Chapter 8

I gave Charlie his space. As much as he needed from me. I went about my days studying and tending to Bryan. It was like Charlie was there, but he wasn't really there. I began studying for my GRE. The graduate record examination, in preparation to get my masters in education. It was really important to me that I earn my right to become a teacher. I knew that if I could just pass my exam I would be well on my way to my dream career. As for Charlie about two weeks ago, he did finally speak to me, but he didn't say very much. He just wanted to tell me that he found a new job at a radio station across from Kevin's garage. Kevin said they've been needing someone for sometime. Charlie works Monday thru Thursday and he's off on Friday's. I didn't hear anymore from him after that.

It was Friday afternoon and Charlie walked into the living room. I had Bryan in my lap and we were watching cartoons.

"Har..."

I missed him calling me by nickname.

"What's up?"

"Get dressed, Mom's coming to watch Bryan."

"What?"

I was so confused.

"She'll be here any minute."

I did as he instructed. I put on a tank top and some shorts. He drove me out past the city. I looked at Charlie. He didn't speak a word as he drove. I looked at the sky. It became grey and murky. It looked like mashed potatoes and smoke were dancing over one another.

"Looks like it's gonna pour down rain." I said softly.

Charlie remained silent. We left the city behind us and came face to face with the evergreens of Bellwood. I had no idea where Charlie was taking me or why he was taking me there. The road became longer and steeper. We past tree after tree, and mountainous terrain. Finally, Charlie pulled up to a camping site. He parked the car and unlatched his seatbelt. He then slowly looked at me.

"Want to uh...have some grilled burgers and walk down by the lake with me?"

"Yeah." I said with a slow grin. It was then I realized this was a date. I helped Charlie grill. Although it looked like rain would drench us at any minute. After we ate he took me by the hand and we walked along side the lake. He was still pretty quiet so I tried to break the ice.

"Why bring me all the way out here?" I asked.

"I...I wanted us to leave everything behind us...even Bryan if only for a moment to focus on us. I've thought long and hard about what happened, and I want to say how I feel and then you can say how you feel, okay?"

"Okay."

"Okay...I'll start by telling that I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry you-"

"Har..."

"Right...please continue."

"I'm sorry because I didn't take my health more seriously, I didnt stick up for myself, you were right...I'm sorry I yelled and made you cry and scared Bryan."

I looked down, then back up at him as he continued to speak.

"Second...Gary's an asshole okay...if it wasn't you, he would have fired me anyway over something else later...Third, what you did for me was fine...You were only trying to help...as my wife...and as the loving and caring one you are."

I smiled shyly.

"Lastly though Harmione...not telling me wasn't okay...I need to know everything...or at least mostly everything; especially if it involves me...We don't need to keep secrets from each other...we have been through far too much for that...but when you thought you succeed in not telling me...well it...it broke my heart honestly...You really hurt my feelings...and I need that trust Har, it made me wonder if there's something else that happened you never told me about...But from now on, I want you to be honest and more open ended with me about things okay?"

"Oh Charlie, I'm so sorry!" I began to tear up. "I promise I won't do anything like it again, I'll tell you my ideas, and share my plans to help you and make you feel less untrusting of me, I'm sorry I made you feel that way."

"Let me stop you there...I know you Harmione. I know you better than you do yourself. I know you didn't do it on purpose, but it did hurt and I forgive you...I promise to take better care of my sugar and stand up for myself when I need help so you don't have too..."

"I'll always be there to help Charlie."

"And I'm glad...these past two weeks have been so stupid and lonely and I just want to forget the whole thing."

"I just want you to love me like before."

"Aww babe I never stopped loving you, never will...come here."

He put his hands on my waist and pulled me close. He then kissed me. I deeply missed his lips on mine. The weather held up and a few clouds began to drift. We stayed a little while longer to watch the sunset and stargaze. Out there in the middle of nowhere the city lights didn't drown out the shimmer of the stars or the planets. I remember seeing them up close and personal in the Academy.

"Hey Har..."

I rolled over on my side and put my hand under my head, and my elbow cropped up on the grass.

"Yeah?"

"I've been a human being for almost 23 years...but for the vast majority of those years I had you...and your family...all those stars up there...the planets...we both now know about the other life that's out there...I haven't thought about it in a while but before you I was just like everybody else."

He looked at me.

"The human mind doesn't use all of its power to see...there are things that only technology can see like infrared...and we all have the five senses: see, hear, taste, touch, smell...and that's the only perception of life we can follow...You've opened doors for me Harmione...you've given me a gift I wouldn't have otherwise...I have forgotten what it was like to live oblivious...those poor people, how boring there lives must be. "

I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"There's nothing wrong with being oblivious though Charlie...there are still lots of things we don't know...and I think it keeps us honest...keeps our imagination open, keeps dreams alive and our hearts pure."

Charlie slowly looked at me. I smiled at him. He smiled back, then blinked quickly as it slowly begin to drizzle. He wiped the droplets from his face.

"I love you Harmione."

"And I love you Charlie."

He quickly kissed me. As we began to make out that rain I thought would drench us earlier began to drench us now. Instead of seeking shelter from it, or heading back to the car; we just basked in it. It felt absolutely wonderful. It had been hot for the past couple of days. The Earth was about to die of thirst. The heated air slowly began to cool as the water hit the soil. It created a chill mist across the lake. We then began to make love under the night sky. We didn't care. We became to caught up in the moment of passion itself that nothing was going to stop us. Charlie rolled over on top of me and water and sweat dripped from his fringe as he made love to me. He smiled into another kiss. Life outside of the world didn't matter. The world didn't matter. To me Charlie was my world, and I was his.

The next day on Saturday the rain contiued. I woke up with 100.3 fever, and disgusting mucus in my nose and in my throat. I got up to take a fever reducer pill about the same time Charlie got up to check on Bryan. He met me in the kitchen and saw how sick I was.

"Harmione, are you okay?"

"I...I'll be okay I think I just caught a chill."

He wrapped me in a hug. I sniffled.

"Go back to bed okay."

He kissed the top of my head and left the kitchen. Before heading back to the bedroom I gathered up some things first. I took with me two different bottles of fever reducer pills. A box of Kleenexs. The thermometer. A cupcake. A bag of cough drops, and a water bottle. I then heard Charlie talking to himself. Or at least I thought he was until I realized he was on the phone.

"Yeah...really bad chest cold...uh-huh...10:00? That's fine...thank you."

He made me a doctor's appointment. I smiled and went back to bed. Later, Charlie stuck his head in the door. He had his pillow with him.

"Um...the couch is kinda hard...I know you're sick and all, but can I move back in?'

I just smiled and pulled the covers back. He swiftly got in bed with me. I fell back asleep but Charlie stayed wide awake and didn't leave my side for a second.