by K C West
I took a swallow of tea. “Yeah, I did it one day when we were in Newport. I don’t think I’m cut out to be a poet, though.”
“But you do think you’re cut out to be an archaeologist?” Susanna’s tone was gentle, yet firm.
“Yes, I hope so. I want it to be my profession. I hope to make contributions in this field because it’s very important to me. I don’t want to be known as Frederick Curtis’s daughter for the rest of my life.”
Susanna studied her tea before taking a sip. “I’d like to ask Kim to join us, if you’ll allow it.”
*
When Kim came into the tent with Pup, I was shocked. I had never seen her so pale and her eyes so full of pain. It made my heart ache. “I’m so sorry.” I hugged her close and cried again, dampening her shirt collar. “It’ll be okay, really it will.”
“I think…” Her voice cracked. “I’m supposed to be saying that to you.”
“Here.” Susanna sighed, took a tissue and passed the box to us. “I sure wish I had stock in one of these companies. With the amount of tissues I dole out in my profession, I could be a wealthy woman.”
That bit of humor broke the tension. I left Kim just long enough to fix her a cup of tea. We sat side by side on the mattress watching Susanna, who had moved to the table.
“Relax, this isn’t the Inquisition. I wanted to talk to both of you as part of my usual counseling with couples, but the trip came up, and off you flew.”
“That’s often the way our life goes,” Kim said.
“So I hear from PJ’s father.”
“Susanna, there’s something I’ve been wondering about. Is your trip purely recreational, or were you concerned about my health?”
Her expression softened. “I must admit that I was wondering how you were managing, but no, it’s mostly vacation and a little curiosity about this amazing discovery your father keeps talking about.”
We chatted a bit about the underground passage and what it might become, but using generalities. It was Sandy’s project, after all, and we weren’t at liberty to reveal any secrets. Susanna seemed to realize this and did not press us for details. Instead, she spoke to Kim.
“PJ tells me you have joined her in doing some of the yoga asanas. I’d like to give you a book that has several partner exercises. You may find them useful.”
Kim glanced sideways at me and took the book from Susanna. “Thanks, we’ll try some, even though I’m not really into that sort of thing.”
“You just might find them beneficial. Also, I’ll be happy to counsel you individually or together while I’m here.” She stood up. “For now, though, I’m going to leave you with a prescription.”
“But - “
“I promise you’ll like this, PJ. Both of you are to take the afternoon off and get some rest. I’ll tell Sandy that it’s doctor’s orders.”
We thanked her and watched her walk through the tent flap.
I looked at Kim. “Resting for the afternoon with my favorite woman. I think I can manage that.”
“Depends on what you mean by ‘resting.’” She pulled me close and we shared a tender kiss.
“Oh, my.” I took a moment to catch my breath.
We stretched out on the mattress, trading kisses until we fell asleep. We didn’t awaken until the afternoon sun had faded, sending shadows into the corners of our tent.
“Mmm,” I moaned, when her lips found the hollow of my neck. “I’d like to rest in a more undressed and comfortable state. How do you feel about the idea?”
Kim unbuttoned my shirt with practiced ease. “Whatever you say. We are, after all, following doctor’s orders.”
Chapter 8
I was sitting in our tent the next evening, meditating, when Kim returned from her shower. The scent of her shampoo interfered with my focus so much I was forced to open my eyes.
“Geez, you smell good.”
“And you’re supposed to be concentrating on your therapy, if I’m not mistaken.”
“It’s all your fault. Coming in here, fresh from the shower, smelling so sexy.” I sniffed the air. “So distracting.”
“Sorry.”
“What is it, anyway?”
“Urn…” She rummaged through her bag to locate the bottle. “Strawberry-Kiwi-Passion Fruit Delight.”
“They got the passion and delight part right.”
“I got it because it was on sale, but I’m glad you like it.”
I watched her put away her shower supplies and apply a towel to her damp hair. “I love how your hair curls at the ends when it gets wet. Makes me want to twirl it up on my tongue and slurp it dry.”
“Is that a fact? I’m definitely not getting near you now, no matter how much you pout.”
“I am not pouting. Merely feeling hurt at your rejection.”
The towel stopped in mid-fluff. “Rejection? You’re kidding me, right?”
“Gotcha!”
The damp towel sailed into my lap. “Hey!” I wadded it up and threw it back in her direction. “This has thoroughly disrupted my meditation time. I hope you’re satisfied.”
Kim hung the towel over a chair back and sat down beside me on the mattress. “It was never my intension to disturb you while you were doing your therapy.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “If you’ll forgive me this time, I promise to use axle grease on my hair from now on.”
“Don’t you dare.” I pulled her into a fierce hug.
After a quick kiss, she moved away. “Okay, but no sucking on hair. I have to draw the line on that.”
I looked at her until she leaned in for another kiss.
“Party pooper,” I said, as our noses rubbed together.
“Shampoo sucker.”
Pup chose that moment to approach and whine.
“Perfect timing.” She broke away to look for his leash. “Now, you can get back to your yoga without having me to bother you.”
When he saw the leash, Pup went into a frenzied doggie dance.
“Geez,” I said, “you’d think we never walk the poor animal.”
Kim calmed him and perched on the edge of our bed. “I’m trying to support you while you do what you have to do. I don’t want to be in your way.”
“You’re not in my way.” I patted her knee. “And I’m sorry if I gave you that impression.”
“I’m so new to this therapy stuff.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, PJ. I want you to have your private time. I want mine, too, for that matter. That’s what makes for a healthy relationship.”
“Are you suggesting that I’m crowding you?”
“No, no, we’re doing just fine. What I’m saying - apparently badly - is that I want you to have all the time you need for yoga and whatever other exercises, without my disturbing you. But I also want us to have the time we need for each other.”
“Me, too, but it shouldn’t be regimented like that, especially our time together.”
With her free hand, she gripped my knee. Pup propped his muzzle on top of her hand.
“Somebody else needs our time,” I said.
“Let me take him out for a while, okay?” Kim gave his ear a scratch. “It will make him happy and let you relax.”
I added a few scratches to Pup’s other ear. “Good idea.”
When they returned, I was working on my journal entry. Pup slurped some water from his bowl and flopped onto his bed. Kim pulled a can of juice from the mini-fridge.
“Have a good walk?”
“Yeah. How about you? Feeling more relaxed now?”
I nibbled the end of my pen. “I think so.”
“Good.” She slipped off her shoes and stretched out on the bed.
“But…”
“But what?”
“I was just wondering.”
“Oh, brother. When you get that look on your face…”
“What look?”
“All innocent and sweet like that.”
I put my journal aside and scooted closer
to her. “I am innocent and sweet.”
“And I’m the queen of Sheba.”
“Okay.” I held up my hand. “All teasing aside, I would like to ask you something.”
Her expression softened. “What?”
“Could we do that partner asana again? The one that we liked so much from the book Susanna loaned us?”
“Double Heart something-or-other?”
“Gazing. Double Heart Gazing. Want to?”
I thought I detected a sudden gleam in her eyes. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. Ever since Susanna explained how it combines meditation with quiet mutual communication that’s meant to connect our heart chakras, I’ve wanted to try it again.”
She took my hand. “And it felt good when we did it.”
“That too.” I pulled her up off the bed.
We sat cross-legged, facing each other, our knees touching. This close to me, Kim’s fragrant hair proved to be an even greater distraction. We looked into each other’s eyes, tentatively at first. Then, gazing beyond the surface, we let our minds probe deeper into our souls.
I placed my right hand over Kim’s heart, feeling the warmth of her body beneath the thin fabric of her oversized T-shirt. My heart’s rhythm quickened to match hers. Kim put her right hand on my chest, creating a heat that penetrated my shirt, spreading to my breasts.
Each of us pressed our left hand over the hand that already covered our heart. From her expression, I could tell that Kim had felt and was affected by the powerful burst of energy that flowed between us. We closed our eyes and welcomed the communion of our souls.
“Whew! That was intense,” she said, stretching her legs afterwards.
“Every bit as good as the last time. Thanks, honey.”
“My pleasure.”
Still recovering from the intensity of the yoga session, we took a late stroll around the compound and got ready for bed. Snuggled against Kim’s back, I twisted a strand of her hair around my finger, resisted the urge to taste it, and whispered loving words in her ear until we fell asleep.
*
We had no on-site work scheduled until late the next morning, so after breakfast Kim worked on her laptop and I made more entries in my journal. I wrote several paragraphs about the progress we had made with our therapist’s help.
Kim’s learning that she can suppress her anger, but certain buttons will still trigger excessive fury if she’s not on guard.
I twirled my pen through my fingers, thinking. Prior to my abduction in Wales, I never knew she harbored such fury, but I realized now that it was her way of dealing with post traumatic stress. And although it was the wrong way, she was working on it. I turned again to my journal.
Unfortunately, my being threatened is one of the buttons that will ignite her simmering anger and turn it into a raging inferno. A raging Kim Blair is not a pretty sight.
I remembered something from Kim’s past that connected to the present. Rusty, the dog she had loved so deeply during her youth, had given her unconditional love. Now, I offered her that same kind of love, and the situation brought all her protective instincts to the surface.
She needs assurance that what happened to Rusty was not her fault, and that she wasn’t to blame for what Terry did to me. Somehow, she must learn that she’s not responsible for protecting me all the time. Neither of us can live that way.
We’d managed to take several day trips away from the stress and strain of the site. On one outing, Sandy and Irini introduced us to the novelty of Greek outdoor cinema. I’d never been to a drive-in movie, but I had seen movies that included teenagers going crazy at them. The outdoor cinema was similar, except there were tables and chairs instead of cars, and local bands entertained us before the movie started. Irini assured us that most of the movies were American films, so we had no trouble following the plot, even though it was a bit unnerving to have Clint Eastwood hovering over us on a big screen while we ate. The food was excellent, and the patrons usually behaved themselves, though once the wine and ouzo started flowing, some made their own comments about the movie in all sorts of languages.
I glanced up at Kim in time to catch her frowning at her monitor. She rubbed her chin, launched a powerful burst of keystrokes, paused to reread, and pounded one final button with a terse expletive.
Kim and I both need to accept that life has its fair share of ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies. I can’t always control my stress, and she can’t always repress her anger, but we can reduce our problems to a manageable level. With a calm and positive attitude, everything will work out in the end.
Naturally, some days will be calmer than others.
After taking a deep breath, Kim wandered over to me. She ruffled my hair and leaned in to kiss my forehead. “You’re looking mighty serious.”
“Just writing some hard-earned lessons in my journal.”
“I see.”
“How about you? You seem a little serious, yourself.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a bit of unfinished business. We can talk about it later.”
“Okay.”
Kim’s lips were so invitingly close that I took advantage of them a few times.
She sat down beside me. “Oh, I almost forgot. Sandy and Irini want to take us to the outdoor theater again.”
“Wonderful. When do they want to go?”
“Tonight.
“Wow. That doesn’t give me much time to pull an outfit together.”
“You brought suitcases full of clothes.” She got to her feet, pointing to the corner of our tent where my cases were stacked and a rod held items on hangers. “What’s wrong with any of those things?”
“They’ve seen most of that stuff.” I went over, sorted through some shirts, tossed them aside, and picked through some hanging garments. “It’s a work night, too. We can’t let them take us to a taverna afterward.” I rejected the clothing on hangers and started back to check a pile of clothing nearer our desk.
Kim grabbed my arm to keep me stationary. “Okay, no local ouzo in any form, and no filling up on those delicious appetizers.”
“Mezedes.”
“Right… mezedes. Our stomachs will thank us, and we’ll all be clear-headed for work tomorrow.”
“It’s for the best. I don’t ever want to replay that time in Arizona when I threw up on your cactus plant. I swore afterwards that an occasional glass of wine or beer would be my limit.”
“Yeah, I remember. You were in bad shape that night.” Kim grimaced. “The local ouzo though. My head throbbed for days after just two glasses of that stuff.”
“Sandy said that even with water to dilute it, the anise taste is still strong. Since I’ve never been fond of licorice, I don’t think I missed much by avoiding it.”
“You didn’t, but I felt that one of us should try it, just to be sociable.”
“Yes,” I said, “we couldn’t offend anyone.” Kim pulled me into an embrace, resting her chin on the top of my head. “Still, I don’t want us to end up with fuzzy brains.”
I felt her chest expand with laughter. “I don’t either.”
“I told Sandy it was probably an acquired taste. One I just didn’t have.”
Her lips brushed my forehead, and her hug rocked me back and forth. “Definitely one we both lacked.”
After a few seconds, I sighed. “But I will miss those little stuffed mushrooms with the feta cheese.”
“We all have to make sacrifices, PJ.”
*
After one particularly long day of working underground, Irini took Kim and me to the sulfur baths of Loutropoli Thermis. She had relatives who managed the place. We walked all around the ancient stone buildings that housed the baths and marveled at the solid construction. The chambers had vaulted arches that dated back to 3000 BC.
“No telling how many ancient Greeks warmed their butts on these heated stones,” Kim whispered as we lowered ourselves into one large bathing area, one step at a time.
“T
rue,” I said, trying to maintain my decorum.
We had discovered earlier that our voices echoed from the chamber walls and were careful to be as dignified as possible. Irini had said that the best way to benefit from the experience was to soak in the nude, so it was just the three of us in attendance. Sandy had volunteered to accompany us and scrub our backs, but we declined his generous offer.
I’d tried a topless beach or two in Brazil during my travels, but a nude bath in a public place - albeit an ancient stone facility - was a first for me. Having Kim beside me for the venture made it all the more exciting. Irini promised that we would have the place to ourselves, and we did. Once we stopped acting like a trio of giggling schoolgirls, we relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The stiffness left our joints and the mineral salts rejuvenated our bodies and our spirits. When we begged her for a return visit, Irini readily agreed.
*
Dad seemed happy to be part of our expedition. He and Sandy had decided that Dad would run the business operation and handle all our financial and managerial details without interfering with the daily archaeological work. He joined us once a week in the labyrinth to view the progress. He was, after all, our benefactor. Besides, he looked rather cute in a hard hat. I guess he was trying to make up for our lost years together, but he seemed genuinely interested in how I did my job.
I realized that I was as much to blame for our alienation as he was. We’d probably need to discuss it more in the future, but we loved each other, and we’d told each other so. That was a good start.
It made me curious when I learned Susanna was staying here indefinitely. I was delighted to have her, but I wondered about her practice and her many patients. When I asked her, she assured me that a competent associate was substituting for her back home.
*
“I need to stop by Sandy’s tent,” I told Kim the next morning, as we finished dressing. He wants my comments on that revised budget he worked up for Dad.”
“Okay, but I’m feeling hungry for some of those gooey pastries.” She squirted some sunscreen in her palm and started applying it to her arms and face.
