The Witch's Tale

Then There Were Three 

Kris' travel went well and after a layover in Bridgeport, he caught a puddle jumper to Hidden Springs. He didn't have a lot of stuff with him, but that wasn't uncommon in his previous line of work ... Travel light because you don't know when you will need to bug out. It symbolized he current state in life ... He wasn't bringing a lot with him and hoped he could adapt to the conditions on the field he was walking into.

It was past dusk in the evening when he found himself approaching Rebecca's house. Kris saw she didn't have a garage door, so he just dropped his bag in there. He took a deep breath, and started wondering if Rebecca was going to be upset he had decided to surprise them both. He sucked up his emotions, a mixed bag of excitement and anxiety ... And turned the corner getting himself ready to ring the doorbell.

Rebecca had just finished straightening things out, getting Hanna fed, and making a routine deposit from the training potty upstairs to the outside trashcan. She had finished a book a few days earlier but hadn't found the chance to check the mail since then. She turned to check the mailbox for her copy of the new book when she heard footsteps crunching the snow behind her.

Kris was caught by surprise as he was coming out of her garage. His heart leaped into his throat, and he had to swallow hard to get his next words out. He had been thinking about Rebecca, and he remembered the how she made him feel in Cairo and when hearing her voice on the phone, but it hit him again when he was looking dead at her and she was real, She was no longer a dream or something he had to piece together from his memories. He could see the condensation from her breath as it floated in the still winter air ... This was real.

Kris had thought about all the things he could say to her in this moment, but they were all escaping him just the same. Simply happy to see her, he said the first thing he could manage to get out ... "You know Becca ... You're gonna freeze to death standing out here in those shorts."

Rebecca had her back to him, but she knew who it was ... Kris had an unusually deep voice and there was no mistaking it. Not to mention that her family and some friends called her Becca ... But when he said it, it was music to her ears ... There was something special in it. When she turned it took her a moment to recognize him ... A different haircut and he looked a little different than when they had been in Cairo ... He looked comfortable instead of on the job. When her eyes met his, she remembered those shards of crystal ... That square jaw and straight back.

Still surprised, and completely unprepared, Rebecca blurted out ... "What are you doing here Kris ... You were supposed to call and let me know you were coming? I was ... "

Rebecca stopped the second she understood that what she was going to do, was no longer on the table. She had been waiting for this moment as long as he had and she had just barked at him.

That led to an awkward moment of silence, and they were both trying to find a way to recover. The answer was simple, and Kris just told the truth ... "I wanted to surprise you too ... I am so glad to see you."

It might have been simple and just the truth, but it worked.  A chilly reception started heating up ... And the smile on Rebecca's face threatened to melt the snow. Things might not have gone as anyone had planned, but they were on the right track.

Kris started trying to explain himself and kickstart the conversation again when Rebecca surprised him ... "Oh no mister ... If you are just going to throw everything to the wind ... You better come here."

Although it startled him, Kris didn't mind ... And it's possible that was a reflection of the same thing that happened in Cairo and started all this.  The two of them had a chemistry and they made each other silly crazy at times. Both of them had planned on being more cautious this time around, but they opted for enjoying that kiss instead.

The kiss wasn't too long or too short, and when they came up for air, Rebecca switched right back into her manager style ... "You know what ... There is someone upstairs that will probably be just as excited to see you as I am. Hanna is playing in the dayroom at the top of the stairs, you should be able to find your way, and I'll be right up behind you."

Rebecca's house was small, and he couldn't have gotten lost ... There was music coming from the dayroom, and Hanna didn't hear him coming up the stairs. He turned the corner into the dayroom and saw her playing. He wanted to run to her and snatch her up but thought that might be a bit scary with his size and the lack of her familiarity with him. Rebecca had let them speak to each other during the last two calls and his voice was different ... "I am betting you are my little girl Hanna."

Hanna did recognize Kris' voice, drooped the toy she was playing with and stretched her arms out towards him. Moments later he was holding her, and she was talking ninety to nothing. It was a little hard for Kris to follow and the best he could figure out she was switching between asking questions, and the idea that introducing him to all her toys was probably necessary. Hanna wasn't really waiting for answers, and Rebecca started trying to clear the minefield and trip hazards that were commonplace when Hanna had been playing.

When it became evident that mama was now 'old news' and that daddy was way more interesting ... Rebecca told them both that she would just be downstairs working out as usual ... And easy enough to find if they needed her. She told Kris to enjoy the moment, not to worry about her, and to have some fun with Hanna. 

"I'll be back up to check on y'all in a little while, feed Hanna and get her ready for bed ... I'll even let you take care of emptying the potty this time."

Kris kind of laughed and looked at her, with Hanna on his hip ... "Gee, Thanks Becca ... Looks like I am about to get a crash course in parenting. You know I haven't done this before ... Is there a ripcord if it starts to look like I am going to crash and burn?"

Rebecca just giggled with her eyes sparkling ... "Oh ... Don't you start crying tough guy ... You've got some catching up to do"

It started looking like Kris and Rebecca were a lot alike. They might not be sure exactly how things were going to work out between them ... But there was also little question about how either one of them was going to go about it ... They were already having fun.

Kris and Hanna had a blast for about two hours before Rebecca came back up to get bedtime squared away for Hanna. Kris did his best to take cues from Rebecca, and tried to keep the dayroom from turning into an obstacle course ... Only to realize that he was sorely outmatched by a toddler in overdrive.

Hanna was completely wiped out by the time Rebecca had showered after her workout and come back to the dayroom to get her ready for bed. Kris wasn't much different after traveling for days and then 'herding cats' in his new world. There were some things he and Rebecca needed to discuss, he grabbed his bag from garage after depositing the contents of the potty, and met Rebecca back upstairs in her bedroom.

Being the gentleman he was, and not assuming anything or taking anything for granted ... "I have my stuff here ... It's not a lot, but that will change. If you have a blanket, I can sleep on the couch over there and we'll talk in the morning ,,, Hanna wore me out."

Rebecca brought a few words of wisdom, and hopefully a better offer ... "I know this is all kind of strange and we really don't know how all this is going to work out ... But I am going to tell you this right now. I have thought about you, and I remember Cairo like it was yesterday. One of the problems we have now is the distance we have put between us since then.

We don't have to jump back in all hot and heavy, but I like you being here now. There's a foot and half of snow on the ground outside and the bed is a heck of a lot warmer. We don't need to start trying to come together by putting space between us, and it is hard for me to believe you came all this way just to sleep on my couch."

Kris couldn't disagree and that issue evaporated.

The two of them spent a little time talking on the bed, just getting familiar with each other again. Kris stumbled around telling Rebecca that he really didn't know what he was going to do, but that it shouldn't be hard for him to find a job around Hidden Springs ... He had a Degree in Business if nothing else. He also commented that he really liked her house, but that it was too small to accommodate two adults and a child once Hanna grew a little more and started school. He knew Rebecca had land in Al Simhara, but he didn't know the extent of everything, and he wanted to do his part.

Rebecca listened, and took her time trying to think of how to respond, eventually settling on the truth as the best answer ... "There's probably a few things we might should have covered by now, but we can start with this ... I'm rich, and I make more in a week than you made in a year while in the Service ... You're a smart guy and should have figured that out. You need to spend time with Hanna ... I need your help and a partner to share the world and my life with. Don't worry about finding work yet ... We'll be okay, and you can do that whenever you are ready.

By the way ... I'm a witch and so is your daughter ... We'll talk about that at another time. It's not pressing now, and we do have time. You need some sleep because I am sure you and Hanna will be busy tomorrow."

Rebecca had been correct, and the bed was warmer than the couch. She had also been correct about not putting space between them. Fading in and out of sleep during the night, Kris felt Rebecca's warmth and the coziness gave him something that Cairo could have never given him. He had been at Rebecca's far less than a day ... And he was starting to understand that it felt like it could be a home.

Hope y'all find some use in it, because I am dang sure having fun ... Happy Simming ... 💖