’s loud morning screech penetrated the air all around us. Not a second passed before Charlie returned Tut’s identical screech only louder.

Michael laughed and Lu cupped her hands over her ears.

“Helen, squawk, Helen, I love you.” Tut called loudly and in Miles’ voice as he entered the dining room.

“Hey, hey, good lookin’; I’ve missed you pretty boy.”

Giving him the routine that he liked was always a good way to start the day.

Tut saw that Michael and Lu were with us but he ignored them as he focused his attention on me. With due drama Tut spread his wings and stood tall, whistled once and then began his walk to me. Each time Tut performed that maneuver I watched and gave him my complete attention to note and appreciate the effort it took.

Tut leapt onto my lap and leaned himself against me and with his head on my chest, he folded his wings around me for a genuine ‘bird hug’. I squeezed back and we were all privy to the little ‘bird-grunt’ that was his signature for our embrace.

Giving the act the honor of our silence, we all sat there in wonder of Tut and saw his effort to communicate with me. I kissed his beautiful feathered head many times and stroked my finger nails down through his feathers in an effort to show him the love I felt for him, too.

In a quiet voice that we all heard due to the silence that it penetrated, Lu spoke.

“Elena, you were Tut’s mate before you were human.”

Then she tagged the end of her sentence in mock of me.

“I’m just sure of it.”

Charlie and Michael laughed for just a second and then they were back into their own heads.

“This is going to take some time to figure out.”

Michael was trying not to get carried away with the weirdness of the situation and remain in research/science mode.

“Say that you were Tut’s mate in a previous life, what can we do with that information?”

Charlie was just as stumped as the rest of us.

“Maybe while we’re searching for a mate for Tut, I’ll be able to tell if Tut is pleased with the bird we choose.”

I could clearly see an advantage in having a connection to Tut.

“Tut’ll have to be with us for that shopping trip.” Charlie pointed out.

“Helen’s report isn’t complete.”

Looking at me Michael continued.

“You need to start from the beginning of that particular trip and give us a complete report.”

“Sure.” I said.

“I probably should have recognized that I was going too far back in time while I was in the process of reaching my destination. The portal was the same but I began to fall at an alarming rate of speed. The event was out of balance and chaotic as I plummeted downward within the portal. The turmoil and haziness were frightening but the atmosphere became crystal clear as soon as I stopped.”

It was necessary to pause and take stock. I hadn’t spoken for quite some time due to the injury to my throat and vocal cords. Not wanting to damage myself further and if there were any real strain on my voice I’d have tabled that discussion but I saw that I was fine and continued with the report.

“I was in an old Victorian house with a lot of plants. Even though I don’t remember ever being in that house, it all felt very familiar to me and when I caught sight of Tut, I felt like I was home. Tut was my connection to that place; I’m just sure of it.”

Looking at each of them to get their take on the travel there was no comment for a minute from anyone due to being in their own heads and trying to figure it out. Michael spoke first.

“We need to have the actual date in mind instead of the situation before we travel so that there isn’t that kind of misunderstanding again. Helen, you were too loose with the use of the ‘Red Travel’ and I think that we should be together when you take a trip like that from now on.”

Charlie didn’t care for the tone of Michael’s voice or for the fact that Michael was scolding me. Charlie was ever my protector; but he knew that Michael wanted the same thing that he wanted and looked at me with hope in his eyes that I’d listen to Michael even if he thought I didn’t listen to him.

Lu agreed with Michael but she had such a sweet way of putting things, it never felt like she was disappointed in me.

“Elena, we want to be with you when you are traveling in the red space. We want to help take care of you and keep you safe.”

Lu’s sweet Argentine accent was a coddle in itself and anything she said had a warm and fun feel to it; I listened with eagerness whenever she spoke.

“Thanks Lu. It wasn’t my intention to go that far back in time and Michael’s probably right that I should have had a firm date in mind instead of just asking for the incident that I was interested in. I’ll remember that for the future.”

I looked at Lu but I was speaking to all of them.

“As far as having Michael or any one of you there to travel with me when the opportunity presents itself, I’m sorry but sometimes waiting for you to be available isn’t practical so you can expect that I’ll travel red and into the past without worry if one of you are with me. Charlie will monitor and I’m comfortable with that as all of the security necessary.”

I let that statement just sit for a moment while they looked at me like I was a loose cannon that needed to be reined in and a pain in the butt at the same time. Michael rolled his eyes.

“Oh come on Michael, I can travel without you into the past. I’ve done it nearly a hundred times and I’m happy with the knowledge that we’ve gained from those separate trips taken without you. It’s the trips forward that I need help from you and will request it every time. But you guys need to know that I’m going to travel. I think I’m supposed to; I’m just sure of it.”

“Even though what happened during this last trip wasn’t expected, it was enlightening; for me it was. Miles told me that when Tut’s mate died he plucked out all of his feathers and they never grew back until I came into the picture.”

Charlie groaned; he’d prefer that I not travel out into the universe at all. Since he knew that I’d do it anyway, he was resolute in his need to keep me safe. Charlie had rigged up a couple of cameras so that he could watch over my body and protect me while I was traveling and it didn’t matter where he was. He could see me from wherever he happened to be working at any given time. His attention meant the world to me and I loved him even more for it.

Since I was going to travel whether the three of them sanctioned it or not I pushed my luck. Thinking that I should take advantage of the situation and get Michael’s assistance with ‘Red Spark’ travel while he was there, I questioned them about the length of their visit.

“How long are you guys here?”

When traveling with Michael, I had greater control due to our cosmic connection that we called ‘The Connect’. That connection is apart from Charlie and Lu but they are connected to both of us. It goes like this: Michael and I were the first to be cosmically connected and then the connection accepted Lu and after that our connection included Charlie. My need is always for Michael due to that connection and Michael’s need is for me. Lu needs both Michael and me for her connection to be complete and Charlie needs all three of us to be included in the connection.

“We have to leave tomorrow morning.” Michael informed us.

“If not this time, then maybe when we’re in your neck of the woods in a couple of weeks we could ‘travel red’ together and possibly puzzle together a little more of the ‘Tut mystery’.” I suggested.

Charlie groaned again.

Tut, having been quiet during our discussion, moved to Charlie in a couple of short hops, bobbed his head and whistled a soft kind of trill that felt like a cosset and then he butted his head into Charlie’s arm. Tut, Charlie, and I were a family and Charlie recognized that Tut was trying to comfort him and support me at the same time.

It wasn’t difficult for Tut to get the attention of everyone in the room and all of us loved him with our words and our actions. He liked to be touched and wasn’t shy about letting us know when he wanted physical attention and we were, in turn, eager to do his bidding. We had a mutual ‘love fest’ going on between the five of us.

Tut entertained us and moved from Charlie to Michael to Lu; when he was through with each conversation, he moved on.

To Lu Tut said, “Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me,” to start their conversation.

Lu had her come back ready.

“No, you kiss me.”

While Lu and Tut teased each other, I went to the kitchen to clean up the morning dishes that were still sitting on the kitchen counter. Charlie followed me into the kitchen to get the coffee pot and kissed me on the back of the neck on his return to the table. I watched him as he walked away from me; I checked out his body, his muscled back and small waist and sweet, compact butt, not a bit of the extra weight that he carried when we first met. Taking moments to appreciate Charlie was a pleasure that I indulged in regularly and I always felt a swelling of my love for him during those moments and was grateful for him.

Michael came into the kitchen looking for more food and helped himself to what was still in the skillet on the stove, just a few potatoes and a couple pieces of bacon. As he was reaching around me to get another fork he bumped me with his hip. That action caused us both to refocus and wrap our arms around each other in a need that was always surprising, overwhelming, and urgent. The rush of sexual desire that was initially present during a full body reconnect with Michael had started to piss me off but then the calm and peace set in and we gave each other perfect balance. It was a trip every time.

When we were calm again we disengaged and continued on with what we were each doing. Michael took his second helping back to the table and joined Charlie, Lu, and Tut where he enjoyed his extra food and then sat sipping coffee with the others. I collected the dishes from the table, finished the kitchen clean up, and perked another pot of coffee.

“Are we gonna have a catch today?”

Michael asked probably already knowing the answer because we were the best competition for each other and needed to keep in shape for the Olympic Games that were only a few months away.

Charlie had created a place in our large garage for a ‘Catch Arena’ using the equipment that was designed by my son Kevin which included an electronic tote/score board and swivel chairs placed strategically around an area mat. Charlie and I had incorporated a ‘Catch’ into all of our evenings usually just after we did our walk-through and lock-up. We kept the routine for discipline and the regular practice we needed to keep our game sharp.

Coming back to join the group at the table I saw the fatigue in Charlie’s eyes. That sweet man had been up all night in worry of me. Placing my hands on his shoulders, I rubbed his neck muscles and worked to massage away his tension. The feel of him under my hands was nearly electric; the man turned me on with a touch. I sat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear.

“Any chance we could go back to bed for a little more sleep and a whole lot more lovin’?”

Charlie responded by pulling me in tighter to him and kissing me on the neck. He looked at Michael and Lu and spoke his few words.

“We need rest; you probably do, too.”

Then Charlie picked me up and took me to our room where we stripped and crawled into bed. After making love, I napped for an hour and a half and then could no longer be in bed. I unwrapped myself from Charlie’s sleeping arms and headed for another shower.

Being a creature of routine and habit I quickly dispatched with the chores for the day and then went into the office to work on a design that I’d started a few days before. I had a deadline and wanted to get the project off my plate so that I could concentrate on my guests and not work.

Michael poked his head into the office while I was putting the final touches on a design for a ‘signature suit’ for one of my brother-in-law’s friends. The man liked the suits that I’d designed for Sam, my brother-in-law, and requested that I create a design just for him.

His name was Roscoe; I only met him the one time when I was measuring him and taking photos. He refused to dance with me at first because he said that he’d never learned and didn’t want to embarrass himself. When the music began, he had no course but to dance with me as I presented myself to him in dance stance. After he joined me in the dance-hold he had no trouble moving about the room to the tune that was playing. I used the time to multitask – dance and observe how his body moved as I always found the knowledge helpful while designing a ‘signature suit’.

Michael wanted a private conversation with me regarding the ‘red travel’ and the length of time that it took from me afterwards.

“Hey Baby.”

Michael started the conversation with an endearment.

“Michael.” I said.

“Lu still sleeping?”

“Yeah, how about Charlie?” He asked.

“Yeah, I’m the only one who got any sleep around here. I’m surprised you’re awake.”

Michael came to the desk to see what I was working on and to get a full-body reconnect from me. I stood to receive his embrace and we wrapped our arms around each other and accepted the goodness that our connection brought. We both moaned our acceptance and once again were surprised at the strength of the rush of need and desire that our touch brought us and then the welcomed calm and balance and in general just feeling good.

“Let’s talk about the travel. We need to have the date ready and a chance to discuss it and look for any issues – to be forewarned and all that.” Michael said.

“This particular trip has given me a little insight and I need time to figure it out. We can have that discussion when we’re in London unless you’ve something to tell me right now.”

Michael looked at me for a moment without saying a word, took a couple of breaths and then launched into the real reason he was still awake.

“Baby.”

He started off calling me that sweet endearment again.

“Sometimes it feels like you have us by the short hairs. Needing you, we have no choice but to respond every time you’re in trouble and it seems you’re in trouble a lot.”

“Well Michael,” I responded.

“I appreciate you being there for me. Do I not reciprocate and am I not there for you in return?”

He didn’t have a ready comeback so I continued.

“I was not ‘in trouble’ as you put it, at least not this trip. I’m sorry if you guys thought that I was ‘in trouble’ and came running…and God that’s incredibly loving and means so much to me but I, in fact, was just fine. Baby the trip just took a long time, that’s all.”

At the time I was thinking that Michael and Lu were feeling the strain of our connection but that wouldn’t change if I stopped traveling red. Even though I had some trepidation regarding their worry about me, I knew that I’d still travel even without their sanctioning it.

“Helen…” Michael said shaking his head.

“Michael, the fact that you and Lu responded to Charlie’s call for help showed Charlie that his needs and worries are valid. For you guys to give him that kind of support means the world to me. Thank you. Do you want me to talk to Lu?”

Again Michael just shook his head as though I were being unreasonable.

“Baby,” my turn to use the endearment.

“Charlie isn’t finished with what he has to say about this trip and the time that it took from me and I’m all for getting our worries out on the table. Just like you and Lu, Charlie has to know that I’m all in this and plan to do more exploring. Just the fact that we can travel calls for me to do it.” I tried to explain.

Done with that particular conversation, I took Michael’s hand and pulled him along with me to the kitchen.

“Charlie’s going to be hungry when he wakes up. Let’s go get dinner going.” I suggested.

We tabled the talk about red travel and took care of fixing dinner. Michael and I were a good team in the kitchen and had the house smelling wonderful from the mushrooms and garlic that simmered in the sauté pan.

Michael went to the garden to gather the produce for the meal and then fixed the salad. The new potatoes were par-boiled and waiting for further treatment and the asparagus waited for its attention while we went to see about our mates.

Charlie was just waking up and reached for me as soon as he saw me. I slipped out of my clothes and curled in next to him. We coupled and expressed our love in a number of ways. Charlie was really good at loving me and I gave to him in equal measure.

“What you got cookin’ that smells so good?” Charlie whispered in my ear.

“Something you’ll like, I’m just sure of it.” I responded.

After Michael and I roused Lu and Charlie, the four of us met in the kitchen to finish fixing dinner. Charlie and Lu jumped right in with what needed doing. Michael grilled the steaks and I finished up the treatment for the asparagus and the potatoes. Michael requested that we also make corn bread. It was a really good meal and the time spent at the dining table was comfortable and fun.

We talked about the coming trip to London and the fact that Denice and Sam, my sister and her husband, as well as Amanda and Rick, Charlie’s sister and her husband would be there for most of the week. Michael let us know that he would be at the welcoming dinner.

The dinner that Michael spoke of was hosted by Wyatt and Millie. Wyatt is my English barrister, and Millie is the manager of the ‘Three Women’ London office. The dinner was held at ‘The Miles’. ‘The Miles’ is the grand residence that housed the London office of ‘Three Women’ and was part of the inheritance I received from Mr. Miles K. Henley, deceased, previous owner of Tut.

At the mention of my sister’s name Michael’s ears perked up; he likes my sister as everyone does. What’s not to like? She’s one hundred percent gracious in everything she does even when she’s being a gorgeous clown. She’s striking to look at, completely put together, beautiful and acutely astute. She’s not only my sister and business partner; she’s my very best girl friend and female confidante. Even though our roles have changed in each other’s lives, due to our ‘best friend’ husbands, we have an understanding of and are card carrying members of the sisterhood of women and will always make ourselves available for the other when called upon. She is a co-founder of ‘Three Women’ a house of design. Amanda joined the team to make it a threesome; my sister, Amanda, and me. We could boast two offices, one in San Francisco – the home office and the other in London within ‘The Miles’.

Without warning I changed the topic to get to what I wanted to discuss.

“Since the last time the two of you were here I’ve been thinking about travel and how it could relate to Charlie and Lu, now that we know they can see the particles. I’d like to schedule a time when we can teach them to travel – first just a short trip with one of us monitoring at all times. Then after that’s been mastered maybe we can talk about multiple riders on a red travel adventure.”

I sat back and watched the response from each of them. Lu carried a worried look and Michael was shaking his head in the affirmative whereas Charlie put his head down and had nothing to say.

Looking at Michael, I continued.

“Another question is whether or not our power to ascend would be any greater or if we would have any more control with the addition of another connected person along.”

The three of them just sat there with looks of frustration probably because of me and my incessant need to push the limits; I really was trying to be tactful and say things without scaring them any further.

“Why don’t you guys just think about that and we’ll talk more about it on the way to the airport in the morning?”

I stood up and said, “Time to clear.”

We made short work of the dishes and kitchen clean up before we went to the ‘Catch Room’ for a challenging ‘Group Catch’. Our ‘Catch Room’ was something for Charlie to be proud of. He created a bleacher seat section with luxury cushioned seats; he also made the prototype of the ‘Tote/Score Board’ that my son Kevin designed to impart to the audience the step by step status of each catch.

Charlie programmed the board to call the players to the chairs; he liked to use playful names for each of us. That night Charlie and I were the Twiddles, Dee and Dumb, Michael and Lu were the good eggs, Humpty and Dumpty.

Lu of the Humpty Dumpty team began the catch with the initial honors for the Queen of the Catch.

“To our Elena queen mama excellence may she rein until I wear the crown.”

Smart girl, she put both Michael and Charlie a bit off balance while they laughed at her. She was cute and funny and knew what she was doing.

“Twiddle Dumb.”

She called and then she sent the object in Charlie’s direction wobbling all over the place.

Her pitch added to her distraction but Charlie was up to the match and caught and returned the object with some fun speed that looked really nice but wasn’t that difficult to catch. Always Charlie carried the proper attitude of the catch and practically willed the catcher to catch his pitch, no matter how fast or challenging.

“Dumpty.”

Lu called and sent the object to Michael in a girly side arm which turned out to be another distraction. Michael bobbled the pitch off the end of his fingers. Both Charlie and I dove for the missed pitch. Charlie got there first and knocked the object into the air where I intercepted it.

“Dumpty.”

I called and sent Michael a respectably fast curve which he was again unable to control but when he bobbled it, no one could save him.

Michael sat in the bleacher seats and watched as the ‘Tote Board’ announced the change with Dumpty’s elimination and showed a short cartoon with Michael throwing up his arms and sitting down but falling on his butt instead. It’s funnier than it sounds.

After a pretty lengthy volley Humpty was the next elimination and left Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb to battle it out in the final catch that reveals the ‘The Last Player Standing’.

There really wasn’t much of a battle between me and Charlie; he was eliminated even before we had established a complete catch. He’d watched me during the catch and couldn’t concentrate on anything other than me. He wanted to end the evening and be alone in our bedroom.

All eyes went to the ‘Tote board’ to see the praise for the ‘last man standing’ and to join in the accolades for the ‘greater player’.

“For the catch we thank you for your tutelage and for the opportunity to learn from you. We honor your vast abilities and will work in the future to emulate your attitude and style. Thank you, oh Queen of the Catch.”

The three of them had taken to cutting the praise phase of the catch short because they didn’t feel like they needed practice praising the Queen of the Catch, me.

We said our good nights and then Charlie and I did the walk-trough and lock up. It was a process that I started years before so that I’d not forget anything and I’d be able to go to bed with a clean house and everything tucked where it was supposed to be. When Charlie and I hooked up, I was delighted to find that Charlie was a meticulous person like me and liked to end the day knowing that everything was taken care of.

As we held hands and performed the ‘walk-through’ it was easy to see that Charlie had something that he was wrestling with but I waited for him to bring it out in the open between us in his own time.

While I was in the bathroom handling my nighttime maintenance Charlie was answering his emails and then while Charlie handled his nightly bathroom routine I answered my emails. There was usually an email from Wyatt about ‘The New Holdings’ the inherited companies that we tried to manage from different countries. We stayed on top of things via electronic mail but we were both eager for our impending visit.

Charlie exited the bathroom and I shut down the computer. Our coupling that night was quiet and tender. I watched as Charlie kissed my breasts and ran his fingers over my nipples before he suckled on each of them. Charlie started to say something.

“Woman, the travel…” his voice trailed off and then he said nothing.

With my fingers already in his hair, I wrapped them around a thick wad of his locks and pulled his face to mine. We kissed a deep and lovely kiss. When we parted I asked him a question.

“Lover, why don’t you just come out and say what’s on your mind? I love you, please talk to me.”

Charlie kissed me again, another deep and satisfying kiss.

“You might not want me after the travel.” He said flatly.

“Are you guarding yourself from me Charlie?”

I was thinking that maybe he was uncomfortable with us becoming one on a spiritual level – maybe worried because he didn’t want me to know about stuff he wasn’t proud of. I really had no idea and needed more information from him.

“No,” another flat answer from Charlie.

Charlie positioned himself right on top of me with his arms behind my shoulders and his hands cradling my head.

With our eyes level and looking directly into each other Charlie gave me a squeeze and then made another short statement regarding his trepidation with the ‘out of body travel’.

“After a spiritual connection you may not want me like this.”

Charlie moved into me to show me what he was talking about.

“Lover, just think for a minute. After every adventure with this travel, I come back wanting you in the extreme. I not only want you to touch me, I need you to touch me. Have you forgotten what a handful I am with how much I need you?”

“It could change with both of us traveling.”

Charlie knew that we really didn’t know what would happen and he didn’t want to jeopardize what we had.

“Yes, change is inevitable but we can work at keeping what we like and we like this.”

I said as I ran my fingers over his shoulders and down his back to his backside and finally, my hands on his butt cheeks I drew him to me.

“Trust me Lover.”

I whispered in Charlie’s ear.

“I see only good things for us.”

We made love again and Charlie fell asleep with a smile on his sweet face.

Remembering the promise that I’d made to the garden that morning, I went out into the crystal clear night air to witness a sky full of stars and was inspired to sing that promised song.

‘Stars shining bright above you, night breezes seem to whisper, I love you.

Birds singing in the sycamore tree, Dream a little dream of me”.

Say “nighty-night” and kiss me. Just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me.

While I’m alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me.

Stars fading, but I linger on, dear.

Still craving your kiss, I’m longing to linger till dawn, dear.

Just saying this: Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you.

Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you.

But in your dreams whatever they be, dream a little dream of me.’

It was good to have my voice back and to share it with the garden. They loved the sound of humans in song. I said my good night and went back to bed and into Charlie’s arms as he automatically reached for me when I crawled in next to him.

Sleep kept its distance as I started to think about being out in the universe on a current with Charlie. Never even having tried to reach anyone other than Michael I wondered if I’d be able to recognize Charlie’s scent in the Universe.

‘A small experiment while everyone slept would be ok’. I thought as I focused my attention on Ricky, the ring on my right pinkie finger. She was issuing an invitation. ‘How fortuitous?’ I thought. I gave credence to my travel with the very thought that everything was pointing to the fact that I should take that opportunity and RSVP to Ricky’s invitation in person.

With Charlie spooned in behind me and his arm holding me tight into him, I jumped Ricky’s particles and went for an experimental ride into the universe in search of a current for Charlie and I to share. The connect surprised me again and offered me no struggle in finding Charlie’s essence. With the very idea of looking for Charlie I was able to find and then join our currents. Those currents took me to Charlie in the physical.

Having pioneered that travel to meet Michael I knew exactly what to do. With command my middle name, I took that current in and around Charlie and wrapped him in a cocoon of love and peace and then took the current into Charlie and around his heart and lungs and completely through his respiratory system. Before the darkness took me I gave every bit of my energy to that universal hug.

When my internal alarm woke me my eyes opened to Charlie looking back at me. Seeing his smile was a wonderful way to start the day.

“Were you playing around on the inside of me last night Woman?”

Charlie asked a straight forward question.

“Yes.”

I gave him a straight forward answer.

“More,” Charlie demanded playfully.

“I went looking for you, for your current in the universe and it was as easy as thinking about it to find you and being with you was really good.”

Charlie continued to look at me with a look that said that he expected more from me.

“How do you feel, Lover?”

I asked him a straight forward question.

He smiled bigger.

“Good, really good.”

“Yes, you do.”

I said as I strattled my leg over him and collected his morning woody into me.

His high pitched moan upon our joining always heightened my pleasure at our coupling. He was happy and enjoyed the attention we gave our physical relationship. We always greeted the day and paid tribute by making love. We both expected it and wouldn’t miss it. We had a mutual craving for each other and that worked for us.

Before we went to the garden and would be unable to be alone for awhile, I took advantage and started the conversation.

“While we’re in London, would you rather stay at Michael and Lu’s place or at ‘The Miles’ or in the servant quarters?”

“Miles’ quarters; you need to handle his things, remember?” Charlie said.

“Plus it was nice being there away from the hub-bub.”

I caught Charlie smiling to himself.

“You gonna let me in on it?” I asked.

“Just thinking about you finding me last night; I like the thought.”

Charlie grinned and reached across the table to make contact with me.

We both felt the reconnect at that touch and I was on his lap in a heartbeat with my arms around his neck.

Pulling me even tighter to him Charlie whispered into my neck. “I love you Woman, more every minute.”

On the way to the airport, Michael started the discussion.

“Lu and I talked and think that we should take baby steps while teaching Lu and Charlie to travel.”

Both Charlie and I agreed.

When Charlie made eye contact with me he said, “We’re in for another adventure.” Looking at me but speaking to all of us.

“When we see you next I’ll have mapped out a training schedule for our connected newbie’s. If you want, I’ll email it to you before we get there so that you can have time to think about any changes that you see may be necessary.” I said to Michael.

“Lu and I had a laughing fit last night talking about the interesting things we could do as a group and what we could do to better the world like stop crime before it happens and find missing people, solve old murder cases. Lu saw us as a team of super heroes and we’ve been coming up with names ever since. Lu came up with ‘The Truth Crusaders’ and ‘The Hind Sights’.”

Thinking of it, Michael started laughing all over again and we laughed right along with him.

Charlie joined the naming game with, “The Pleasure Seekers.”

I added, “The Answer Finders.”

Lu said, “The Know-It-Alls.”

“Helen, is there a chance that you could design us a ‘Super Hero’ team costume?” Michael said while laughing.

I truly wished I hadn’t heard him say that because pictures of ideas started to jump into my head of the four of us in look-a-like caped outfits one second and then in another second, I saw us in the alter-ego costumes of average adult humans but all of them with some look-a-like identifying feature. I pushed the ideas away but would bring them out and play with them when alone for the fun of it.

“Do you guys know about Ollie and Mattie’s engagement?” Charlie asked Michael and Lu.

“Ollie and Mattie are getting married?” Lu clarified and asked at the same time.

“When?”

“No date yet; maybe after the Olympics.” Charlie gave what he knew in as few words as possible.

“Ohhh,” Lucy groaned. “No more talk of the Olympics, until we see you in our home. Agreed?”

We all agreed.

Our good bye at the airport was an effort for each of us; separating didn’t feel good and hugging each other did. We hugged up over and over again until they boarded the plane and were on their way home to London.

Charlie and I stayed close on our walk from the airport to the truck; we were comforting and being comforted.

“Teach me tonight.” Charlie requested.

All the way home I sat snuggled into him feeling something new growing between us, a deepening need to be even closer. His hand on my inner thigh I had to quiet a passion that was nearly impossible to stall. After some very deep breaths, Charlie put his arm around me. The move enabled me to get closer and before I knew it I was biting him on the chest.

“Woman.” Charlie moaned.

“Please, let me get us home.”

I took more deep breaths and apologized to Charlie for my lack of control.

“Lover, am I right in thinking that you want me to teach you to travel on the currents tonight?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Charlie was positive.

I’d wanted to be with Charlie for that out-of-body experience; to couple with him on a spiritual level for some time and knew better than to get my hopes up too high but just thinking about it made me a bit giddy at the prospect that it would happen soon.

Crossing the ‘Golden Gate Bridge’ Charlie pulled me into him in recognition of what the bridge meant to us. I felt him kiss the top of my head. After that I closed my eyes and leaned on him feeling his breathing and the rise and fall of his chest all the way home.

Back at the house and since Tut was taking his morning nap, we weren’t waiting for the evening as both of us walked straight through the house, kicked off our shoes, and crawled into the middle of the bed. We propped up the pillows and positioned ourselves huddled up so that both of us could see Ricky, the ring on my right pinkie finger.

“When I taught Michael how to travel, he used ‘Hellie’ as the catalyst that carried the particles and the invitation. We’re lucky that we are here together and can both use Ricky.”

I looked at Charlie’s face which was serious beyond serious. We kissed.

“Lover, the first thing is to completely relax, breathe deeply a couple of times and then allow Ricky to take you. Watch her particles and inhale deeply the scents within those particles. When you feel the softness and I squeeze your hand mentally jump with me into the middle of Ricky’s particles.”

Charlie smiled at me and kissed me again.

“I’m ready.”

We snuggled in close and kissed a couple more times before Ricky presented her invitation in the form of cheery particles. I looked to see that Charlie also saw them. Ricky’s particles seemed exceptionally active and bright, kind of sparkly like they were dancing in shafts of sunlight. When the softness enveloped us, I squeezed Charlie’s hand and said, “Now,” and jumped. Letting go of all things physical I drifted at first to allow Ricky to guide me to a current.

Charlie was with me and it felt as natural as breathing to have him there. We were infused into a current of Ricky’s choosing but once there, I knew what to do and made symbiotic commands of the current to surround us and to combine and wrap us into each other. We blended into one being, completely inside of each other. The comfort of being whole and united soothed our very souls. Going from one halfs to a complete whole was a satisfying and sensual union, a union that seared our love into one glorious spiritual being.

An hour later we were waking and in need of each other physically. Our lovemaking was tender and comforting at first and then it took on an entirely different direction and became more primal and involved some intense hair pulling and more biting. Our climaxes were surprising and had us clinging to each other.

Later as we were cradled in each other’s arms and still breathing hard I could actually feel the happiness radiate into me from Charlie. He whispered in my ear.

“Thank you. This is the best I’ve ever felt in my life. I love you more every minute.”

“Yeah, I feel good too, Lover.”

Every few days Charlie and I repeated that experience to take our love out into the universe, to wrap up as one, to unite our spirits, and love each other on that higher plane.