Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:28:47 -0400
From: Barry Gold <barry.gold69@gmail.com>
Subject: Rikki and Ginny 8

Rikki & Ginny
Rikki Needs A Stroke
by

Donal
krazydog@juno.com
sketchy sad girl small


(Rikki and Ginny suffer a setback.)


It was mid-morning before Ginny got up. She found Jessica in the kitchen,
reading the paper. "Morning, Ginny. Sleep well?"


"Better than I have in a while."


"That's good. Hungry?"


"Yea."


"I'll have something ready in about ten minutes. Rikki up?"


"Not yet." Ginny went in the living room and sat down. Feeling inspired,
she pulled out her laptop and started to write.


The next thing either Ginny or Jessica knew was that Rikki was standing in
the doorway to the living room, screaming; a soul-destroying, blood
curdling scream. Rikki ran upstairs and Ginny and Jessica heard a door
slam. Jessica dashed into the living room, "What happened?"


"I don't know. I was working on a new piece when I heard Rikki scream. She
disappeared before I could say anything."


"I suspect I know why. Rikki's initial complaint was the time you were
spending on the computer. You both had a good day yesterday and she comes
down this morning to find you back on the computer. She's afraid things are
back the way they were."


Ginny gasped, "I didn't think about that. I was just trying to follow my
muse. What do I do now?"


"Go after her. Plead temporary insanity. Do whatever you need to do to make
this right." Jessica followed Ginny upstairs and they looked for Rikki. The
last room to look in was the bathroom. Ginny tried the knob and found it
locked.


Ginny tapped on the door, "AngelFace, are you OK?" There was no answer.


Jessica knocked, "Honey, may we come in?"


"Go away!"


"We just want to make sure you're alright."


"I'm fine, Mom."


"Let us in, please." They heard the lock fall back. Opening the door
slowly, Ginny and Jessica peeked around the edge. Rikki was on the floor
against the tub, sobbing.


Ginny sat on the floor next to Rikki and gathered her up. Rikki buried her
face in Ginny's chest. "AngelFace, I'm so sorry. I wasn't
thinking. Yesterday inspired me and I was trying to get my thoughts down
before I forgot them."


Rikki started beating her fists on Ginny's shoulders, one after the other,
"I thought the hole in my heart was gone and then I saw you working on the
laptop, just like before. It was all I could do not to take the laptop and
throw it on the floor." Ginny flinched with each strike. Rikki broke down
again, but continued to beat on Ginny's chest. Jessica stood nearby just in
case. There seemed to be little force left in Rikki's blows, so she did
nothing and let Ginny handle it. Ginny sat there and took it.


When Rikki ran down, she buried her face in Ginny's neck. Ginny drew
Rikki's face up and kissed her forehead, "I'm so very sorry. Please forgive
me. I'll put the laptop away for the rest of the weekend. I promise. Please
give me a chance?"


Rikki buried her face again. Her voice was very soft, "I don't know. The
only thing I want right now is for you to hold me."


"I can do that." Ginny and Rikki stood up and hugged. Jessica handed Ginny
a Kleenex. "Dry your eyes, Baby." Rikki dried her tears and blew her
nose. Jessica came up and hugged them both.


The three of them went into the bedroom. Jessica pulled back the
covers. Ginny lay down and Rikki spooned up to her. Jessica tucked them in
tight and kissed each one. "I'll call you for lunch."


"Thanks, Mom...Jessica."


Ginny pulled Rikki as close as she could. She knew, deep down, that she had
to wait for Rikki to talk. They lay there, just breathing. After a few
minutes, Ginny heard Rikki whisper, "Did you mean what you said?"


"Mean what, Angel?"


"That you would put the laptop away for the rest of the weekend."


"Yes, and I promise to spend less time on it after this weekend." Rikki
stayed silent and may have dozed.


*****


Ginny felt someone shake her shoulder, "Lunch in ten minutes."


She moved closer to Rikki's ear, "Wake up, Rik. Your mom has lunch ready."
Rikki stretched hugely, but didn't say anything. They washed up in the
bathroom and went down to the kitchen. Jessica set a plate of grilled
cheese and chips in front of each girl. Rikki was quiet and kept her head
down, eating slowly. Ginny and Jessica tried to engage Rikki, but were
unsuccessful.


Ginny excused herself for a moment. When she came back, she had her laptop
case. Looking at Rikki, "Jessica, can you put this away for me? I promised
Rikki that I wouldn't use the laptop anymore this weekend."


"It would be my pleasure. I'll give it back to you when we leave." Rikki
may have smiled, but it was hard to tell. When she finished, her mom
suggested, "Why don't you go for a run?"


"OK." She changed into her running clothes and left.


Jessica started cleaning up and Ginny went into the living room. When the
dishes were done, Jessica looked for Ginny. She found Ginny curled up on
one end of the sofa with a pad of paper, "What'cha doin', Little Momma?"


"Trying to make some notes on what I was doing this morning and writing a
dedication. What do you think of this?" Ginny handed Jessica the pad she'd
been working on.


Two Lovers is dedicated to Rikki Laveque. She has brought love, laughter,
play, and giggling back into my life. Rikki reminded me what it is like to
live. She is my friend and my partner. Rikki contributed My Star, My Love
to this volume.


Jessica's eyes teared up, "It's very beautiful. I'm sure Rikki will love
it. Now, how do we repair the damage from this morning?"


"I don't know. I seem to have a penchant for sticking my foot in my mouth
lately. Any suggestions?"


"You have to remember that you are Rikki's first serious relationship. She
doesn't have the skills you have and that makes her fragile. I suggest that
you do what you were doing yesterday, make Rikki the absolute center of
your attention. She needs to know that you understand what she's
feeling. She needs to know that she can trust her feelings. It may require
some serious groveling, but make her feel good. Make her laugh. Have some
fun."


*****


Jessica left Ginny on the sofa, working, when the phone rang. Sarah
chirped, "How's things today?"


"Not good. We had a setback this morning."


"What happened?"


"Ginny was trying to get an idea down on her laptop when Rikki came
down. She saw Ginny on the laptop, screamed, and ran upstairs. We found her
on the bathroom floor, crying. I put them to bed, cuddling, until lunch. I
sent Rikki out for a run when she was done eating."


"Oh, no. What was the damage?"


"Back to square one, at least, maybe worse. Though it might not take as
long to recover."


"Why?"


"They must have talked about it upstairs. Ginny brought me the laptop and
asked me to put it away for the rest of the weekend. After Rikki left for
her run, Ginny asked me what she could do to get things back on track. It
all depends on how fast Rikki can let things get back on track."


"You have doubts?"


"I've seen Rikki hang onto a funk for weeks and let one go in a few
minutes. I'm hoping she exhausts herself running. It might make things
easier."


"Think Ginny would like to talk to Lauren?"


"I think she could be persuaded." Turning to the living room, "I've got a
little girl on the phone who thinks her mom is here. Anybody fit that
description?"


Jessica could hear feet thud on the floor and the phone was snatched from
her hand, "Hey, Baby. Are you having fun?" After a minute, Ginny handed the
phone back.


"Thanks, Sarah. I think that helped. Talk to you tomorrow."


*****


When Rikki got back from her run, she was seriously winded and drenched
with sweat. Ginny and Jessica were sitting at the kitchen table,
chatting. Ginny got up and hugged Rikki, tightly. Rikki made a half-hearted
attempt to push Ginny away, "Eeeww! I'm afraid I'm not very huggable right
now."


"No matter. Did you have a good run?"


"Yea. I did double the distance and ran the last mile as fast as I could. I
do feel better."


"May I have the privilege of washing your hair?"


Rikki gave Ginny one of `those' looks, "I guess."


"No monkey business, I promise."


"I guess."


"Then shall we get started?" Ginny took Rikki's hand in the crook of her
arm and started leading her upstairs.


"Ladies..."


"Yes, Mom...Mrs. Laveque?"


"Strip the beds and bring down your dirty clothes when you come. I want to
do a load of laundry."


"Sure thing."


Rikki dropped her running clothes in the middle of the bathroom floor and
Ginny's landed on top of them. Rikki adjusted the shower temperature while
Ginny lathered her hair. Ginny made it a production to massage Rikki's
scalp, "Rinse, please." Rikki started to relax but tensed when Ginny
nuzzled her neck for a moment. "Sorry." After a second application of
shampoo, "May I wash your back?"


"Yes."


Ginny soaped Rikki's back, careful not to go too low, and then scrubbed
herself. They got out, dried each other, and used the dusting powder. After
dressing, Ginny dumped the sheets, pillowcases, and dirty clothes in the
laundry basket. "Carry the hair dryer and comb for me, please?"


"I can do my hair."


"No chance. My job isn't done until your hair is dry and coiffed to a
fare-thee-well. After all, we have certain standards to maintain, don't
we?"


"I guess." When they got downstairs, Ginny dropped the basket in the
laundry room and took the dryer from Rikki. After combing out her hair,
Ginny called Jessica in and the three of them talked about how to style
Rikki's hair.


*****


Jessica kicked them out of the kitchen when they were done, "Why don't you
go dance `til dinner is ready? I put a special CD in the stereo."


"OK, Mom." Rikki recognized it as one of her mom's mix CD's; part Kenny G,
part John Tesh Project, all instrumental. Ginny slid into the lead while
Rikki laid her head on Ginny's shoulder. The pair of lovers glided around
the room, comfortable in their movements. Rikki seemed happy to stay
wrapped up in Ginny's arms. Faster songs, slower songs; they lost
themselves in the music. The last song ended at the same time Jessica
rapped on the door jamb to tell them that dinner was ready.


Rikki's appetite seemed better, but she was still quiet. Answering in
monosyllables to most questions, Rikki excused herself and went back in the
living room. Ginny and Jessica heard another CD start playing. Ginny helped
Jessica clear the table and went looking for Rikki. She found Rikki asleep
on the sofa. Slipping behind her, Ginny worked her arms around Rikki and
drew her in tight. Rikki pulled Ginny's arms even tighter and snuggled in
as close as she could.


Jessica found them both asleep. She covered them with a blanket, turned
down the stereo, and turned off the light. Kissing each one lightly on the
cheek, she whispered "Good night, my babies. Sleep well and wake up
healed."


Sometime later, Ginny woke up. She looked around, remembering. She was on
the sofa with Rikki curled up in her arms. Rikki's mom must have covered
them up. Leaning near Rikki's ear, "AngelFace, I think we'd be more
comfortable in bed. How `bout you?"


Rikki released Ginny's arms and sat up, "I guess." She stretched and headed
upstairs. Ginny folded the blanket and followed her unhappy lover. Rikki
had shed her clothes and sat on the edge of the bed. Ginny shed her clothes
and lay down. Rikki lay down next to her and Ginny pulled up the covers.


Wrapping her arms around Rikki, above and below her breasts, Ginny got
close. After a few minutes, Rikki took one of Ginny's hands and placed it
on her breast. She held it there when Ginny tried to move it. Speaking
softly, Ginny wished, "Sleep now, my Lady. I will do my best to protect you
from life's peccadilloes as we make a life together. I'm sorry that things
got out of balance. I love you and I'm not going anywhere."


Jessica found them asleep and tucked them in again.


(continued)




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Copyright 2004 Donal