Monday, August 7, 2006

Home Again

"Hurry, open that door. I can't hang unto these bags any longer, Carrie said. I just shook my head as I tried desperately to get the bolt lock open, I gave myself a silent reminder to have it checked as soon as possible. It had always stuck and I did mean to get it fixed, but it had slipped my mind.  I had brought Carrie home with me from the signing tour because my editor wanted her to help me with the re-writes and bring it back to him when it was all done.  I really didn't like the thought of her in my home, but I felt bad telling her to stay in a bed and breakfast in town when there was so much room here.  Her constant chattering was giving me a headache. She was a small, studious blonde with a face of a cherub, but boy, could she talk.

All the way home in the airplane, cab and now at the door.  I felt like rushing in and closing it real quick and putting my back to it so that she couldn't come in after me. But when I finally got it open I stepped aside so that she could enter before me with the suitcases. 

Taking her up to the second floor I gave her a very nice room and told her to freshen up and come down whenever she felt like it and that I would be in my room for a while also unpacking and refreshing myself after the long journey. 

Oh, was I happy to see my own room. There is no hotel on earth that is as comfortable as your very own bed.  I swear, I have slept in almost every kind of hotel there is and never found one that completely made me comfortable. 

I walked over to the sliding doors and opened them and stepped out on the veranda to look out at the cove. How I had missed this mystical and beautiful place. All of a sudden I could smell a strong musk scent in the room and I smiled. There was only one person I knew that had that wonderful scent. I turned around and before me stood the Captain. Oh, heart! Keep beating please!  He seemed more gorgeoushan he had when I left three weeks ago.  His smile lit up my heart as if a fire was burning inside. He walked over to me and took me in his arms and held me so tight I thought I would bust. I managed to wiggle back a bit and laughed as I looked into those swimmingdark eyes.  Gently he kissed my forehead , my eyes, and holding my head with his two hands he just looked at me for what seemed like forever,before slowly lowering his head and kissing me fully on my lips.  My knees got so weak I thought I would fall down if it weren't for him holding me up. Gently he stood back up and still holding me tightly whispered in my ear words I had no way of understanding what he was saying. I knew it was Gaelic for when he was with me he would often mutter words I could not understand. He stepped back finally and gave me a very stern look. I could not imagine what I had done to deserve it, but I knew he would tell me. 

"Now lass, I would like to know why ye have brought that young girl into this house. Why she even talks to herself in her room. What is she doing here and how long will she be here?" He asked.  I smiled, Oh, that was what was bothering him.  He didn't like company in what he still considered his home.  I explained to him why she had come with me and that I would be finished in a week with the re-writes and she would be gone then.

He rolled his eyes and I had to laugh.  I never saw him so nervous and uncomfortable. He always appeared to be in full control of any and all situations.  I don't think he had any idea what was going to happen with this girl here.   He squinted his eyes at me and told me that under no circumstances was this girl to go into his study, EVER.  I used my finger and crossed my heart as I held back a laugh and promised that she would not have full rein of my home and never be allowed into his study. This made him feel better because I could see he relaxed a bit.

I didn't like the idea any more than he did, but we were both stuck with my little friend who was to help me .  Well, time would tell if it was a good arrangement or not.

Just as the Captain was about to say something, Carrie came bouncing into the room chattering away about taking a tour of the house.  He had materialized behind her and shook his finer at me and used it to cross his heart as a reminder that I had made him a promise.  I just smiled and nodded my head up and down so that he knew I understood what he meant.  

Oh! Carrie! you are going to drive me crazy.  Those re-writes will be done very quickly I can assure you. I promised myself.