The Witch's Tale

The Phone Call ... Or Fork in the Road (The stars are all in line and there are satellites linking up for this one ... Let's go see what happens during this phone call)

When Kris' phone rang the ringtone told him that it was Rebecca. He froze in his tracks for a moment, before gazing off into the distance and rolling his eyes. He was almost certain that if she was sending him some pictures, or worse a video, he might just have to go find a bottle of nectar and a shade tree to keep from killing himself. He was doing the best he could, or at least the best she would allow him. 

He took a moment to compose himself, trying to put on his 'best face' so to say before answering the call. When he heard Rebecca's voice, he immediately sensed something different ... She was nervous like she hadn't been before, and this call could be important. He just as quickly popped out of where his head had been and responded sincerely.

"Where am I and what am I doing ... At the market in Al Simhara and working ,,, Unfortunately, that is about all I can tell you about that. As to whether or not it is a good time ... There's nothing I cannot put on hold at the moment for my two favorite girls in the world. 

What's bothering you Becca ... What can I do for you?"

In an almost juxtaposed sense, when Rebecca heard his voice, she almost lost all her composure. She suddenly realized she couldn't say everything she was thinking as fast as it was running through her head. All she knew was that he was being as sweet as he always was with her. Rebecca skipped right over the small talk and dove right in.

"I was talking with Hanna today, and she got to asking questions, and I got to feeling so bad about what I have done to the two of you. I thought I was right, and in some ways, I still do ... But I cannot imagine what you are going through. You must seriously hate me ... And we have to fix this."

She stopped for a second to breathe ... Didn't know if she was going to keep going or just start bawling which was something she just didn't normally do. There was a pause where Kris was trying to let Rebecca get it all out, but nothing was coming out.

Kris couldn't let it sit any longer and there were a few things he wanted say. He ever so slightly switched gears and took the opportunity to put his feelings on the table. That had been next to impossible before, because Rebecca was holding all the cards and bearing the responsibility for her decisions ... And that is a position he could respect and something he really liked about her.

"Nah Becca ... I don't hate you. I might not agree with everything the way it has played out, and I am certain I want more ... But you are Hanna's mother and the two of you are doing fine.

That's one of the things that bugs me ... Like I appreciate the photos and videos, but they only help to a certain degree. I look at them and I get excited, the two of you are just perfect. Then after a while when I look at them again ... I see Hanna and I see you ... And that starts to chew on me. Hanna has you and you have Hanna ... I've got a pile of sand in my underwear and not much else. It makes me jealous in a way I ought not be ... And that's not normal for me. It's not something I can confront or fight ... It's not something I can overcome with brute force. 

It's killing me and there is nothing I can do short of ignoring your wishes and being someone else I don't want to be. We do need to fix this, before it drives both of us nuts."

The other end of the line was silent by now with the exception he could tell Rebecca was crying. Kris knew dang well she wasn't going to speak again until she could get a grip on that. He let is sit for a few second like they had done so many times before since this all started, then continued since he still had the floor so to say,

"Rebecca sweetheart .,, Not too long ago the two of us had what I consider to be an awesome weekend. I am pretty sure we both know there was way too much nectar involved, and I suspect we ended up in a situation that was very uncommon for the both of us ... I am certain it was for me. I liked you then ... And I have grown to like you a heck of a lot more since this all began.

I have dealt with my bosses and my colleagues regarding the situation we are in ... And I am sure you have dealt with your friends and family. If there is one thing I can say about it all ... I make sure the people I talk with about it know that in no way was Hanna a mistake, If anything, she very well may be what is truly the best thing that could happen to both of us."  

The conversation went deadly silent again ... Rebecca was still crying, and Kris had managed to choke himself up a little. There were no tears on his part yet, but he was dang sure getting misty. They both just sat there listening to each other breathe and trying to suck it up. Two hardcore fighters, turned into piles of goo by a sweet little girl.

When it looked like neither one of them was actually going to need to call for a time out and regroup for a later date ... Kris was more interested in what Rebecca was thinking than the desire to keep piling it on. Rebecca obliged and it started to look they might just gain some ground.

" Kris ... You have always been able to say the right things to me. Not right in the idea it is something we need to do ... But right in a sense of it being exactly what I need to hear when you say it.

I was thinking the same thing about Hanna ... But not necessarily the two of us and not in those words. When you say it ... It starts to make sense. Maybe I am just a coward and don't want to risk my heart. Hanna is easy to love, and I wouldn't trade that for anything ...  But risking it all on you and Hanna ... It scares me to death. It's not what I intended ... And what happens if I make a mess of that?"

Kris didn't have a lot of self-doubt and that's not how he knew Rebecca to be either. It was clear to him that motherhood and Hanna were beginning to affect Rebecca in ways she probably had not planned for. She had been the tough one, making the decisions and calling the shots ... Kris respected that ... He just needed to reassure her and help her find herself again ... Let her know that she didn't have to do it all alone.

"Well Becca ... Ever since I left University, I have spent my entire adult life serving someone else. Serving the greater cause and risking a lot just to do my job. I am distracted now ... I'm going to get myself or someone else hurt. Maybe it's time for me to step back ... Reap some of the rewards that job is supposed to provide for and protect ... And what better cause would there be for that than the two of y'all?

I have no idea what I'll do, and I have no clue how things will work out between us ... But ... I am no coward, and I don't think you really are either. If you give me a shot ... If you let me in ... I cannot say I know everything will be fine. All I can promise you is that I will do my best, I will never hurt you intentionally and things will never get so ugly that we cannot work things out if we have to go our separate ways.

I am not begging you ... I am asking you ... I have showed you some respect up to this point ... And I can only pray I have earned some respect in return doing so. I am not demanding anything ... I am just telling you what I want. In any case, I am done with this line of work ... I need to see my little girl, and I want to see you."

The conversation went silent again, the ball was in Rebecca's court. Rebecca understood that Kris had just played his cards. He had the advantage because he had not insisted on playing any cards earlier in the situation ... And he was pretty much betting on a full house ace high. Through all her reservation and doubts, Rebecca knew she had called Kris for a reason that evening. She could try to be the best mother in the world, but she was never going to be Hanna's father.

She knew Kris would be good for Hanna ... Rebecca knew that under different circumstances she and Kris were a lot alike. Rebecca realized that she could either sit there ... Dead air on a useless phone call ...  Or go ahead and take care of the business she had called him about in the first place ... Everyone kind of needs a 'duh moment' every once in a while.

Rebecca just let go and breathed easier when she spoke again ... Once she said it, there was no turning back ... And she had been there before.

"Sometimes I wonder if you are a serious, while other times I am certain that you are. I am going to have to let you know that is all me and has little to do with you. You have been the best partner I could have had during all this, and Lord knows you have earned more respect than a few of the others who have been here for me.

It would be extremely foolish of me to just try and think of all the ways things may not work out and all the reasons not to let you in. You have earned your chance ... I don't have a right nor a reason to deny you. I am not saying we might not have been a bit foolish that weekend ... But I also think you were correct when you said it was not a mistake.

You let me know when you get things worked out there in Al Simhara ... You don't worry about us, and we will be fine. Then you let me know when you are ready to come see your little girl ... I am not going to tell her anything, and it will be a surprise. I am willing to give it a shot ... And you just get here in one piece,"

Kris thanked Rebecca and they both felt better almost immediately. Everything wasn't solved but it was no longer stagnant and festering. They traded some small talk and even attempted to get sweet with each other, although that ended up being kind of awkward after the previous conversation ... It had been a productive call though.

.....

Now I get to go play for a while and find out what really happens to these nutcases ... 🤣

Happy Simming ... 💖