Chapter Twenty-Three: Part Three
Rick had to ‘endure’ another tight embrace from Kate after she saw that their cabin had been renamed. The dark teak shingle had been replaced, and ‘Ironwood’ was deeply engraved into the new shingle. Rick said, ‘That’s Australian Grey Ironbark. I am sure it’s more metal than wood. You know, we went through three router bits to do those eight letters? And two drill bits to make those holes! It’s so hard it throws sparks. Real sparks!’
‘I love it Ricky, thank you,’ Kate said, touching the deep lettering for a moment before they went inside to freshen up.
JC drove around the ring road in the buggy to collect them after they’d washed their faces and changed into clothes suitable for the warm afternoon temperatures of the early autumn day. By the time they arrived back at the maloca, the fiesta was gaining momentum. Including the transient population of the Big End, there were fifty people there, all excited and chattering happily. The afternoon became evening as the food and drink flowed. It ended in the same, happy mood with a mass hug after Maria said the same words that Grandmother had said on their first visit.
They were almost stumbling with fatigue as they walked through their cabin door that evening. Rick said to Kate, ‘Why don’t you have first shower, I’ll make us some tea.’
‘You sweet talker you,’ she said, kissing him before heading to the bathroom.
Rick joined her a few minutes later and they took delight in soaping and washing each other’s bodies in a ritual they enjoyed greatly. The tea was a perfect drinking temperature by the time they had dried off and it had them both sleeping soundly before their snuggling could become anything more.
~~~~~
Kate moaned, wriggling contentedly. Rick had woken her with gentle strokes and tickles on her back and massaging her shoulders. Kate was sure that it was very nearly the nicest possible way to wake up. She sighed, stretching luxuriantly and making her back more available to Rick’s skilled hands. The pressure in her bladder eventually forced her to leave the happy comfort of the bed. Rick was up and active when she came back. She glanced at his watch on the sideboard and saw that it was just after nine already. A little part of her hoped he’d still be in bed, but all was forgiven when he presented her with a steaming cup of tea. It had a strange but pleasant taste, and was different to any she’d had on the island to date.
They made some toast and coffee to take down to the water, savouring the last balmy breezes of the morning. Today promised to be a hot one. Electric blue butterflies were gathering and flitting about under the trees around them. Looking at them, Kate said, ‘Lightning tonight.’
Rick took her by surprise, taking her by the shoulders and turning her to kiss her firmly. ‘Have I told you how much I love you lately?’
‘Hmmm, I seem to recall something along those lines.’ She giggled. ‘What was that tea? It was really nice, but I feel kind of edgy.’
‘Sorry, that’s my fault. I shouldn’t have made us coffee. It’s a purification tea that helps the body get ready for the journeying tea tomorrow, and it’s fighting with the caffeine. Even if you don’t want to take the journeying tea, the cleansing effect it has on the body is good anyway.’
She said, ‘You know I am happy to participate in all parts of New Day, Rick, we all are.’ The smile on his face told Kate that this was actually a lot more important to him than he had let on until that moment. Her face became serious. ‘Now, mister, we have something dire to discuss.’
‘Faker!’ Rick taunted.
They had both been studying the Facial-Action-Coding-System (FACS) at which Natalie excelled, a system of reading the involuntary facial flashes that reflected a person’s true thoughts at any time. Truth, deception and deflection was quickly revealed using FACS. It was interesting and fun, and they spent at least a few minutes a day trying to challenge the skill of the other. It also gave them valuable insights into the sub-text of the endless negotiations that their innovative engineering projects seemed to necessitate.
Kate poked her tongue out and they both giggled. She looked at him and said, ‘Ricky, I do have something I want to ask you.’ Rick tilted his head and listened. ‘I love everything we do and you know it. God, you blow my mind so regularly that I can’t remember what it was like before you. It just feels like it’s been ages since we’ve played any games. I know it’s really only been two weeks since we did… since… you know… but I want to ask, is anything wrong?’ The look of horror in his eyes allayed her fears instantly.
‘God no, Kate. Nothing at all. We’ve been doing twelve to eighteen-hour days, and I didn’t think either of us was up to an extended session. Kate, I don’t want you to feel neglected, ever.’
‘I don’t feel neglected, Rick, I just needed to check in and ask. I have no complaints. I love everything we do together, and I love that on most days we still manage to find a way to fit something wonderful in.’ She smiled at him, making sure he knew that her double entendre was deliberate. ‘We have been working a lot, too much in fact, and I think we need to do something about that. It might be being back here on Alegria, but I couldn’t help remembering Nat and Dom, and then you talking me through a scenario on that couch inside…’
~~~~~