by K C West
That’s crazy. I’m suffering from some post earthquake trauma or something.
“PJ, I want you to do something for me?”
“Do I get a reward afterwards?”
“Be serious.”
“Okay.” She covered her face with both hands, then opened them to reveal a serious expression.
“Hold out your hands.” I dropped one medallion in each of her hands. “Do you notice anything?”
“Oh, my goodness. It’s…” She looked startled. “Kim, this one,” she opened her right hand, “is so warm … it’s almost hot. How did you do that?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t do anything. I noticed it, too. Only the other one was hotter for me, the one you have in your left hand.” I took it back and confirmed that it made my hand warm. “What do you think would cause that?”
PJ bit her lip. “I’ve no idea.”
“I’d like you to have one of them.”
“Oh, Kim, I couldn’t. They’re part of your Amazon artifacts … your project.”
I held up the two medallions. “Do you have any druthers?”
She gave me a dubious look. “I’ll take the colder one, okay? I don’t know what sort of magic might be at work in the other one.”
I dropped it over PJ’s head. “Wear it always.” She nodded.
I placed the other one, which now felt cool to my touch, over my head and tucked it inside my sweatshirt. “Maybe I’m being foolish, caught up in the events of the past several weeks, but I take our discovery of these artifacts as yet another sign that we’re forever connected to our Amazons. Marna and I shared the same soul, of that I’m sure. So who’s to say she couldn’t have intended we have these?”
“So, if you and Marna shared the same soul, you too were in love with Leeja.”
“I expect so.” I took a deep breath. “Everything that happened on the mountain has implications that we are unaware of as yet. Even the snakes were a sign.”
PJ chuckled. “God, they scared me. Didn’t they know we were there?”
“Rattlers are pit vipers. They locate prey by heat sensitivity and vibration. That’s why I told you to be still.”
“Then they must have been pretty stupid snakes because I was vibrating from head to foot.”
“They knew we were there. That’s why I believe there was more to it. They were telling us something.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. That it’s over … for us anyway. The Amazons have told their story, now it’s up to us to honor their memory by showing little girls they need not be second class citizens, that they too can grow up to be Amazons … warriors in the modern world of commerce, politics, and science. Nothing is beyond their reach. Our Amazons reached the New World. Our modern day Amazons will conquer time and space.”
“Wow!” PJ fingered her medallion. “What a beautiful way to honor them.”
“Wear it proudly,” I said, getting up, but not before touching her medallion. “You’ve earned it.”
Tears glistened in PJ’s eyes. “I will, Kim. And I don’t care what you say, I’m going to hug you.”
She got up from the computer and put her arms around me. She felt good in my arms, as if she belonged there. I stepped back, afraid of my desires.
PJ looked at me with great sadness in her eyes. “Not ready yet, huh?”
“Don’t rush me, PJ, please … this is a serious step, one I won’t take until I’m sure … I don’t want to be hurt again and I don’t want to hurt or disappoint you.”
“Okay, but going back to Leeja … if you as Marna were in love with her, how does that leave me with Kim?”
“That was another time, PJ.” I moved back to the sofa and started to tidy up the journals, which were scattered on the cushions and on the floor.
“I know you’re being careful, Kim, and I understand, but don’t wait until we’re old and crotchety, okay?”
“Oh, I still have a little life left in me yet.” To prove my point, I grabbed my damp hair towel, which I had left draped over the arm of the sofa, and slapped her across her rear end.
PJ raised an eyebrow. “I bet you do. But, Kim Blair, you’d better not be starting something you don’t intend to finish.”
Chapter Twenty-two
“Kim, you didn’t have to come shopping with me, you know. I was quite capable of finding the Superstition Springs Mall on my own.” I turned in a slow circle, checking the hem of a new pair of cargo pants in the three-way mirror outside the fitting room. “Dillard’s has quite a good selection of sportswear, don’t you think?”
“Very nice,” Kim replied. She was slumped in a chair outside of the fitting room, surrounded by shopping bags.
“Is the hem too long, do you think?”
She stared at my feet. “Looks fine to me.”
“Kim?” I waited for her to raise her sights.
“Mm?”
“You aren’t having much fun are you?”
“Sure I am. Watching you try on tons of clothes… why it… uh… it…” A yawn threatened to crack her jaw. “Sorry. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“This was a bad idea, Kim.”
“No, now wait. You needed to… we both needed a break from work. And you needed cheering up after that trip to the hotel.” Her eyes warmed to the color of milk chocolate. “I’m really sorry there was so little left of your things after the fire.”
I crouched beside her and gave her thigh a squeeze. She made sure we were alone before covering my hand with hers.
“And I’m really sorry you’re miserable here waiting for me. I really do appreciate your support, though.” When she smiled I could see the tension and fatigue fade away and only tiny laugh lines remained at the corners of her eyes. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think shopping, for you, must be like having a root canal without anesthesia.”
“Marginally better, but yes, that’s true.”
Then, I’d better stop torturing you.
I stood up. “Why don’t we get out of here… go get a snack or something?”
Kim straightened her back and folded her arms. “Wait. Hold on. You were looking at swimsuits over there on the sale rack a minute ago.” She inclined her head toward a display of microscopic bikinis and sleek, one-piece, racing tanks. “Aren’t you going to try any of them on?”
I followed her gaze and hesitated. Uh…huh. I know what your game is and I’m very flattered, but… “Nope. I don’t really need to replace the one that got burned up. I’ve got plenty back in Boston.”
Kim pouted. “Damn. I was looking forward to seeing you model a couple of those.”
I’ll bet. I shook my head. “Sorry. I won’t force you to stay here a minute longer than necessary.”
I changed back into my old clothes and carried the new shirts, jeans and shorts to the counter. “I’ll take these, please.” The clerk smiled and rang up my purchases.
While the register hummed, I peeked at Kim. She rose in deliberate increments and stretched, groaning to celebrate her release from captivity. With mathematical precision, she assembled my items into manageable bundles and staggered over to me in time to add my most recent purchases to the collection. “Just how many weeks did you think you’d be staying?” she asked.
I laughed and started ticking chores off on my fingers. “Well, you know it depends on the final reports, the insurance claim forms, the professors at the University of Arizona…and …uh…” I wiggled my pinkie while giving her a pointed look, “…a few more personal things. But, I can always use these in Boston next spring.”
We took the stairs down to the lower level, as the escalator was out of commission. Parts of the mall had been closed while construction engineers made tests and evaluated possible earthquake damage to walls and foundations.
Bright Christmas lights were strung from each storefront and giant candy canes arched over the miniature Toyland set aside for Santa’s Workshop.
A delightful carousel stood silently waiting for clearan
ce to resume its spinning. Several children pressed up against the barriers surrounding the glassed-in rotunda, urging it back to life.
I admired the attractive terra cotta and pastel hues of the floors and walls as we strolled along. “This is such a beautiful mall, Kim.” It had two stories that expanded into quadrants filled with airy sunshine. “Do you know what these geometric patterns on the floor represent?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t a clue. I’ve only been here a few times and that was usually a quick trip into Dillard’s from the outside entrance. I do know that it’s been here about ten years.” She chuckled. “And I read somewhere that when it first opened, they planted bamboo in the center area. But it grew at the rate of three inches a day, so they had to take it out. I see they have other trees planted along the sides now and, during this festive season, colorful Christmas lights hung from the branches.”
We stopped at the center area in question where the main attraction was a thriving cactus garden. “Well, anyway, I’m impressed with the place and I admire bold and daring experiments, even if they fail sometimes. Where would we be if you had listened to the skeptics who discounted your theories on the Amazon women?”
“Touche,” Kim muttered.
You’re so patient with me… and my need to shop. I scanned the storefronts for a way to reward her.
“Kim, why don’t we take these bags to the car and come back in for a milkshake at the Cold Stone Creamery or the Dairy Queen? My treat.”
Her expression brightened. “We’ve been here so long, I may need something more substantial. How about a sandwich or salad at Ruby Tuesday?”
I stared at her, shaking my head. “Would you listen to us? I, the former ‘health nut,’ suggest a sugar-filled, calorie-laden treat, and you, ‘Miss-I-can-eat-anything-fattening-and-not-gain-an-ounce,’ make a counter offer of salad. What’s wrong with this picture?”
Kim smirked. “Maybe we’ve rubbed off on each other.”
Oh, I’d like to rub off on you… don’t tempt me.
I sighed. “Maybe so. C’mon, give me some of those.” I took several bags and she redistributed her load. “Your shoulder just started mending. We don’t need to tax it to the limit.”
We found the minivan, dumped my purchases, and compromised with the Ruby Tuesday Salad Bar and a small hot fudge sundae at the Dairy Queen for dessert.
“Do you remember that cute tee shirt with the wolf on the front and the paw prints wrapping around the chest?” I asked Kim, as we climbed into the car after our feast. “We saw them in Sears.”
“It was all pretty much a blur, why?” She adjusted the rear view mirror and buckled her seatbelt, then popped a peanut butter cup into her mouth and chewed. Our final stop had been The Sweet Factory for cashews, gummy bears and peanut butter cups.
“Well, I got one and I liked it so much I bought another one for you.” I bit my lower lip. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“That really wasn’t necessary, PJ, but thank you.”
Kim started the car and we drove toward the supermarket. We had to buy food for our grand finale dinner with the students. Even though we weren’t sure when it would be, Kim believed in being prepared.
“I do like wolves, as you know, one in particular, anyway.” She exhaled. “Poor Pup. I hope he can hold on a bit longer. We’ve been gone for hours.”
I spotted a Best Buy on the way out of the mall and was only half-listening.
“Sorry Kim. I guess we could go back to the motor home first, and come back later for the food.”
She laughed. “PJ, I was just kidding you. He’ll be fine. You can take him out for a long walk when we get back and I’m sure he’ll forgive our neglect.”
“Oh well, good. Um… Kim, would you mind if we split up for a little bit? I remembered something I need at Best Buy-Drive to the market so I know where it is and let me use the car, okay? I’ll come back and find you before you’re finished. You know about raw meat and all that sort of thing anyway.”
She gave me a puzzled look. “You make me sound like a cave woman. Okay. We might as well do it all in one afternoon.”
I dropped Kim in front of Albertson’s, list and coupons in hand, prepared to make her assault as a modern day hunter-gatherer, and drove back to the electronics store. Several eager sales clerks helped me find just what I needed in less than twenty minutes.
Traffic along Power Road was horrendous. I did my best, but it was another ten minutes before I found a parking place at the supermarket and entered the store.
“Hey, there,” I said, a bit breathless, when I caught up to Kim. She was scrutinizing heads of iceberg lettuce. I took charge of pushing the cart as we worked our way through the aisles.
The store was jammed with people; women with young children, teenagers in pairs, single adults, and clusters of senior citizens, all yanking things from the shelves with grim-faced urgency, tossing them into carts and careening off to the next aisle. “Is it always this busy?”
Kim shrugged. “I usually go early or late to avoid crowds. It looks like everyone is afraid of being caught in another quake without milk, bread or toilet paper.”
I laughed. “It’s the same way back east, only it happens when they predict a blizzard.”
Kim hauled some packages of meat from the depths of her cart, handing them to me. “I got a couple of sirloin steaks and three pounds of ground beef. If we buy chicken, too, do you think it will be enough?”
I hefted the steaks and returned them to her. “I guess. You know how those guys eat…. like vultures. Remember those weekly dinners at Missus O’Brien’s place? I guess if we add lots of salad and chips we can manage.”
She nodded, thinking. “Drinks?”
We turned into the beverage aisle. I pointed to the rows of soda. “How about cans of soft drinks and bottles of water? We can buy a few foam coolers and ice it all down.”
“Okay, but I’d like to get a bottle of wine or maybe sparkling cider…for a farewell toast.”
I grabbed several twelve-packs of colas and a case of bottled water, while Kim found the cider. We checked her list and matched coupons. I offered to finance the deal, but she rejected all but a fifty-fifty split.
Since Kim knew the route back with all the detours, I let her drive, using my free time to review our master list of chores.
“Are you sure you aren’t adding things to this list?” I asked her. “It doesn’t seem to get any shorter.”
“Haven’t touched it, I swear.” Kim made a ‘crossing of her heart’ gesture and smiled at me.
“How are you coming with the UA professors?”
Her eyes returned to the road. “I spoke with Professor Crandall and Doctor Bentz. Under the circumstances, they will accept data and reports from up until the day of the quake. If our people did a good enough job, they’ll get credit for three quarters of a semester of fieldwork.” Kim gave me a grin. “It’s only fair; they worked their tails off.”
I nodded. “You saw to that. There’s no doubt in my mind that they fulfilled the requirements. But, what about the rest of the semester?”
Kim took a wide turn and came into her lot from the rear. “Ah, some more good news. In the three weeks remaining of this term, they will have two choices to complete their sessions. There’s an ongoing project of Apache and Pueblo mapping sites in Silver Creek…that’s in east central Arizona, or they can find openings with the Marana Mound work just north of Tucson. They’d need to do classifications and analysis of various Hohokam artifacts for the Museum at UA, but they can stay in their campus housing and commute by the university’s van.”
“Great. I’d be tempted by that second project myself. I imagine it’ll be right up Laine’s alley…maybe Mike’s too.”
“I think all of them could be happy with either project.”
When the minivan pulled to a stop beside her motor home, I put my hand on her arm. “You know Kim, they were really devastated by this sudden end to our work. We all were.”
&nbs
p; Kim patted my hand. “I know and I’m very thankful to have had such a dedicated team.”
“You seem to be the only one of us at peace with the situation.”
She sighed. “It’s odd, I know. I should be the one most destroyed, but I think it all somehow happened for a reason…the way it was meant to be. I’m not yet certain what it means, but I’m going to be patient and wait for it to unfold. Just knowing that my calculations and research panned out and that we actually located them, however briefly, is success enough for me.”
I gave her hand a squeeze and unclasped my seatbelt. “You’re incredible Kim. You’ve been a shining example to all of us. I’m so lucky to have worked with you on this project.”
We grabbed armloads of groceries and climbed the steps into the motor home. “I hope it doesn’t stop with this project, PJ.” Kim placed her bags on the kitchen counter and looked at me for several seconds. “Whatever comes of this soul-searching I’m doing, I want us to continue to be friends and work together. Would you be able to do that?”
The sensitive nature of the subject caught me off guard. I bit down on my lower lip, feeling the sting of tears.
Is this it, then? Are you going to deny this thing we have for each other and reject me? Can I back away and remain friends, if that’s all you want from me?
“I don’t know, Kim. You’re my best friend right now, so yes, I want to go on working with you for as long as possible. But, it won’t be easy. You know that you’re more than just a friend to me.” I blinked and took a couple of calming breaths. “I’ll try to give you all the time you need, if you keep considering your options.”
She nodded with a shy smile. “That sounds fair…and very honest. I’m not deliberately trying to hurt you, PJ. It’s taking me a long time to sort everything out and make everything better for all of us. Right now, I’m just glad that we found other work options for the crew.”
I was relieved to have the conversation back on less personal ground. “Those choices should make them happy. They won’t lose any credit hours or time. Will it pay as well as their work with the foundation?”