Chapter 29
“Wait! Where are you going in such a hurry Chianna’?” Jed asked.
He continued “Let’s let everybody else get a bite to eat while we take The Knowledge. It will still take about forty minutes to take effect.”
“Sure. Sorry, that was a bit thoughtless of me.”
It was rare that Chianna ever blushed, but she suddenly realized just how obvious she was about pursuing something of which she realized everyone else was all too aware.
“Hey, I don’t blame you for wantin’ to just jump right in…We’ve all been right where you are right now darlin’…”
Rebel had been slowly approaching Chianna with that same languid pace that was so characteristic of her speech. There was a softness and affectionate tenderness in her eyes, as well as a countenance that few people anywhere ever saw.
She reached out, touching Chianna’s left arm with her right hand as she brushed the hair from Chianna’s face with her left to gently stroke her face, smiling.
She tilted her head slightly to her right and looked into Chianna’s eyes as she smiled with a compassion so unlike the face she showed to most of the rest of the world that you could have fallen into those dark brown eyes for an eternity and never reach bottom.
“We’re all here together, and as much as it was business that set Jed on y’alls trail, once we realized who we were lookin’ for…it became a mission…an obsession, really.”
“Trust me, Darlin’ …after all these years, well…Aimée and I have still had more than a few…naughty thoughts about Elliott and the two of us…after all, we knew him years ago, but didn’t both know him at the same time. I’m sure you have picked up on the fact that Aimée and me are very close ever since she came to work for me, but it wasn’t until Jed came into the shop that most of the pieces of the puzzle sort of fell together.”
“I had never met Jed before, and Aimée hadn’t seen him in years. Now OK, OK, OK…I know I’m probably takin’ way too long to get to the point, if you haven’t already figured where I’m headin’ with all this….”
“Well, I’m not exactly sure. It seems I may have already assumed too much.” It was clear that Chianna was feeling at least a little defensive.
Rebel took a moment to take a long breath before she continued.
“I really want for all of us to be friends, and we already agreed that it was important to respect your space before anybody did anything…just to make sure it was ok with you because there is so much at stake here for all of us.”
“So after all this time, and this long-ass trip to get here, even if we weren’t tryin’ to set up a business proposition that will put all of us in the cat-bird’s seat by networkin’ all of our collective talents AND maybe give the four of us a place to land that’s about as close to the Garden of Eden as I could have ever imagined…none of this will ever fly unless you’re on board with us.”
“And that’s where Jed fits into all this in a way I sure hadn’t stopped to think about…it’s easy for you to forget what a charming, sexy rascal that husband of yours is…or for anybody to just get bored with what they already got, and anybody can get boring with too much time together without a break.”
“…Even if he sort of broke both our hearts long before Aimée and I ever met each other, I’d be lyin’ to ya if I didn’t admit how much we missed him…and not for just the sex….I also know that any woman naturally wants to protect what she’s already got….and nothin’ can remind her quicker than when she sees her man through the eyes of another woman who wants him.”
At this point a tear rolled down Rebel’s cheek and she flushed with embarrassment although she managed to force a wistful smile.
No one had ever heard Rebel talk that much at one time before, let alone show her softer side, or any real vulnerability.
“But honest-to-God, Chianna, this is too good…too perfect for any of us to rush. Trust me, The Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil has changed all of our lives, and I believe with all my heart and soul that we are all supposed to be together.”
”I tend to take a while to warm up to people, and even longer to trust them, but I knew you were destined to be the Fourth Wind, the last cardinal point on the compass and the Missing Element almost as soon as I met you. We are sisters, as daughters of the moon.”
“Hell, even the three of us had gotten to take Jed for granted, maybe just a little bit…at least until we saw the two of you get all goo-goo over each other, and I wouldn’t dream of tryin’ to talk you two out of fuckin’ each others brains out…and trust me, he is one great piece of ass, but The Knowledge is going to change your life forever…and I’m just sayin’ that in less than an hour, it’s gonna be that much better, so why not let that energy you feel right now for Jed build just a little bit more as we all take this next leap of faith together.”
Aimée had been slowly approaching the two women for several minutes before she took that opportunity to gently, gingerly caress the backs of both women. Although usually the most loquacious of the four, her silence was also disarmingly conspicuous.
“Becca and I aren’t trying to tell you what to do or feel…that’s not our place…but the truth is…well, we like you too…so maaaybeee…when you come back up for air…well, we’ll still be here, and we can keep Elliott distracted so you can loosen up and not have to worry about him getting jealous…(if that’s even possible), but after that, we really want to get to know you a whole lot better, too.” (the last of which she leaned over and whispered into Chianna’s ear) it was all Aimée had to say, but the genuine tenderness with which she said it spoke volumes,
Meanwhile, Elliott, Jed, and Leigh-Anne silently observed the three women like naturalists observing the courtship of some heretofore unknown, endangered species.
And Elliott silently noted that once again, despite her affectionate humor, genuine warmth and enthusiasm, he was still just as dumbfounded as ever about Leigh-Anne.
Strong women tend to keep their cards close to their chest and Leigh-Anne was the most determined and strong-willed woman he had ever met. They had been quick to express their mutual love for each other, all those years ago, but her independence, and his seemingly fickle nature seemed to keep them just a hair’s breadth from any real commitment.
Now she was married, and yet, nonetheless, there she was, so many years later.
But he also realized that he had no reason to assume that she was still interested in him that way, and in fact, she hadn’t given him the slightest clue one way or the other, except just now, as they stood next to each other, to softly allow the back of her hand to brush against the outside of his thigh, as if by accident…or was it?
Then again, Elliott knew that if…or when she desired physical intimacy, she would make her desires known, and it would be on her terms. She had a generous and loving heart, and she might surrender her body, but never her will.
The same as it ever was.
And only time would tell.
Namaste
नमस्ते
Chazz Vincent
copyright © March 12th, 2021
Fish swim with the tides, in and out of the lagoon as it empties itself, receives from, and flows back into the sea.
*ALL REFERENCES TO ANY PERSONS CONFIRMED STILL LIVING IS PURELY CO-INCIDENTAL…AND THE DEAD ARE TOO BUSY LAUGHING AT US TO CARE.
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