by Jeane Watier
“I’ll tell you what.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I would love to go on a cruise with you. Why don’t we get together with Gail and her…?” He stopped mid-sentence and inquired, “Is it her husband?”
“No, they’ve been living together for over a year now, though. His name is Rob.”
“Let’s get together with them and talk about it,” he suggested. “Maybe we could go for a drink one evening this week.”
“That sounds good. I’ll call Gail later. We could go to this great bar I know,” Rachael winked at Brian. “It has the most wonderful atmosphere, and the bartender there is absolutely dreamy. I could sit and look at him all day.”
Brian grabbed her waist and started to tickle her. Rachael screamed and tried to wiggle free. The dogs got involved then, too. Cassie had been lying on the floor beside the bed, and Duke came running in from another room. He jumped up on the bed, attempting to join in on the fun.
“Duke, get down,” Brian ordered.
“I think the ‘kids’ just want some attention,” Rachael noted, catching her breath. “Do you take them to the park on Sundays too?”
“Not always. Sometimes I just walk them around the neighborhood or take them to my mom and dad’s. Do you have any plans for today?”
Rachael looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was almost noon. She remembered Gail’s comment about staying in bed Sunday mornings. “Well, I’ve been wanting to shop for some furniture for my place,” she told him. “I’ve had the money set aside for a while now, but I didn’t know what to buy. My friend Jenna has been helping me to create a new look. She’s great at decorating. I saw a bed frame in a flyer that came this week. It looks just like the one I want. I was hoping to look at dining tables too.”
“If you need help with that, I’m free. Phil’s working out really well. I don’t need to check up on him anymore.”
“Sure, if you don’t mind.” Rachael loved the idea of spending the day together. “If I find anything I like, I can always have it delivered; I don’t think there’d be room in your vehicle.”
“Probably not, but my dad has a truck. Why don’t I swing by their place? I’ll drop off the dogs; Dad likes to take them for a walk. I can pick up the truck, and then we could meet at your place?”
Rachael got up and removed the towel from around her head. “That sounds great.” She flipped her hair back and was about to ask Brian if he had a blow dryer, when he came over and ran his fingers through her hair.
“Your hair’s beautiful,” Brian observed. “I never noticed the curl before.”
“I usually blow dry it, or it gets a little unruly.”
“I like unruly,” he grinned as he continued to play with her hair. “But I have a hair dryer in the bathroom if you want to use it.”
Rachael dried her hair and then changed into her clothes while Brian showered. He came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. She stared, transfixed, at his near-naked body, still glistening with water droplets running down his chest and arms. She continued to watch as he dried himself off with a second towel.
He didn’t turn away, so she was about to offer him some privacy when he said, “By the way, I went on-line to find out more about the movie we saw the other night.” Tossing both towels on the floor, he started to get dressed. “I was able to order copies on DVD. It’s definitely one I want to own.”
Rachael had no choice but to stand there and watch him dress. He seemed totally at ease being naked in front of her. She wasn’t sure she’d be that comfortable. Not yet, anyway. It wasn’t the same as being naked under the covers.
Realizing that he was waiting for a response from her, she shook her head. “Maybe you shouldn’t talk to me when you’re naked,” she laughed, but she could feel herself blushing. “I can’t seem to concentrate on anything you’re saying.”
He finished putting on his jeans. “Sorry, that comes from all those years spent in locker rooms when I was competing.” He pulled a shirt over his head and then walked over to where she was standing. “There, is that better?”
“Actually,” she slipped her arms around him, “I really liked the first look. I just need to get used to it. Now, what were you saying about the movie?”
“I ordered two copies. They should be here in a week or so.”
“That’s great. I can’t wait to see it again.”
They got ready to leave, and Rachael drove her car back to her place. It was a cool, overcast day. There were even a few flurries in the air, but it may as well have been a sunny summer day for all Rachael noticed. Her thoughts were of Brian and the wonderfully satisfying relationship that was unfolding. She plugged in a CD, and listened to the uplifting words of her favorite speaker.
Nothing is more exhilarating than to dance through life, recognizing that the Universe is there to yield to you whatever you want whenever you want it.16
Life is exhilarating, she agreed wholeheartedly. At home, she changed her clothes and brushed her teeth. She made a mental note to pack a small overnight bag, the next time she slept over. Next time. Rachael liked the sound of the words. She and Brian had already established a precedent, and now weekends to come would most likely be spent together.
With a few minutes to herself, she sat down and closed her eyes. She drew in a cleansing breath and felt the comforting presence of her Inner Being. Nothing could ever replace the heartening feeling of connection to her true self. No relationship, as wonderful as it was, could surpass her relationship with her Divine Source.
Brian arrived with his dad’s truck. It was an older half-ton, in immaculate condition. As Rachael climbed in, she moved over to sit next to him.
“You know, bucket seats are comfortable, but there is something to be said about bench seats.” Brian slipped his arm around Rachael as she snuggled up to him. “People don’t know what they’re missing.”
In the furniture store, they found the bed frame that Rachael had seen in the flyer. It was an antique-looking iron frame with an intricate design, and the store had one left in the vanilla marble finish she liked. It was exactly what she wanted for her bedroom.
That done, they looked around the showroom at tables, but she wasn’t as clear about what kind she wanted. “I’m not exactly sure what my table looks like,” Rachael informed Brian, “but I know how it’ll feel when I see it.” They walked around the expansive section of dining tables, and nothing caught her attention. The tables were mostly large and formal, and the chairs had high backs with wide, upholstered seats. Different colors, different patterns, but all of them had the same feel. She was just about to tell the sales clerk that she would only take the bed frame, when he mentioned that there was a small clearance section upstairs.
As they reached the top of the stairs, Rachael noticed a smaller table and four chairs. It was round with a beautifully carved pedestal. The chairs were smaller than the mammoth ones they’d seen downstairs and delicately carved as well. The solid wood was stained a dark mahogany. It was similar to the woodwork in her house. “This is it.” Rachael ran her hand over the smooth surface. As she did, she noticed a couple of deep scratches on the tabletop.
“I guess it’s up here because it’s damaged,” Brian observed. “Too bad. It’s a really nice table.”
“That’s okay,” Rachael insisted. “This one feels right. I’ll take it. Maybe I can get the top refinished.” She hadn’t even looked at the price tag, but when she did, she noticed it was marked down to half the original price.
“Dad does some woodworking, now that he’s retired. Why don’t I see if he’ll have a look at it?”
“That would be great.” Rachael wasn’t even surprised at how things were working out. She knew when she saw the table that it was perfect. She could always trust her feelings to guide her.
As they drove back to her house, she pictured how the new things would look in her place. It was exciting to pull everything together and have a more finished look. “Thanks for your help.” She leaned
against Brian’s shoulder. “That went really quick.”
“You know, I learn things every time I’m with you. You’ve shown me new ways to eat and to meditate and now, to shop. I love the way you let your feelings guide you.”
“We all have an emotional guidance system,” she replied. “It’s just that we’ve been taught to disregard it—guys especially.”
Brian was quiet for a moment. “I know what you mean,” he said finally. “After Steve died, I couldn’t cry. It hurt like hell, and I felt like a zombie. My mom and my sisters cried for weeks. My dad even cried. I felt like I had to be strong for them. “I think that’s why I had to leave. It was tearing me apart, and I couldn’t release any emotions. They were all bottled up inside me. It wasn’t until I saw Steve in a dream that I finally cried.”
Rachael held Brian’s hand and caressed it as he shared the memories with her.
“That dream changed me in so many ways,” he continued. “Steve helped me to feel again, and now he’s led me to you.” Brian stopped the truck in front of Rachael’s house, then turned and caressed her cheek. “And being with you feels so right.”
At Rachael’s house, Brian brought in the boxes containing the bed frame. He carried them into the bedroom and set them down. Eager to have her bed assembled, Rachael began opening the largest box.
“I threw some tools in the truck,” Brian said. “I wasn’t sure what you’d have.”
“All I have is a hammer and a couple of screwdrivers.” She examined the package she found in the first box. “But it looks like we’ll need wrenches for these.”
“I’ve got some,” he responded, looking at the bolts. “I’ll be right back.”
Brian had the frames attached in no time, and they pushed the bed back into place. Rachael went to her closet and took out a new comforter, bed skirt and pillow shams she’d purchased. They were similar to the ones she’d seen in the magazine. She put them in place and then stood back to look at the result. It was perfect. It looked even better than the picture. Brian came up behind her, enveloping her with his arms. “Looks nice,” he observed. “You’ve got good taste.”
“Thanks,” she replied, pleased with her choices. “It’s missing something, though.” Rachael smiled suggestively as she took him by the hand and led him to her new bed. Lying down, she drew her lover into her embrace.
Chapter 26
Jenna hummed to herself as she sat at her desk. Her boss had complimented her again on a job well done. It felt good to be appreciated, but her happiness wasn’t a result of that. She’d made the decision to feel better, and now things around her were starting to change.
Rachael stopped by at lunchtime. “Are you coming down to the lunchroom?”
“Sure.” Jenna could hardly believe it was noon already. The morning had flown by. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She had some questions for Rachael. In the past, she wouldn’t have wanted to ask them if Gail was there, but now she was beginning to get to know Gail and feel comfortable around her too.
Rachael and Gail were already at a table when Jenna arrived. She’d brought her lunch, so she went right over and joined them. They were talking about Rachael’s weekend. Things seemed to be going really well with the guy she’d met. She seemed even happier than usual.
“How was your weekend?” Rachael asked Jenna.
She told them about her evening out with Geoff and described how he’d gone to such lengths to make it special. “I’d like your advice,” she said to Rachael. “I realized something as Geoff and I were talking. I was telling him about helping you decorate and about this woman I met on the train, and all of a sudden I heard myself saying that I wanted to become an interior decorator.”
“Is that something you’ve thought about before?” Rachael inquired.
“I’ve always liked decorating, but I’ve never thought about doing it for a living. When I first said it, it felt really good, even possible. Geoff and I were both talking about our dreams, and we probably got a bit carried away—it’s something we’ve never done before. But the next day as I thought about it again, all I could think of was how unrealistic it was. Geoff was really supportive, but if it were to happen, it would be so far in the future.” Jenna shook her head. “And it may never happen at all, so I don’t want to get my hopes up. I almost wish I’d never even mentioned it because now it just feels like something I want but can’t have. I’d like to feel better, but I don’t know—should I keep thinking about it or should I just let it go.”
“You’ve launched a rocket of desire,” Rachael smiled. “I like that term. I like to imagine a desire blasting out of me—out into the ethers where the Universe takes it and begins to set up the circumstances and events that will bring it about. It’s something we do both consciously and unconsciously,” she said and then added, “I suspect the desire’s been there within you, growing, but you just weren’t aware of it until now.”
“It seems like it would be easier not to think about it than to try to find a way to feel good about it, but I can’t seem to let it go.”
“That’s the thing about desires. Once you become aware of them, you really have no choice but to line up with them or be miserable. This sounds like a big one, too,” Rachael noted. “There’s a lot involved.”
“I know,” Jenna agreed. “It would change my whole life.”
“When you think about decorating as a career, what do you feel?” Rachael asked. She quickly added, “Take the ‘when’ and ‘how’ out of the equation. Just think about the desire itself.”
Jenna knew in an instant; she didn’t hesitate. “It feels good. It feels exciting.”
“Then your work,” Rachael smiled, “is to keep focusing on it—just like that.”
“Take the when and how out of the equation. I like that,” Gail exclaimed. Then turning to Jenna, she remarked, “When I hear you talk about decorating, something inside you lights up. You already know so much about it. You could take some courses, but I think the best decorators aren’t necessarily the ones who have all that book knowledge; it’s something they’re born with. It’s instinctive. You have that.”
“Thank you.” Jenna was deeply touched at hearing Gail say those kind words.
“Remember, your job is to feel good. Leave the rest to the Universe,” Rachel encouraged. “You mentioned that Geoff was supportive of the idea. That must feel good.”
“Yeah, it does,” Jenna nodded, aware of the shift in her vibration. Suddenly she felt hopeful about the possibilities. “And Geoff’s partner has been telling him about creating his own reality. It sounds like what you’ve been telling me.”
“Is Geoff open to it?” Gail asked.
“Yes, he totally is. He wants to learn more.”
“That’s great!” Rachael cheered. “Speaking of that, Brian and I went to see a movie about the Law of Attraction. It’s really good. I was wondering if you’d like to go. It’s showing tomorrow night.”
“I’d love to,” Jenna replied.
“Does that work for you?” Rachael looked at Gail.
“Sure. Why don’t you both come to my place for dinner first? Rob’s out of town this week, so I have no one to cook for.”
“I’d really like that.” Jenna wanted to check with Geoff first, but she was excited about the idea of going out with Rachael and Gail. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked forward to a fun evening out with friends. It felt like a new chapter of her life was just beginning.
~
Geoff flipped through his day timer. Instead of meetings and deadlines, there were blank spaces. They’d cleaned the slate of all other potential products to focus exclusively on their big venture. As he turned pages he noticed he had penciled in the Christmas party that Jim was planning. He threw a big one every year, but this year, it was supposed to be a celebration of their success. Geoff wondered if it was still on. He wasn’t sure whether they would go even if it was. He knew how Jenna felt about Jim. She’d seen him hitting on a woman at the
party last year when his wife was in the next room. Jim’s marriage hadn’t been good for many years, he’d even had an affair, but now Jim claimed his marriage was back on track, all because of the new stuff he was learning.
As Geoff thought about their deal again, he felt some disappointment begin to surface. Then he remembered Jim’s admonition: “Think about it the way you want it to be.” When Geoff had imagined it the other night, it had felt so real. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the images again. He could see Arthur Jenkins in his mind and feel his firm handshake. He could see the smile on his face. They raised their glasses and made a toast to the newly signed deal. Several others patted him on the shoulder and congratulated him. He felt a rush of adrenaline.
When he opened his eyes, Geoff was elated. The experience had been powerful just as before. Thinking about it had evoked emotions that felt real. He could still feel the adrenaline pulsing through his body. There was something to it. To his logical mind, it made no sense, but something inside was pulling him. He couldn’t wait to learn more.
~
Jenna walked with Rachael and Gail toward the theatre. They’d just enjoyed a delicious dinner at Gail’s. She was an excellent cook, serving them red snapper with a delicious orange-ginger sauce, green beans with slivered almonds, as well as baked spaghetti squash. Jenna had never had squash prepared like that before. She definitely wanted to get Gail’s recipe.
They’d laughed a lot, too. Jenna smiled as she recalled the silly things they’d talked about. It was good to laugh. She felt more alive than ever before. Now she was looking forward to seeing the movie Rachael spoke so highly of. They had a few minutes to find their seats before the movie started. When they were seated, Gail leaned over to Rachael. “The theatre’s almost full. Hasn’t this movie been showing here awhile already?”
