[[[-IF5-P17.TXT-]]]
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Island Fever 5: Family
Written by: JeremyDCP@hotmail.com
M/F, F/F and a whole lot more
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Chapter 17: "Rewind"
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-*- Monday, February 2, 2009 -*-
-*- Cuzco, Peru -*-
(Seven years ago)
I hated the Pittsburgh Steelers. Having been born in Ohio
and a life-long fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, I grimaced as
I watched the game winning touchdown from Super Bowl XLIII,
played last night in Tampa Bay, Florida, between the Steelers
and the Arizona Cardinals. Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes made
a miraculous touchdown reception on an even more impressive
pass from Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds remaining to
give his team the lead and ultimate victory, 27-23. I had
been rooting so incredibly hard for the Cardinals to win. I
really liked their quarterback, Kurt Warner, and wanted him
to get another Super Bowl ring. I thought he deserved it.
Anyone but Ben Roethlisberger deserved it, in my opinion.
That makes six Super Bowl championships for the hated
Steelers. None for my Bengals. Oh well, maybe one day.
Between last night and today, I had seen that touchdown
play enough. I did not want to see it again. So, I turned
my gaze away when the sports program on the big television
screen off to the side went to yet another angle of the catch.
I dug into my lomo saltado meal, a very popular, traditional
Peruvian dish, a stir fry that combined strips of sirloin
beef steak with onions, tomatoes, parsley, garlic and various
other ingredients. I then took a drink of my bottled water
and surveyed the surroundings at _Incontri del pueblo Viejo_,
a trendy restaurant located on the outskirts of Machu Picchu.
It bothered me that, with so many couples and families
around, I was alone. But I was used to it by now. Age 34, I
had been living in the solitude of my own, private island,
located 130 miles due west off the coast of Lima, Peru, for
the past 12 years. I was a quiet, reclusive person and had
been hurt one too many times in the past by others (especially
women) and, with a fair amount of financial wealth, had simply
decided to barricade myself off from the rest of humanity.
Sure, it was not the logical approach. Nor the best way to
go through one's life. But no one could hurt me this way.
The first few years, I was incredibly lonely in what was
otherwise a tropical paradise. But I got used to it. Oh, I
was still lonely to this day, but I had accepted it long ago.
This was simply how my life was going to be from now on.
Getting away from my island and re-entering society, even
if just for a couple of days, was something very big for me.
It certainly was not a common occurrence. I do not know why,
but I had the urge to visit Machu Picchu - the famed Inca
ruins - located in Cuzco, Peru, some 700 miles east of Lima.
That was why I was here now. Legend says that the mountain
structure was built as an estate for Inca emperor Pachacuti
(1438-1472). Today, it serves as a historical landmark and
the most cherished icon and treasure in all of Peru.
I had a fun couple of days sightseeing, but planned on
returning home to my prison tomorrow. Oops, I meant island.
This restaurant was crowded, I said to myself, as I glanced
about. Yep, families and couples everywhere. Fathers with
their children, just laughing away... having a great old time.
Why couldn't that be me? Oh, I accepted my fate long ago.
Sitting at a tiny round table near the entrance, I felt as if
I was in my own, little world. My hole. I was used to it.
"Mind if I join yew?"
My personal solitude was interrupted as those words, spoken
with a dialect I had never heard before, caused me to look up.
What I witnessed was the most beautiful (and definitely the
most alluring) woman I had ever encountered standing over me.
She had a uniquely gorgeous face, with her platinum blonde
hair done up in a loose knot that somehow seemed to make me
weak in the knees even though I was sitting down. The woman
had Scandinavian features and eyes the color of a cloudless
winter sky. She was very tall (perhaps even 6-feet?) yet had
a lean, jet-stream figure - a swimmer's build, athletic, very
sexy. Her beauty was simple yet unobtrusive, and radiant.
And her skin was absolutely flawless.
The woman, who appeared to be no older than 18 or 19, was
dressed in white slacks, a blue blouse that was invitingly
unbuttoned at the top, and a pair of two-inch heels. Women
this stunning and gorgeous - and this _blonde_ - were quite
the rarity in this remote area of Peru, let alone the country
itself. Was she going out bar-hopping here in a bit?
Dressed in such a manner, she had plans for something.
But I actually saw this woman - this girl, perhaps - at
the ruins a couple of hours ago when our sightseeing groups
seemed to intersect. It was impossible not to notice her.
At the time, she was with a much older couple. Perhaps her
parents? Was she a _California Girl_ on vacation? A beach
bunny from Florida? A volleyball player from Texas?
We made eye contact earlier - hours ago as our paths
crossed - and she actually gave me a small, flirtatious smile.
I was so aloof and reclusive, though, I had no idea how to
strike up a conversation with a stranger. But this woman did.
I rose to my feet and nearly stumbled when gesturing toward
the empty chair on the other side of my table. "Uhhhhh, sure.
Please... sit down."
She sat gracefully and her lips, ripe and luscious as they
were, seemed to curve into a gentle, friendly smile. "Yew
look like yew could use a friend, ya, so I dought I come over."
I reclaimed my seat and stared at her. That accent hit me
again. What the hell was that? Where was this woman from?
I seriously doubted it was anywhere in the United States.
"Women like you generally don't have time for guys like
me." Ummmmm. Did I really just say that? I felt like
balling up a fist and punching myself. Repeatedly. Good
way to shoot yourself down, Jeremy. Awesome, man. This
stunning blonde will be excusing herself for sure here soon.
She merely smiled at me. "And vy is dat?"
"Experience?"
"Really? Dat be surprising." She did not seem put off at
all. But that accent! It was starting to grow on me. She
sounded exotic, sexy; even if the dialect seemed exaggerated.
"Are yew here on holiday like I am? Vork, perhaps?" Wait a
minute. Was this woman eyeing me up and down now? Checking
me out? Sizing me up? Was she actually interested in me?
"I took a couple of days and decided to tour the ruins."
"Vat type of vork do yew do?"
Oh, that was a tough one. Quite the delicate subject.
Did I really want to tell this nice girl with the quirky, sexy
accent that I was a 34-year-old retired multi-billionaire, and
I lived alone on my own private island? It would surely give
her the wrong idea. Maybe I would be a creeper in her eyes?
I mean, my life was definitely not normal. Not at all. But
above all else, I would definitely be too old for her.
"I work in business." Really? Business? Seriously? Was
that the best I could come up with? Women always seemed to
make me babble like this. It was a Godforsaken curse.
She raised an eyebrow at me. "Yew vork... in business?"
"That's right. I sure do." Oh, I felt like an idiot.
Within a matter of seconds, I knew, I would be right back
where I started - sitting alone at this table. "What about
you? What do you do?"
"I kill people for a living."
Wow. That was unexpected. I nodded my head at those
words, and the silly, playful expression that accompanied
them. She was kidding. This woman seemed highly amused at
my reaction, though. She actually managed to get a laugh
out of me. "Yeah. Right. Do you have a preferred method?
Guns? Swords? Flamethrowers? Lethal injection?"
"Bare hands. It be easiest dat vay."
I chuckled again. "Seriously, what do you do?"
She smiled. "I am a farmer. It is my family business."
"Much more tame than assassination."
"Sometimes."
"I'm Jeremy."
She extended her hand toward me. "Kristanna."
"That's a very unique name. I haven't heard it before."
Kristanna nodded. "I get dat a lot."
* * *
*- Wednesday, March 30, 2016 -*-
-*- Sandvika, Norway -*-
(Present Day)
Like other body systems, the immune system of a premature
infant does not function as well as those of older kids or
adults. This places the child at a greatly increased risk
for getting infections, especially viral ones. The biggest
priority that Kristanna and I had right now, as it pertained
to our two-week-old daughter Ariel, was making certain that
she stayed healthy. We did not want a return trip to the
hospital. Thus, we had taken some necessary precautions.
Anyone in the family who wanted to have any sort of contact
with Ariel whatsoever was required to wash, scrub and then
sanitize their hands immediately before touching her. Germs
were rampant - they were everywhere - but we wanted to reduce
Ariel's exposure to them as best we could. Likewise, anyone
with the slightest touch of the flu, or even a tiny cold,
was not allowed to be anywhere near her.
For the time being, Kristanna and I preferred to keep Ariel
pretty much isolated either in our bedroom, or her private
nursery. She did not share a room with another child, much
like Kaden and Piper did, or Jackson and Kaylee. Originally,
Ariel was going to be room-mates with Dani Grace, but with
her being born a full month premature, we had to limit her
exposure to the other children in the family. What could be
a simple cough or sneeze for Dani Grace, for example, could
morph into the potentially fatal Respiratory Syncytial Virus
(RSV) for a premature infant like Ariel.
Additionally, while Ariel was still in the NICU shortly
after birth, I followed doctor's orders and made sure everyone
in the family was up to date with their pertussis immunization
(through the Tdap vaccination shot) and the seasonal flu
vaccine. Adults with a persistent, lingering cough may not
even realize that they have pertussis and could pass it to a
vulnerable infant such as Ariel, which could in turn lead to
something very serious and life-threatening. I had to get a
Tdap shot, as did Pamela, Trish, Amy and Alison.
When we took Ariel to the pediatrician for a post-hospital
wellness check earlier this morning, Kristanna erred on the
side of caution and actually insisted on keeping Ariel inside
the car - the two of us with her, of course - until the doctor
was ready to see her. Kristanna did not want Ariel to be
around any other random children in the waiting room, some
(if not all) of whom were likely ill. Else, why would they be
there? Kristanna instructed the receptionist to call us on
her cell phone when the doctor was ready to see Ariel. We
were in and out of the office in a hurry.
(And Ariel was given a clean bill of health, too.)
Seated at the control panel within my voyeur room, I let
out an agitated grunt and shook my head at the image I saw
before me. In the nursery, Kristanna was gently rocking back
and forth in her favorite wooden chair, with a sleeping Ariel
perched atop her chest and shoulder for skin-to-skin contact.
Kristanna, however, had a lifeless glare in her eyes. She
was gazing at the wall, totally devoid of any happiness...
appearing as if her reason for living had been taken away.
"What are you doing, Krissy?" I said to the monitor.
"Come on, girl. You gotta snap out of it!"
Earlier, the doctor claimed that Ariel was doing _great_.
Was that enough of a reason for Kristanna to be optimistic?
To show any sort of positive energy or emotion? Not at all.
No, I knew exactly what her problem was now. Kristanna
was thinking about Ariel's future. She was fearing it. We
had read too many nasty stories on the Internet about the
life-long struggles that could face someone born premature.
Impaired cognitive skills, vision and hearing problems,
behavioral and psychological issues; that was just the start.
And something which horrified Kristanna - cerebral palsy.
My father, who was still visiting us in Norway, was born
eight weeks premature back in 1938. Age 77 now - soon to be
78 - Dad was still going strong today. He never really
experienced any long-term complications from being born so
early. Back then, of course, medicine and overall science,
knowledge on the subject, was nowhere near as progressed as
it was today. Dad had attempted to talk to Kristanna about
his own experience, but she would not listen to him.
Kristanna was assured that the worst was going to happen.
Ariel would spend her childhood in and out of the hospital.
She would need five or six surgeries - all different types -
in order to simply survive. Ariel would grow up impaired.
Worst of all, Kristanna seemed to want to place the blame
for whatever may happen to Ariel on herself. In reality,
there was no blame to be given. It was no one's fault that
Kristanna's water broke at eight months pregnant and, because
of a pre-existing infection, childbirth had to be induced
immediately. That was not her fault. It was not my fault.
It was no one's fault. Good luck telling that to Kristanna,
though, who put all responsibility for Ariel - and whatever
may happen to her in the future - in her own hands.
I had done everything I could in the past two weeks to
comfort and make Kristanna feel better. She seemed to turn
the corner last week, but when Ariel was put back into the
hospital with bronchiolitis, all of that progress was lost.
Kristanna had been a living, breathing disaster since. There
was no getting through to her.
I seemed to be nearing the end of my rope. Frustration
had set in, and I honestly did not know what I could do at
this moment in time to make Kristanna feel any better. I
had tried everything. I even tried leaving her alone, much
like the way I was doing now (although I was keeping an eye
on her with the voyeur room). Nothing seemed to work.
"I love you, Krissy," I said weakly, reaching out and
placing my fingers upon the surveillance monitor in front of
me. Oh, dear God; what I wouldn't give right now just to
see a glimpse of the vibrant, effervescent woman I once knew.
The same woman who brought me out of my own personal doldrums;
the Heaven-sent angel who lifted me out of the abyss.
* * *
-*- Monday, February 2, 2009 -*-
-*- Cuzco, Peru -*-
(Seven years ago)
"Actually, I believe I may very well be mentally ill."
Kristanna smiled again. This was not the type of reaction
one would expect from a woman receiving such news. "I dink
yew are trying to impress me or someding, Mister Jeremy."
I vigorously shook my head. Why did I allow my life - and
all of its problems - to become such an open book to anyone
who even showed the slightest amount of interest or kindness
toward me? Damnit, I had been this way since I was a kid.
I could not shut my flipping mouth! Why was I saying these
damaging things about myself to this very beautiful and
charming (as I just found out) 19-year-old from Norway? Any
moment now, I would most assuredly scare her away for good.
"I did not mean REALLY mentally ill," I backtracked, trying
to clarify. And save face. "You're the first person that I
have had the opportunity to really sit down and talk to in...
well, I do not know. It's been a long time. I think the
solitude of living alone on the island is getting to me."
"Perhaps yew should dink about leaving da island and going
back into da real vorld," Kristanna suggested. Her tone was
very even, helpful, not one bit condescending. That was
refreshing. Very unlike the tone I was used to from my older
sister and brother from Ohio whenever we discussed me finally
leaving the island. They seemed to enjoy talking down to me;
scolding me. "Yew vould like my country a lot, ya."
"Norway? I know nothing of it."
"Papa vould put yew to vork in da family business!"
"Killing people?"
"Farming."
"Oh, that's right." What? Me, a farmer? Ha!
I motioned toward the waitress; I needed another bottled
water, as did Kristanna. We had been chatting for 90 minutes
and showed no signs of slowing down. I had not spoken this
much to another woman since Tiffany, an ex-girlfriend of mine
from Oregon. Actually, Tiffany was my one failed attempt at
ditching the island. I was going to move to Oregon for her,
but Tiffany turned out to be a little too money-hungry once
she learned of my fortune. I had to end the relationship and
slump back to my island with yet another broken heart.
"I like talking to yew," Kristanna told me with that wacky,
yet sultry accent. "Yew are like da first person, Jeremy,
voo has ever been honest vid me ven I first meet dem. It be
so different, so nice. I love da honesty. I only vish my
last girlfriend, Helga, vas half as honest as yew."
RED FLAG. RED FLAG. RED FLAG. RED FLAG. RED FLAG.
I stared at her, my eyes wide. "Did you just say... your
last... girlfriend?" GAH! My ex-fiancee, Victoria, left me
standing at the altar in 1993 in favor of her best friend,
Mindy. Another girl. 16 years later, the pain - the utter
humiliation - was still there for me. I felt it every day.
It cut me like knives going straight through my heart.
So, Little Miss Sunshine from Norway had a blemish now. A
massive one. The fact that she, at one time or another, had a
_girlfriend_ was a major turn-off for me. Helga? The idea
reminded me too much of my ex-fiancee and that whole scenario.
"Ya, I had a girlfriend," Kristanna freely admitted to me.
"I have had several girlfriends vile growing up, in fact. I
be bi-sexual." She raised an inquisitive eyebrow at me. "Is
dat okay vid yew, Jeremy? I like being honest too, yew know.
It be nice. I dink I can trust yew vid dat information, ya."
"It's fine," I told her honestly. Actually, it was fine.
I do not know why, but I came to that sudden conclusion.
Right now. Was it fair of me to hold the fact that Kristanna
apparently enjoyed being with other women against her? I
would not like her to hold what I was saying against me. You
know, the whole mental illness and living on a deserted island
thing. So, I had to be fair. It was only right.
Besides, just because Kristanna apparently had romantic
flings with _several_ women in her life... that did not mean
any ladies would have to be involved in whatever relationship
she and I may possibly have in the future. Right? Even if
that relationship was strictly within my mind? I mean, I
did not want to venture down that highway. Way too much hurt
and remorse, thanks to Victoria and her lesbian friend, Mindy.
I was a one woman sort of guy. I did not need two. Or three.
Or eight. My God, just the idea sounds ridiculous!
So... now came the hard part. How could I ask Kristanna
out? Unfortunately, asking a female out on a date had never
been one of my strong suits. For some guys it was easy to do,
it was effortless, but for me it had always been a massive
struggle. Invariably, I would sound awkward and stumble all
over myself. And things usually ended badly. Very badly.
"How about yew and I leave dis place and go for a valk?"
I nearly lost the grip on my bottled water. I managed to
catch it before it tumbled and spilled all over the table.
Did I hear her correctly? She asked _me_ out? "What?"
"Let us go for a valk," Kristanna again suggested. "Yew
said yew know dis area quite vell. Show me around a bit, ya?
I am having a really good time talking to yew."
"Ahh, sure."
* * *
*- Wednesday, March 30, 2016 -*-
-*- Sandvika, Norway -*-
(Present Day)
Kristanna felt a tremendous amount of guilt when it came to
Ariel's birth. In her mind, at least, her body was not able
to do what it was supposed to. Kristanna was not able to keep
Ariel safe and sound within her womb for a full 39 weeks,
giving our daughter necessary time to nurture and develop the
way nature intended. Again, Kristanna was not at fault here.
No one was. Still, she wanted to take all of the blame.
This unfortunate situation, as I think about it, would
most likely put a strain on our whole family going forward.
Perhaps it already has. Oh, all of the other ladies - my
wives, plus Alison - were so very supportive of Kristanna
and her troubles, her fears. They all loved and cared for
Ariel as if she was their own daughter, and wanted nothing
but the absolute best for her. Lindsay, dear and sweet as
she was, led group prayer sessions for Ariel every night.
But what if some, or perhaps all, of the ladies got to the
point where I found myself now? Unable to come up with any
solutions, any answers, any further advice. There was just
no getting through to Kristanna. She had walled herself away
so much in the past couple of days, hiding inside of her
bullet-proof shell. Everything, of course, all her fault.
What did I envision as Ariel's father? What was her
future? Once Kristanna got over this funk she was in - oh, I
had faith she would eventually snap out of it - I envisioned
the two of us working incredibly hard on doing everything we
could to ensure that Ariel had a happy and healthy childhood.
Our wives would certainly help out along every step of the
way. Kristanna's parents. My father. Ariel's brothers and
sisters. Friends. My family overseas, even. Maybe?
Ariel being born prematurely was not going to define her;
I would not allow that to happen. It would simply help
create her much larger, everlasting identity.
Sometime within the past two weeks, I learned that the
hospital had a NICU family advisory council. Apparently, it
allowed parents of struggling and/or critically ill infants
from the neonatal intensive care unit to get together once a
month and share a nice dinner as a group. The council, it
seemed, rotated its hosts for each monthly gathering in pairs.
Parents could get together as a group and share their
experiences from the NICU, their personal struggles, their
triumphs, even their tragedies. It was free therapy.
When the dust eventually settles, and Ariel is growing up
healthy and without any complications or issues - which I
know in my heart will be the case - what better way for me
to give back than by volunteering to be a host for the NICU
family advisory council? Kristanna, I'm sure, would be _all_
over that as well. She obviously loved to talk and bring
peace to the lives of others. This gig was made for her.
Kristanna and I could give our feedback, our perspective.
We would be in a position where we could truly help others.
Fearful parents would listen and appreciate hearing our
experience and the journey Ariel took. Little ones like
Ariel surely gave us the strength to do so many things.
* * *
-*- Monday, February 2, 2009 -*-
-*- Cuzco, Peru -*-
(Seven years ago)
I extended both hands outward, trying to defend myself, as
Kristanna and I walked toward the hotel in downtown Cuzco
where she was staying with her parents. "I mean, for all I
knew, you were waiting on someone. A hot date perhaps."
Kristanna smiled leisurely and nodded. "Yep, yep. Da
hottest. I guess she yust decided to stand me up, dough."
"She?" I could tell she was joking about the date.
Kristanna glanced around. "Vell, I did tell yew dat I be
bi-sexual." She offered me a playful smirk. "Yew miss dat?"
"No, I definitely did not miss that." And then, there it
was again. The moment of sustained eye contact that greatly
accelerated my heart-rate and made my insides tingle with an
emotion I had not felt in quite a long time. Those blue eyes
of Kristanna's were gorgeous! Just like the rest of her...
"Dis tropical island dat yew live on sounds interesting,"
Kristanna murmured. "Vy not show it to me? Yew said yew verr
going home in da morning? Take me vid yew. I can stay a few
days and catch a flight back to Norvay later in da veek, ya."
"So you're asking to go home with me after just three hours
of idle, friendly conversation? Wow, you move a little fast
for my tastes." Needless to say, I was surprised. But how
could I say no to her? It would be my biggest mistake ever.
"Vy are yew blushing?" She shook her head and smiled at
me. "Oh, yew are so cute and adorable, Jeremy." In fact,
Kristanna was smiling in a way that told me she was enjoying
every single minute of this. She had me wrapped around her
little finger, and did not seem to want to let go at all.
"Okay," I relented. "You want to see my island, my home?
The house is huge, but there's not much in it. Pretty much
barren and devoid of any personality." Kind of like me, I
thought inwardly. "The beaches are nice, though. I suppose
I could show you around it tomorrow if you like. If you
really want to stay a bit, I have plenty of extra room."
"Dis sounds like a good plan to me, ya. Maybe I can help
yew add some color, some personality, to yewr house?"
I studied Kristanna with a keen interest. No one had ever
asked me to take them home before, whether it be my mansion
on the island or my house in the suburbs when I was younger.
I felt so much at ease around her, though. Everything seemed
right. "So what's your story, Kristanna? We've spent three
hours talking about me. What can you tell me about yourself?"
"Farmer by day, university student by night. Oh, and I
adore animals, and rock and roll. Especially goats." She
sipped her water and met my gaze. "Now yew know everyding."
"Goats, huh?"
"Comes from growing up on da farm me vull life," Kristanna
explained. "I miss Barn Potato. He is my best friend, my
favorite goat back home in Norvay. Miss him so much! Ve call
him Barn Potato because he be big, fat and lazy. And cuddly!"
She took a deep breath. "Now tell me someding else about yew,
Jeremy. Someding yew have not told me yet, ya."
I considered things for a moment. "Hmmmmm. I like to run.
It's a good outlet. I do it daily. Do you run?"
"Only if someding is chasing me."
I laughed. Hard. This girl was a riot! That accent
simply added to her appeal and made her all the more enticing.
"Can I ask you a serious question, Kristanna?"
"Of course."
"Do I seem unapproachable to you?"
"To me? No. No one be unapproachable to me. I love to
meet new people and interact, make new friends."
"No, I don't mean you. I mean you as in everyone. The
bigger you. You as in anybody on the planet. Do I seem
unapproachable to the average, everyday person?"
Kristanna glanced around for a moment, then a light bulb
seemed to turn on in her head. "Yew mean to udder vomen?"
I sighed as we continued walking, recalling the prior 12
years spent living in my self-imposed isolation. Oh, just
being with Kristanna for the past couple of hours reminded
me how lonely of a person I truly was. Why did I continue
to punish myself with this life? "Yeah, I guess I do."
Kristanna frowned. "Yes, yew seem unapproachable."
"What? Really? Why?" This was _so_ unfair! "I'm a good
enough person! I try to be nice, polite to everyone!"
"It be none of dat," Kristanna said, flicking her wrist
out in a circular motion.
"Well, tell me what it is?" I was seriously lost. "Just
tell me. You said you like the honesty we have, right?"
Kristanna bit her lower lip and seemed to contemplate just
how she should proceed here. The lip-biting thing, in fact,
looked really good on her. I definitely would not mind
staring at that visual for the remainder of the evening.
"Yew seem intimidating from afar," she finally told me.
"Intimidating?"
"Have yew looked in da mirror lately?"
"Not since this morning. Why?"
Kristanna rolled her eyes. "Yew do not seem very happy
or socialable at initial glance, Jeremy. Vat verr yew doing
in da diner ve meet in earlier? Sitting in da corner vid
yewr head down? Maybe if yew looked up and gave a smile,
one of dose two vomen voo verr sitting at da bar - staring at
yew - vould have come over and said someding to yew."
"Two women were staring at me from the bar?"
Kristanna shook her head and pouted. "Yew poor ding. Yew
did not even notice dem. Dose two vomen verr begging for any
sort of hint dat yew may be remotely interested in dem."
"If I don't appear happy or socialable at initial glance,"
I said to Kristanna after a moment or two of deep thought,
"then why did you come over and say hello to me?"
"Because it looked like yew needed a friend," she replied.
"And now I know yew, I see dat yew are at least socialable.
And friendly if yew feel comfortable and at ease vid voo yew
are talking to." Kristanna nodded her head and ended, "Now
ve yust need to vork on yewr perception to da common public."
Something warmed in me and I smiled. The good vibrations
as a result gave me a certain boost of courage. "I'm thinking
that not noticing those two women - whomever they were - was a
good move on my part. Else, I may not have met you."
"Pffffft," Kristanna huffed with a grin. "But ya, I be
glad dat yew not notice dem too. Made my day, even."
As we reached the front of the hotel, I shook my head in
total wonder. I had a fantastic time with Kristanna tonight.
Undoubtedly the best since I spent those few months in Oregon
at the height of my ill-fated relationship with Tiffany.
Whether it was the ups and downs of the conversation or the
cosmic stars aligning perfectly, I did not know, but I found
myself wildly attracted to Kristanna. The kind of attraction
that I wanted to explore further, and perhaps forever lose
myself in. "I've never met anyone like you. You know this?"
"I can safely say da same to yew," Kristanna mused, her
gaze finding mine. Her eyes shone brightly, magnificently,
the blue much more deep and intensive now. And vibrant.
Her smile was so golden, so peaceful... so inviting.
And then, I felt my face burning. My cheeks blushed a
crimson red as Kristanna leaned over and gave me a simple kiss
on the very edge of my mouth. My head was spinning. My
insides were roaring. My heart was pumping! I felt... alive.
For the first time in several years, I knew what happiness
was. I owed it all to this zany girl with the sexy accent.
"Please valk me up to my hotel room, Jeremy?" Kristanna
requested, extending me her hand as the ultimate olive branch.
"I be certain dat Momma and Papa vould love to meet yew."
* * *
*- Wednesday, March 30, 2016 -*-
-*- Sandvika, Norway -*-
(Present Day)
"Why are you crying?" I said to the monitor in total, pure
exasperation, still within the comfort of my voyeur room, as I
eyed Kristanna and Ariel via the surveillance system. Ariel
was still fast asleep, but Kristanna was openly weeping now as
she continued to rock our daughter about in the wooden chair.
Damnit. I knew why Kristanna was crying. Still worried
about the future and what it may have in store for Ariel. For
us as her parents. For our entire family.
I thought back to the time, some seven years ago, when I
first met Kristanna at Machu Picchu in Peru. She gave me
the ultimate pick-me-up with just her presence, her kindness
and friendship, when I needed it more than ever. I was at
the absolute lowest point of my life, and I needed someone
to help dig me out. Someone to pull me back to reality.
Following our first night together, when we met at the
restaurant (which still seemed surreal in my mind), Kristanna
flew out to my island with me in the morning via helicopter
and spent five whole days there as my guest. Oh, talk about
a treasured memory! Everything was platonic; Kristanna knew
that, above all else, I simply needed a friend.
I vividly recalled her final night there, when I fell
asleep with my head in her lap, her fingers tenderly stroking
my scalp. Of course, Kristanna wanted me to fall asleep. I
spent two hours telling her every grisly detail about my
relationship with Victoria and how she left me standing at
the altar for another girl some 16 years prior. Kristanna
sat there and listened to my lousy despair, my troubles.
Never once judged or looked down upon me. Did not tell me to
stop dwelling on what happened so long ago in the past (even
though she would have had every conceivable right to).
Kristanna was just... there. It was what I needed more
than anything at that moment, and she knew it. I needed
someone to confide in. To talk to. Someone to prove to me
that yes, indeed, there were still good people out in the
world. I just had to find them. Those five days? It was
the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me.
The next morning, I received the shock of a lifetime.
Kristanna wanted to come back to the island the following
month and actually spend two whole weeks with me. "Ve need
to work on adding some pizzazz to not only yewr mansion, but
yewr life too!" I remember her saying. It would be the first
of 45 trips she took to the island over the next four years.
Kristanna never once asked me for anything in return.
Indeed, she was the ultimate pick-me-up. I owed my entire
life to this amazing woman. Everything. When I was more lost
than ever before, Kristanna helped find me. She helped guide
me toward the light. Without her, where would I be today?
I now knew what I to do.
"Krissy..." I whimpered, choking back emotion, as I watched
my wife via the surveillance monitor. Tears were gushing down
her face as she continually rocked Ariel in the chair. Oh, how
I wanted to reach through the screen and hug Kristanna. Hug
Ariel. Hug them both, and promise everything would be okay.
I stood up from the control panel in the voyeur room and
literally slammed the chair out of my way. I went off with a
purpose, a goal in mind, to perhaps finally re-pay the favor
that was done for me long ago. The favor, quite frankly, that
I felt could never be rightfully re-paid. Until now.
Moments later, I stood at the entrance to Ariel's private
nursery. Still gently rocking in the chair, Kristanna had her
back to me and did not know I was there. I kept silent for
several seconds, listening to my wife's gentle cries, as I
rubbed my hands with sanitizer. No germs for Ariel!
This time, I was going to break down that wall and get
through to Kristanna. When our conversation was finished, I
promised myself, Kristanna would feel a million times better
than she did right now. I would not stop until I saw that
infectious smile upon her face once again.
"Mind if I join you?" I asked, repeating the initial words
Kristanna said to me on February 2, 2009, when we first met on
the other side of the globe. Startled, my wife turned to look
at me from her chair, but her expression immediately softened.
Oh, she seemed so incredibly vulnerable. So hurt. So lost.
I hesitated, but then offered Kristanna my most sincere
smile. "Looks like you could use a friend right now."
<<<- End of Chapter 17 ->>>
==---- -- -- -- - --- -- -- - - --- -- -- --- - -- - - - - --- -- ----==
"Island Fever 5: Family"
(c) 2016 JeremyDCP
- JeremyDCP@hotmail.com
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