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