Chapter 39

Short Circuit

I got home from school and something was wrong. I was receiving the strangest thoughts and feelings. I wasn't sure if they were coming from Auri, because there were so many thoughts being beamed in our direction from all over the United States and Europe it was hard to make sense of them all. In fact, there had been so many that I had to close the gate to get some peace. But, these strange thoughts were piercing through the gate they were so erratic and loud. I was going to ask Auri, but one look in her eyes and the way her mouth was stretched into such an odd shape that I decided to avoid her for the next few hours. I'd never seen her look so stressed. Even when I had been kidnapped or she was being attacked, she managed to stay in control and even took charge. But when I got home, she looked out of control and nowhere near being in charge. I thought I should say something to Dad, but he was at the hospital with a patient.

My Grandmother and Auri's friend were both flying in from San Diego on the same flight. I was a little worried about Auri, she was running around the house like a chicken with its head cut off.

"Auri, can I go with you to pick up Grandmom?"

Auri stopped and looked at me, her eyes a little wild. It took a few seconds before what I said registered with her.

"Oh, yeah, sure, honey. You're grandmother will love that. You better go brush your teeth, we have to leave soon."

I ran up the stairs to brush my teeth and heard, Damn breasts, they hurt! Damn Cherokee panties. Keep sneaking up. Need to change. Oh, Christ, I forgot the clothes in the dryer. Stop! No! I won't answer anything, stop! Tommy, call me or email me, I'm not taking intuitive telegrams. Christ! Need to go, need to go! Where's Furey?

"Furey? Are you ready?"

"Yes, I'm coming!" I ran down the stairs where Auri was putting on her jacket. I grabbed mine and we were out the door.

The traffic was terrible and Auri was getting really nervous, anxious. Her thoughts were so loud; I was having trouble hearing my own. The baby was agitated. I don't know why, but I got the impression that Auri being upset had something to do with it.

"Auri?"

She didn't respond, her mind just kept spinning.

"Auri?"

I think she finally heard, "Huh? Oh, huh?"

"Auri, the baby."

She looked over, her head tilted, "Baby?"

"The baby is very nervous."

She was quiet, digesting what I said, "Nervous?"

"You're really, really, loud, broadcasting all over the place. The baby is sending me really strong impressions. You need to calm down."

She wasn't happy with me telling her what to do, but then she realized that I was trying to help the baby, "I'm sorry Furey, you're right. I'm just nervous about meeting your grandmother again."

"I can tell. But, Grandmom is okay. You don't need to be afraid of her."

"Someday sweetie, you'll understand. No girl is ever good enough for your little boy. I'll be scrutinizing all the women you bring home." She smiled at me.

"Grandmom likes you. She likes that you're here to take care of me and Dad. She even likes that you're going to have another baby. She thinks Dad does better when he's a Daddy, he's not so mean. I think he's mean, but she says I didn't know him before I was born."

Auri actually laughed, "Well, I guess she would know. Aren't we lucky that we didn't know him then?"

We both giggled. Auri was more relaxed and the baby calmed down too. We got to the airport just as the plane was landing. My grandmother arrived first, running down the aisle towards us in a pant suit, her arms open ready to scoop me up. Her arms went around my shoulders and she kissed me over and over.

"Gregory! You've grown so much, darling! I'm so happy to see you, honey." I was overwhelmed with all the feelings of love and kindness. I should have remembered that Grandmoms come with bulldozers of love and affection. I had to step back from her and I hurt her feelings by doing that. She just didn't understand how sensitive I was to emotion.

I jumped to the defensive, "Grandmom, I really love you. I'm glad you're here. I just have a little cold and don't want you to get it."

"Oh, come here, I don't care about a little cold." She hugged me again.

Auri raised an eyebrow at me, wondering where I had come up with the lie about the cold. I had steeled myself for another wave of Grandmom's affection and so I was able to handle it when she hugged me again. Auri turned and immediately waved to someone coming up the aisle. She started walking towards a woman that was obviously Suzie. I could feel the affection they had for each other. Grandmom finally let me go and we watched Auri and Suzie embrace. Suzie rubbed Auri's tummy and there was a lot of giggling and high shrill sounds between them. After a minute or so of wide smiles, they came over to us.

Suzie was hot, even I could tell that. She looked like an older version of Katherine Zeta Jones. I was mesmerized as we walked down the escalator. The baggage carousel started up, and luggage started pouring out the hole. I kept stealing looks over at Suzie. I couldn't believe that anyone could be that gorgeous. She could see me watching her so she walked over, put an arm around me and gave me a kiss on my cheek. I felt my pulse rate go up.

"So you're Teag's boy? Your Mom was one of a kind. A sweet and amazing woman. I loved her a lot."

Grandmom watched this, a little suspicious, wondering if Suzie was being genuine. But, I could tell she was. She cared a lot about my Mom and was really curious about me. Grandmom pointed to her luggage and I grabbed it. Suzie grabbed hers. I quickly tried to help, but she had it. We got home and all sat around having drinks and cookies.

Auri looked over at me, "Furey, please take your Grandmother's bag up to her room and Suzie's to yours."

Grandmom looked at Auri, "Where's Furey going to sleep?"

"At Jim and Jen's."

I could feel my Grandmom's disappointment, she had wanted to spend as much time with me and Dad as possible. She was both sad and a little bit angry. I could see that Auri picked it up too.

"Auri, can I stay and sleep on the couch?" I asked.

"Of course honey, we just thought you'd want to sleep in a bed. Of course you can, this is your home." Auri looked up at Grandmom, worried that she had offended her, "I'm sorry Blythe, I didn't think. We'll put him up on the couch. No problem."

Grandmom was upset with Auri, I think she thought that Auri was trying to come between us, but if she only knew how stressed out Auri was, she'd know that Auri had only been thinking about my comfort.

"Grandmom, I'm sorry, but I asked to go over and spend some time with Jim, Jen and Sarah. I don't stay with them very often anymore. But, now that you're here, I realize I want to stay here with you."

Auri's mouth opened slightly in shock that I had taken the heat off of her, but then she closed it and sent me a message. I love you little man.

I smiled at her, Yeah, you owe me.

We all went out to the living room and sat down to talk. Grandmom went up to take a bath and I stayed behind to stare at Suzie. She kept smiling at me. At one point, she patted the couch next to her and I went over to sit next to her. She smelled like vanilla and sounded like a melodic cello. Her voice was a girl's, but deep. I didn't understand why I liked to watch her, but she made my heart go faster whenever she said my name.

"I forgot! I have something for you Furey." She jumped up, "Where's my bag?"

Auri piped up, "Middle bedroom. Look for the USS Enterprise."

Suzie rolled her eyes and went up the stairs. She had on these tight black slacks that stopped halfway down her calves. Her top was a red sweater that came down on her chest and you could see a lot of her boobs. She had on black high heels, something Auri rarely wore unless she was in a dress and going out with Dad. Her hair was black and it was rolled and pinned in back. Going up the stairs I leaned over so I could watch. Her butt wiggled back and forth when she went up. She was really hot.

Auri looked over at me, "You have a crush on her don't you?"

I shrugged my shoulders, but knew I couldn't hide it from Auri, "She's pretty and nice."

Auri smiled, "It's true. She doesn't have any trouble finding boyfriends."

We could hear her coming down the stairs just as the front door opened. Dad walked through the door and looked up the stairs at Suzie. Their eyes met and they both stopped. I could feel something from my Dad that made me uncomfortable, he liked Suzie or he felt something for Suzie. Whatever it was, it was strong.

And Suzie liked him, she let out a thought that I don't think she meant to, Damn he's hot…his son looks just like him.

They just stood and stared at each other for a few seconds, a few awkward seconds. I looked over at Auri, wondering if she heard Suzie and felt Dad. I should have known better, Auri's much more in tuned with both of them than I am. I could see in Auri's face and knew that she was hurt. Her emotions were really running high and this made it worse. She was so nervous and anxious that I worried again about the baby. I wanted Dad to stop staring at Suzie and look at Auri, but he didn't. Suzie was a puzzle to my Dad and he loved puzzles.