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Post by Michael Clarke on Feb 21, 2011 11:20:17 GMT -5
The couple looked at each other for a moment, then Michael spoke:
"I remember after our senior year of high school..."
"Don't tell that story, please?"
"Oh come on, be a sport."
"You know how embarrassing it is."
"That's why I'm telling her, she needs to know her mother." Jen stopped her protesting, a small flash of hurt coming across her face as she removed her head from his right shoulder. Michael hadn't noticed, only continuing:
"So Jen and I, after our graduation, decide to go swimming in the lake nearby. Now mind you, we're doing this at one o clock in the morning on my parent's property, so this was a stupid idea to begin with. So anyway, Jen decides that she's going to take off all her clothes."
"Dumb."
"Tell me about it. And I decide to join her."
"Even more dumb."
"Shush woman, let me tell my story."
"Our story."
"So now we're both naked as jailbirds, swimming in the lake, goofing off, the usual eighteen year old nonsense. After a while, we get out of the lake and start for our clothes...when we realize that they weren't there."
"Gone. Completely....gone. We had to run to his parents house, where his father was standing on the porch, laughing himself to pieces."
"Dad told us: 'That's the last time you two swim in my water'!"
"I hated him for that."
"It was funny."
"Yeah, for you. He was YOUR father. How would you like it if you were butt naked in front of MY parents?"
"Your conservative, curfew at ten parents? Terrible."
"My point exactly." Jen looked at Hollie and smiled, asking:
"Enough about us. What have you been doing with your life?"
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Post by Hollie Clarke on Feb 21, 2011 11:34:06 GMT -5
Hollie couldn't help but be amused by that story, the smile staying present all the way through.
"Me? I, well..." Where was the appropriate place to start?
"Well, I suppose the main thing I've been doing is working with computers. They're sort of the best thing to use when you're blind, one of the only things really. And I'm pretty good... awesome, actually." She grinned, she wasn't boasting either, it was the truth. "I've been working on the Venia, helping the crew out when everything gets screwed up, it's been pretty exciting." This sounded like such a generic answer, but what else was she supposed to say? "I've made friends. Oh, OH, you have to come on board... no, no, wait, ugh. There's this amazing chef that we used to have on board, I swear, his food. I would have said come on board and try it, but he's not there at the moment. I'll have to make him come back for a day, just so you can try something. It's much better than here," she quickly held up her hands, "no offence."
"And, that was enough gushing, I think," she shook her head slightly.
"I got my eyesight... yesterday, I suppose that was a big thing," she said, playing it down, taking a sip through the straw, "been pretty amazing so far."
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Post by Michael Clarke on Feb 21, 2011 16:37:32 GMT -5
Jen reached with a free hand and took one of Hollie's, saying with a smile that was framed around a saddened face:
"I was afraid you would never get the chance to see. When I was told your condition...well like I said, I panicked. Funny how fear played into all this."
"And how courage brought us all back."
"That's strangely poetic of you."
"I've been working on it."
Their conversation lasted for at least three hours, all kinds of topics brought up, some of which were met with laughter, some with grim solemnity, but in the end, it was a start; a start that Michael had wanted ever since he had left. As they strode back into Jen's home, Michael asked:
"Why here?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why a little town in upstate New York?"
"It was remote enough to where I didn't have to think about anything. I changed my last name, I started a new career...it felt great on the surface."
"That's how I felt for a while." Michael yawned widely, telling the girls:
"I need to lie down. Been a long day."
"Oh you are getting old, aren't you?"
"Now, now, that's not the best example in the world."
"Well you aren't the best either." While Michael had been said in jest, Jen's tone had a sharp edge to it, as if she still held bitterness towards him. The Captain didn't say a word about the comment, rather asking:
"Where's the bed?"
"Second door on the right. There's stuff on it."
"I'll move it." Michael walked into the room, sliding clothes and other assorted items off the mattress, before lying down, his eyes closing. It was almost too good to be true.
"That was dumb, wasn't it?" She asked Hollie, shaking her head as she put a hand to her forehead, continuing:
"I'm still not...totally convinced this is all reality yet. It's too disconcerting." She walked into the kitchen and reached for two mugs, beginning to make some kind of tea. As she filled both mugs with hot water, she asked:
"So, are you married yet? Or has Michael not allowed you to do that?"
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Post by Hollie Clarke on Feb 21, 2011 17:32:56 GMT -5
"I don't blame you," Hollie said, following her Mom into the kitchen, leaning against the counter, "I have some serious trust issues, so I know where you're coming from. And I didn't let him off easy in the beginning either." It was true, in fact, her explosion of emotion had been pretty dramatic, and it had taken a good few months for her to trust him completely. She imagined it was going to take a while with Jen too.
"Married?" she let out a snort of laughter, "no, no, no. I mean, yeah, he probably wouldn't allow it. But, I haven't even really had a steady boyfriend yet. There was a guy back in High School who I used to sing with. Then there was Ollie, but that..." she trailed off, sighing slightly, "I thought it was special, apparently not. It ended a while ago. And there's not really been anyone since. Except..." she pursed her lips, "there's a guy on board at the moment, who's nice, but, we're just friends."
Brushing her hair behind her ears, she asked, "was there ever anyone before Dad? I mean, that you liked, or... more?"
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Post by Michael Clarke on Feb 22, 2011 11:16:16 GMT -5
"That can change pretty quickly, you know." Jen said with a small smile, handing Hollie one of the mugs(now filled with tea) before taking one between her hands, leaning up against the kitchen counter before answering her daughter's question:
"Before him? There were a few guys in high school, but it was nothing substantial. Hormones are a terrible thing, you know it?" She took a sip from her mug before continuing:
"Of course, there were two or three men AFTER he left. I allowed myself to forget that Michael ever existed, drowning myself in the usual college/young adult relationship theater. It was a bad experience with most of them except for one, who I almost married. Then I found out about the two mistresses he had been keeping and well...needless to say, I left him. So it hasn't been the easiest of times. I guess you could say that I deserved it, but..." She shrugged, taking another sip of liquid before she continued:
"It's funny how the three of us converged paths. I never thought I would see you, let alone him, again. But now that we've been re-united...I mean, the two of you are out in the middle of space for most of the year and I...well, you know what I'm getting at."
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Post by Hollie Clarke on Feb 22, 2011 18:20:44 GMT -5
Hollie did know. All of the guys that she'd fallen for so far had been her friends first, because she had to trust them before she could allow them to become close. She had become more trusting lately, she seemed to let people in more easily. Who knew what was going to happen with Ezra? She found it was best not to guess, or wonder, or dream about what may happen. Whatever happened, she'd go with it... or stubbornly refuse, whatever she felt inclined to do at the time.
Nodding, Hollie said, "yeah, it's pretty complicated." She sipped her tea, looking at her mother over the top of her mug. Part of her kept thinking it was still hard to believe that the two women were both standing here together, actually having a civil conversation. "Maybe," Hollie shrugged her shoulders to emphasise that this was a casual suggestion, "you could take the available Psychologist spot on board the Venia. That way you'd still be doing what you love, and me and Dad would both be there, whenever you wanted to see us. You could have your cake and eat it too."
Holding the cup of tea between her hands, she moved to go find somewhere to sleep - close her eyes for the first time and actually see something before drifting off. "Think about it," she called back, before vanishing around the corner.
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Post by Michael Clarke on Feb 22, 2011 19:41:53 GMT -5
Jen set her mug down on the counter before catching up with her daughter in the hallway, pointing her to a room at the end of the hall, saying:
"That's the guest bedroom. It should have enough for you to sleep with, but if it doesn't, pillows and things are in the closet there." She smiled, giving Hollie a heart-felt hug, kissing her on the forehead as she told her:
"You're already a better woman than I am, Hollie. I want you to keep it that way."
Michael stirred slightly as Jen shut the door behind her, the captain asking groggily:
"Am I back on the ship? Or is this still reality?"
"Still reality, I hope." She took off her outer layer of clothing before sliding into bed, sitting up against the headboard. Jen wasn't physically exhausted, but emotionally she was taxed. It wasn't every day that two of the most important people in one's life who had been missing for twenty odd years come back.
"Do you think this is going to work?"
"What?"
"Wake up and listen to me."
"I am listening."
"No, you're still asleep."
"Am I?" Michael turned around to face his wife, sitting up and kissing her on the lips, Jen returning the gesture eagerly, both of their hearts fluttering. They were still in love.
What a miracle.
Jen gently pushed Michael away, smirking as she asked him:
"You really want to listen to me?"
"Of course."
"You don't want to consummate our marriage?"
"That's a fancy way of putting it, but not right now. Doesn't feel right with our daughter two doors down from us."
"Speaking of our daughter, she's gorgeous."
"Of course. She took after you." Michael sat up against the headboard as well, putting a hand on Jennifer's right thigh as Jen spoke:
"She mentioned me coming onboard."
"Oh?"
"There's an opening for psychologist, you know that. I have my doctorate in social work, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch."
"I don't know if I want you onboard."
"My turn to wonder out loud."
"Because if we get into any trou..."
"You listen to me, flyboy: we've been through enough on our own. Don't you think it's time we endured all of life's trials together?" Michael was silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts before speaking:
"You know it's different up there, Jen. You're going to be on that ship for three hundred days at the least. It's not an easy job."
"And working with disturbed kids is? Don't limit me. I can do this."
"I'm not doubting you..."
"You ARE doubting."
"Ok, maybe I am, but I just can't..."
"Just can't what, Mike? Let me be in your life?"
"Don't you ever say that again." A break in the conversation allowed Michael to put his left arm around Jennifer's shoulders, kissing the woman on her head before saying quietly:
"You don't understand how much I've missed you...how much I've loved you and still love you. I want you there every second of every day, baby."
"That's what I wanted to hear." Jen lifted her head and kissed Michael intensely, the captain lowering Jennifer onto the bed, hands throwing the sheets off. Jen broke away for a brief second, saying with a smirk:
"Knew you couldn't resist me for that long."
"Shut it, woman."
Michael awoke to a knocking sound...he grunted, turning over to find that Jen had already left, his wife calling from outside the door:
"Get up, flyboy! The women of the house are ready to leave!" Michael sat up in bed, rubbing a hand over his face as he looked around the room. There were drawers wide open, a closet door left open as well, revealing nothing but bareness. Looks like she was coming.
Jen had her things packed and by the door close to two hours ago, leaving her the duty of preparing both Hollie and Michael a fantastic breakfast. Little did she know that it would only be her and Hollie that would enjoy the food, seeing as Michael slept in till the very last moment. She would be the one to wake him up, seeing as if Hollie went in...well, she would be scarred for life, to say the least.
"Don't make me come in there!"
"I'm comin, I'm comin..."
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Post by Hollie Clarke on Feb 23, 2011 8:57:25 GMT -5
As Hollie had curled up into the bed, forming a cocoon around herself with the covers, she couldn't help but smile. It looked like everything was going to turn out all right.
Then, she began to hear something from down the hallway, and snorted loudly before pulling the pillow over her head.
Oh yeah, things were definitely all right.
The glow her Mom wore in the morning did nothing but confirm it, and Hollie found herself smirking pretty much all the way through her bacon and eggs. She was now standing by the front door in her change of clothes, holding a bacon sandwich in a bag which she would thrust under her Dad's nose as soon as he surfaced, and dressed.
"There is no way in hell he'd get away with sleeping this late on board," Hollie snickered, nudging her Mom's arm, "what did you do to him last night? He's not having to escape handcuffs or something, is he?"
Not that she'd have handcuffs.
She broke into a fit of giggles about halfway through the sentence, struggling to get the rest out. "I'm kidding!" she said quickly, seeing the look on the woman's face, "kidding, I promise."
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Post by Michael Clarke on Feb 23, 2011 16:34:05 GMT -5
"Any more jokes like that and you're going to catch a lot of misery when I'm onboard. Like tell everyone your ADORATION for Ezra." Jen laughed, nudging her daughter back as Michael walked into the living room, hair slightly combed, but the man still looked disheveled.
"What's all this noise about?"
"Gotta leave, baby. Train is going to go in fifteen minutes. Carry my things."
"Women."
"You have two to deal with now. Too bad."
"Har har."
"You know you like it." Michael took the sandwich from Hollie's hands, biting into it as he grabbed a suitcase with his other hand. He couldn't help but smile as he saw Jen hook arms with Hollie, his wife laughing as she said something about ship life.
This was going to be quite an adventure.
(I'm going to assume this ends it?)
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